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CollegeROIData

Social Sciences Majors, ROI Rankings (2026)

19 social sciences majors across 746 school-major combinations analyzed for debt, earnings, and job market outlook.

19
Majors
67/100
Avg ROI Score
$27K
Avg Median Debt
$51K
Avg Year 1 Earnings

Social Sciences Majors by Average ROI

#MajorAvg ROI Score
1General Social Sciences72/100
2Biopsychology72/100
3Political Science and Government71/100
4Sociology71/100
5Social Sciences71/100
6Social Sciences, Other71/100
7Anthropology71/100
8Criminology71/100
9Urban Studies/Affairs71/100
10Gerontology71/100
11Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis71/100
12Psychology66/100
13Research and Experimental Psychology66/100
14Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology66/100
15Criminal Justice and Corrections64/100
16Psychology, Other63/100
17Social Work62/100
18Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies62/100
19Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services60/100

Top 50 Social Sciences Programs by ROI

#SchoolMajorROI Score
1Berea CollegeSociology76/100
2Central State UniversityPolitical Science and Government76/100
3Alice Lloyd CollegeSociology74/100
4Bloomfield CollegeSociology74/100
5Boston CollegePolitical Science and Government74/100
6Brandeis UniversityPolitical Science and Government74/100
7Brandeis UniversitySociology74/100
8California State University-Monterey BaySocial Sciences74/100
9Carleton CollegeGeneral Social Sciences74/100
10Claremont McKenna CollegePolitical Science and Government74/100
11Abraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeSociology73/100
12Amherst CollegePolitical Science and Government73/100
13Antioch CollegePolitical Science and Government73/100
14Antioch CollegeAnthropology73/100
15Avila UniversityCriminology73/100
16Bard College at Simon's RockGeneral Social Sciences73/100
17Bates CollegePolitical Science and Government73/100
18Bates CollegeSociology73/100
19Brandeis UniversityAnthropology73/100
20Bridgewater State UniversitySociology73/100
21Brown UniversitySocial Sciences73/100
22California State University-ChicoSociology73/100
23California State University-ChicoPolitical Science and Government73/100
24Chatham UniversityCriminology73/100
25Colgate UniversityPolitical Science and Government73/100
26Colgate UniversitySociology73/100
27College of Staten Island CUNYGeneral Social Sciences73/100
28College of Staten Island CUNYPolitical Science and Government73/100
29College of the Holy CrossPolitical Science and Government73/100
30College of the Holy CrossSociology73/100
31Albany State UniversityPolitical Science and Government72/100
32Albany State UniversitySociology72/100
33Albright CollegeCriminology72/100
34American UniversityPolitical Science and Government72/100
35American UniversitySociology72/100
36Appalachian State UniversityPolitical Science and Government72/100
37Aquinas CollegeSociology72/100
38Aquinas CollegePolitical Science and Government72/100
39Augustana UniversitySociology72/100
40Ave Maria UniversityPolitical Science and Government72/100
41Bard CollegeSocial Sciences72/100
42Bard College at Simon's RockPolitical Science and Government72/100
43Bates CollegeAnthropology72/100
44Beloit CollegeSociology72/100
45Beloit CollegePolitical Science and Government72/100
46Benedictine UniversityCriminology72/100
47Bennington CollegeSocial Sciences72/100
48Berry CollegePolitical Science and Government72/100
49Berry CollegeSocial Sciences72/100
50Black Hills State UniversitySociology72/100

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Frequently Asked Questions

CollegeROIData tracks 19 social sciences majors across 746 school-major combinations with detailed debt and earnings data.

The average ROI Score for social sciences programs is 67/100. Average median debt is $27K with average first-year earnings of $51K.

Among social sciences majors, General Social Sciences has the highest average ROI Score at 72/100. The best individual program is Berea College in Sociology with a score of 76/100.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Last updated:

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.