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CollegeROI

Social Sciences Majors — ROI Rankings (2026)

19 social sciences majors across 4,581 school-major combinations analyzed for debt, earnings, and job market outlook.

19
Majors
54/100
Avg ROI Score
$26K
Avg Median Debt
$51K
Avg Year 1 Earnings

Social Sciences Majors by Average ROI

#MajorAvg ROI Score
1Social Sciences, Other62/100
2Anthropology62/100
3Urban Studies/Affairs62/100
4Political Science and Government61/100
5Sociology61/100
6Social Sciences61/100
7Criminology61/100
8General Social Sciences61/100
9Biopsychology59/100
10Gerontology58/100
11Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis58/100
12Research and Experimental Psychology54/100
13Psychology52/100
14Psychology, Other52/100
15Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology52/100
16Criminal Justice and Corrections51/100
17Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies49/100
18Social Work46/100
19Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services45/100

Top 50 Social Sciences Programs by ROI

#SchoolMajorROI Score
1Simmons College of KentuckySocial Sciences, Other76/100
2University of Hawaii at ManoaPolitical Science and Government75/100
3University of Hawaii-West OahuSocial Sciences75/100
4Central State UniversityPolitical Science and Government74/100
5Tulane University of LouisianaPolitical Science and Government74/100
6Tulane University of LouisianaSociology74/100
7University of Hawaii at HiloSociology74/100
8University of Hawaii at HiloAnthropology74/100
9University of Hawaii at HiloPolitical Science and Government74/100
10Brigham Young University-HawaiiPolitical Science and Government73/100
11Brigham Young University-HawaiiAnthropology73/100
12University of New Mexico-Main CampusPolitical Science and Government73/100
13Berea CollegeSociology72/100
14Dominican University of CaliforniaSocial Sciences, Other72/100
15Dominican University of CaliforniaPolitical Science and Government72/100
16Eastern Washington UniversityCriminology72/100
17Universidad Adventista de las AntillasPsychology72/100
18Vassar CollegePolitical Science and Government70/100
19Vassar CollegeSociology70/100
20Holy Apostles College and SeminarySocial Sciences69/100
21Strayer University-Global RegionCriminal Justice and Corrections69/100
22Strayer University-TexasCriminal Justice and Corrections69/100
23Strayer University-West VirginiaCriminal Justice and Corrections69/100
24University of Hawaii at ManoaPsychology69/100
25University of RochesterPolitical Science and Government69/100
26Wellesley CollegeSociology69/100
27William Peace UniversityCriminology69/100
28Georgetown UniversitySocial Sciences68/100
29Hamilton CollegePolitical Science and Government68/100
30Hamilton CollegeSociology68/100
31Huston-Tillotson UniversitySociology68/100
32National Louis UniversityCriminology68/100
33North Central CollegeSocial Sciences68/100
34Pitzer CollegePolitical Science and Government68/100
35Pitzer CollegeSociology68/100
36Scripps CollegePolitical Science and Government68/100
37Scripps CollegeAnthropology68/100
38Strayer University-District of ColumbiaCriminal Justice and Corrections68/100
39Strayer University-FloridaCriminal Justice and Corrections68/100
40Strayer University-GeorgiaCriminal Justice and Corrections68/100
41Strayer University-New JerseyCriminal Justice and Corrections68/100
42Strayer University-North CarolinaCriminal Justice and Corrections68/100
43Strayer University-South CarolinaCriminal Justice and Corrections68/100
44Strayer University-TennesseeCriminal Justice and Corrections68/100
45Strayer University-VirginiaCriminal Justice and Corrections68/100
46University of Puerto Rico at CayeySociology68/100
47University of Puerto Rico at CayeySocial Sciences68/100
48Wellesley CollegePolitical Science and Government68/100
49William Peace UniversityAnthropology68/100
50William Peace UniversityPolitical Science and Government68/100

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Frequently Asked Questions

CollegeROI tracks 19 social sciences majors across 4,581 school-major combinations with detailed debt and earnings data.

The average ROI Score for social sciences programs is 54/100. Average median debt is $26K with average first-year earnings of $51K.

Among social sciences majors, Social Sciences, Other has the highest average ROI Score at 62/100. The best individual program is Simmons College of Kentucky in Social Sciences, Other with a score of 76/100.

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