Best Bachelor's Degrees in Social Science

1. Dominican College of Blauvelt

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$29844	78%	47%	100%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

2. University of Oregon

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$12720	82%	74%	77%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

3. Ramapo College of New Jersey

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$14678	66%	72%	89%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

4. North Carolina Central University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$6534	68%	49%	93%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

5. Washington State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$11841	76%	60%	89%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

6. University at Buffalo

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$10524	61%	75%	84%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

7. California State University-Monterey Bay

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7143	75%	63%	81%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

8. Keystone College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$26070	79%	47%	92%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

9. Bluefield State College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7488	94%	31%	96%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

10. Portland State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7872	96%	48%	82%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

11. Central Washington University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$8273	85%	58%	90%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

12. University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$11639	87%	56%	83%	No	Yes	AP Credits

13. University of Southern Maine

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$9226	81%	40%	97%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

14. University of Sioux Falls

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$18910	91%	64%	99%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

15. California University of Pennsylvania

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$11108	97%	50%	97%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

16. Florida State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$6517	36%	83%	97%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

17. University of Maine at Fort Kent

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$8295	99%	36%	94%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

18. Dickinson State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7784	100%	41%	93%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

19. Western Oregon University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$9768	85%	41%	95%	No	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

20. California State University-Stanislaus

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7542	89%	59%	90%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

21. Shawnee State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7204	No Available Data (2019-2020)	35%	97%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits

22. Waynesburg University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$25570	93%	66%	100%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

23. Great Basin College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$3248	No Available Data (2019-2020)	42%	72%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

24. Kansas State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$10800	95%	65%	88%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits

25. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7873	85%	53%	84%	No	Yes	AP Credits

26. Troy University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$8908	88%	47%	92%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

27. California State University-Chico

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7806	72%	67%	76%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

28. Touro College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$18663	69%	61%	88%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

29. University of South Florida-St Petersburg

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$5821	27%	44%	85%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

30. University of Wisconsin-Stout

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$9463	91%	60%	83%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

31. The University of West Florida

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$5776	31%	46%	90%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

32. Castleton University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$12470	84%	55%	99%	No	Yes	AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits

33. Southeast Missouri State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7800	86%	50%	96%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

34. Plymouth State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$14440	85%	54%	99%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

35. Grand Valley State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$13180	83%	67%	87%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

36. Central Michigan University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$12833	70%	61%	96%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

37. Michigan State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$15555	71%	81%	70%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

38. University of North Dakota

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$9736	81%	61%	92%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

39. Faulkner University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$22310	78%	33%	99%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

40. Brandman University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$12440	89%	60%	89%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

To get a more in-depth look at our school ranking methodology, please visit Study.com's ranking methodology page.

Tuition information is based on published tuition and required fees, per data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

Social science degrees are available at every degree level, from associate to doctorate. Certificates in social science disciplines are also quite common. We'll cover each of these options in more detail below.

Associate Degrees in Social Science

Due to the nature of the field, an associate degree in social science is primarily used as a stepping stone toward earning a bachelor's degree. An Associate's of Art in Social Science can be completed online or in-person and typically involves 60 credits of coursework; these are often divided between general education and a survey of the social sciences. Example classwork includes anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, social work, sociology and the law.

Bachelor's Degrees in Social Science

Most bachelor's degrees in the social sciences are broken up into more specialized concentrations in the field, but some schools do offer a Bachelor of Art in Social Science for students who wish to have a broader understanding of the discipline. This allows for students to mix and match coursework for a degree that is more personalized towards their interests. General social science students can combine coursework in anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, geography, government, history, and sociology to tailor their studies to specific career trajectories.

Master's Degrees in Social Science

Although there are several jobs available for those holding a bachelor's degree in one of the social sciences, the majority of positions in this field require a master's degree or higher. Due to the diversity of programs in the social sciences, master's degrees can range from 30-48 credits and can take from 1-2 years to complete, with some extended course programs for part-time students taking up to 3 years. Specialization is common at this level, with many programs offering concentrations in areas like leadership, political policy and clinical social work.

Doctoral Degrees in Social Science

Depending on the concentration, social scientists who are interested in research and teaching in higher education will need either a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). Most often, these doctoral programs will require roughly 60 credits of coursework in addition to either a dissertation or a research project of their choice. Some doctoral programs allow for credits from a student's master's program to be applied, which lets them earn their doctoral degree at a faster pace. As doctoral degrees are very specific, students will choose a focus of their choice (sociology, psychology, anthropology, and so on) before building a very customizable plan of study that serves their research interests and needs.

Certificates in Social Science

Undergraduate certificates, which can range from 15-18 credit hours, can act similarly to a minor as a complementing study of the discipline to their core major. Or, they may be offered as highly focused independent courses of study for professionals. In addition to subject-specific certificates, certain schools offer a Certificate in Social Science Research so that students can gain additional study in research methodology that applies for a broad range of concentrations. In the field of social work, schools offer certificates online to either advance a person's understanding of the field of social work, focus on a concentration within the field or earn credits that can eventually lead to an MSW degree.

Because it's such a broad field, concentrations are common in undergraduate and graduate social science programs. Concentrations allow for students and academics alike to focus on specific career paths and research interests. Many colleges will offer social science concentrations like:

• Anthropology
• Economics
• Geography
• History
• Law
• Political science
• Psychology
• Social work
• Sociology

As a B.A. or B.S. in Social Science is a broad, interdisciplinary degree, the curriculum for this particular path of study can vary quite a bit from institution to institution. Undergraduates study a variety of general education classes in addition to a spread of electives, which can include classes in a concentration of their choice. Some common courses in the social sciences include:

• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• Ancient history
• History of western civilization
• 20th-century history
• Socio-cultural studies
• Social anthropology
• Ancient government
• Modern government
• International trade and economics
• Population geography
• International relations
• Applied psychology
• Sociology
• Child development & psychology

Social science bachelor's degrees typically include 120 to 130 credits and are designed to be completed in four years. However, depending on the student's previous studies -- either by already earning an associate's degree, taking college coursework in high school, completing courses during summer sessions, taking on a heavier course load, or by enrolling in an accelerated program -- it is often possible for students to earn their bachelor's degree in a shorter time frame.

Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent organization that says the school or program has met certain standards when it comes to faculty quality, curriculum and graduation rates. Accreditation also allows students to receive federal financial aid and often makes it easier to transfer credits. For schools, this accreditation is offered by organizations approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). A few examples include the Higher Learning Commission, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and the New England Commission of Higher Education.

In addition, programs can be accredited. Students pursuing graduate social science degrees may find programs accredited or approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the American Bar Association (ABA), but there are no accrediting agencies for social science programs at the bachelor's level.

Primarily, a far larger pool of job opportunities opens up in the social sciences once a master's or doctoral degree is earned in these fields. The positions available for those with a bachelor's degree in the social sciences do not typically require any additional certification. For those who pursue careers in such positions as practicing psychologists, lawyers, and social workers, licensure and/or additional certifications in addition to graduate study are required to ensure that you can practice as a professional in your area.

To practice law in the United States, potential lawyers must pass a licensing exam called the 'bar exam,' which is specialized for each state that the lawyer may wish to work. Likewise, for all psychologists -- research, clinical, or counseling -- to work, they must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology in their state or district. In addition to passing their licensure exam, they must also finish an internship and obtain 1-2 years of supervised professional experience. This licensure and professional work experience process is the same for social workers, as well.

Job opportunities in the social sciences extend from criminology to clinical psychology, with research assistants and market analysts being able to gain a job with only a bachelor's degree. Because of the wide variety of career paths within the social sciences, there are several possibilities for what one can do with a bachelor's degree in social science or a specific concentration. A sample of those career possibilities include:

• Social Worker
• Management Analyst
• Human Resources Worker
• Clergy
• Public Relations Specialist
• Social and Community Service Manager
• Counselor

Many students in social science programs are interested in fields like anthropology, sociology, history, psychology and political science. Most of these fields require a master's degree or higher. We'll cover a few common roles in these fields below.

How to Become an Anthropologist

Anthropologist job duties range from studying the evolution of human physiology to how humans have developed our cultures over millennia. Depending on what aspect of humanity you're interested in, you can choose to focus on biological, archaeological, linguistic, or sociocultural anthropology as you obtain your bachelor's degree.

Jobs for anthropologists with a bachelor's degree center on field work, such as being a research assistant, a survey anthropologist for cultural resource management firms, foreign service work, or public relations. For further career advancement in this field, however, a master's degree (for research anthropology) or a doctoral degree (to pursue teaching in higher education) is required. According to the BLS in 2019, the median pay for an anthropologist or archaeologist was $63,670 per year (or $30.61/hour).

How to Become a Historian

A historian's career responsibilities include interpreting historical events by studying archives and historical items. This study can range from working in archives to the living interpretation of past events, with jobs in the collegiate, museum, and government sectors. In addition to conducting research about and re-interpreting the past, historians also have multiple career pathways for teaching: either in K-12 schools or in higher education.

For historians that wish to pursue work in cultural institutions such as museums, archives, or living history sites, graduate study is required. Within the fields of public history, historical preservation, archive management, or museum studies, a master's degree is sufficient. Those who wish to teach at the collegiate level will need a doctoral degree. If becoming a history teacher feels more feasible and approachable, however, a bachelor's degree is all that is required. The median pay for a historian, as reported by the BLS in 2019, is $63,680 per year (or $30.62/hour).

How to Become a Research Psychologist

Research psychologists pursue a career that centers the study of how our minds and, in the case of mental illness, how to offer better treatment to those particular disorders. Although research psychologists will occasionally work in the private sector, the majority of research psychologists work within academia, balancing their research projects with teaching students at the collegiate level. Due to working in higher education, research psychologists will balance their teaching responsibilities (such as advising students, leading lectures, etc.) with running a laboratory and conducting experiments.

As research psychologists primarily work within universities, this is another career path that requires graduate study. Depending on their interests, research psychologists may pursue either a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree. Throughout their doctoral studies, research psychologists frequently complete internships and fellowships for state licensure. Psychologists overall (including research psychologists) earned a median salary of $80,370 per year according to 2019 numbers from the BLS.

Funding your postsecondary degree in the social sciences is possible through a number of avenues. First, filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) allows you to see what federal loans or grants would be available for you, as well as the funding you may be able to gain on a state level.

Secondly, there are many private scholarships exclusively available for students in social science programs. Some of these scholarships include those offered by the Daughters of the American Revolution, which awards multiple scholarships for students studying history, economics, law, and political science in addition to other disciplines. The award amount varies but generally ranges from $2,500 to $5,000.

Another organization that offers independent scholarships is the Islamic Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships ranging from $3,000-$10,000 to deserving Muslim scholars who study law, human rights studies, international affairs, political science, public policy, public administration, and other topics. Finally, some schools have need-based scholarships available through their departments as well.

With the wide variety of professions under the social science umbrella, there is an equally diverse number of professional organizations as well. Many of these organizations are open to membership for students and have a discounted rate for dues to accommodate student budgets. Benefits range from member discounts for insurance to subscriptions to professional journals, as well as networking opportunities. In the case of organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) or the American Bar Association (ABA), these organizations are also in charge of the standards set for accrediting programs in these fields as well.

The APA and the ABA are examples of national professional organizations for certain social sciences, but other concentrations -- such as archaeology or sociology, for example -- offer both national and regional organizations, as well as professional organizations that focus on certain specialties within their field. These organizations can focus on such studies as historical archaeology, humanist sociology, Southeast European studies, or social research.

Due to the variety within the discipline, a social science degree is a wonderful foundation for a variety of careers. Social science is a great path of study for students with a natural curiosity about the building blocks of society. Beyond this curiosity, the reasons why you might wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in the social sciences are as diverse as the disciplines under the umbrella. For those who have an exacting eye for details and a deep enjoyment of mathematics and statistics, research and data analysis within the social sciences would be a great career path. On the other hand, individuals with a high level of empathy and interest in improving societal structures may find that clinical psychology or social work would be fulfilling.