Master’s Degrees in Social Sciences
Education Levels of Social Sciences Majors
During the most recent year for which data is available, 19,295 people earned their master's degree in social sciences. This makes it the 9th most popular master's degree program in the country.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in social sciences at each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Master’s Degree | 19,295 |
Doctor’s Degree | 3,723 |
Graduate Certificate | 2,108 |
Earnings of Social Sciences Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in social sciences is $61,019. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $51,623 to a high of $71,786.

Student Debt
The data on debt ranges for social sciences majors who have their master's degree is not available.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in social sciences. About 51.9% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 9,280 |
Women | 10,015 |

The racial-ethnic distribution of social sciences master’s degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 1,050 |
Black or African American | 1,231 |
Hispanic or Latino | 1,978 |
White | 8,134 |
International Students | 5,668 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 1,234 |

Most Popular Social Sciences Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 466 colleges that offer a master’s degree in social sciences. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Johns Hopkins University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree. Roughly 28,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $62,840 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $62,840 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 946 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Johns Hopkins. Of these students, 45% were women and 16% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Johns Hopkins University social sciences graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $61,019.
The 2nd most popular school in the country for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree is George Washington University. Each year, around 27,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $64,508 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $35,100 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 649 people received their master's degree in social sciences from GWU. Of these students, 53% were women and 26% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that GWU graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $61,019.
The 3rd most popular school in the country for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree is Georgetown University. Each year, around 19,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $64,896 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $58,848 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 437 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Georgetown. Of these students, 52% were women and 23% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in social sciences at Georgetown University make a median salary of 61,019.
Columbia University in the City of New York comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social sciences. Each year, around 30,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $64,526 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,576 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 421 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Columbia. Around 19% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 63% were women. Columbia University in the City of New York social sciences graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $61,019.
Tufts University is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Roughly 12,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $66,358 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $48,324 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 353 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Tufts. About 54% of this group were women, and 14% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their master's degree in social sciences at Tufts University make a median salary of 61,019.
American University is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Each year, around 14,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $55,724 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $32,224 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 349 people received their master's degree in social sciences from The American University. About 57% of this group were women, and 31% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their master's degree in social sciences at American University make a median salary of 61,019.
The 7th most popular school in the country for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Wisconsin - Madison. Each year, around 44,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,644 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,728 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 327 people received their master's degree in social sciences from UW - Madison. Around 8% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 41% were women. Data shows that UW - Madison graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $61,019.
University of Chicago is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Each year, around 17,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $63,801 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $65,145 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 317 people received their master's degree in social sciences from UChicago. Of these students, 55% were women and 21% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Data shows that UChicago graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $61,019.
New York University is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Roughly 52,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,438 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $38,826 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 301 people received their master's degree in social sciences from NYU. Of these students, 55% were women and 21% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. New York University social sciences graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $61,019.
University of Southern California is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Roughly 46,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $66,640 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $66,640 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 252 people received their master's degree in social sciences from USC. About 56% of this group were women, and 17% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. University of Southern California social sciences graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $61,019.
Harvard University comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social sciences. Each year, around 30,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,269 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $54,032 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 218 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Harvard. Of these students, 55% were women and 21% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in social sciences at Harvard University make a median salary of 61,019.
The 12th most popular school in the country for social sciences majors who are seeking their master's degree is Boston University. Each year, around 32,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $63,798 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $63,798 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 216 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Boston U. Of these students, 54% were women and 13% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Those who complete their master's degree in social sciences at Boston University make a median salary of 61,019.
Texas A&M University - College Station is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Roughly 70,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,003 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,885 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 200 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Texas A&M College Station. Of these students, 43% were women and 25% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Texas A&M University - College Station social sciences graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $61,019.
Naval Postgraduate School is the 14th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Roughly 2,800 attend the school each year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 193 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Naval Postgraduate School. About 13% of this group were women, and 19% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their master's degree in social sciences at Naval Postgraduate School make a median salary of 61,019.
Brandeis University comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social sciences. Each year, around 5,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $64,348 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $61,458 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 176 people received their master's degree in social sciences from Brandeis. Around 14% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 52% were women. Those who complete their master's degree in social sciences at Brandeis University make a median salary of 61,019.
George Mason University comes in at #16 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social sciences. Roughly 38,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,095 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,726 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 172 people received their master's degree in social sciences from GMU. About 38% of this group were women, and 21% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Those who complete their master's degree in social sciences at George Mason University make a median salary of 61,019.
Arizona State University - Skysong is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social sciences. Roughly 53,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,308 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,170 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 157 people received their master's degree in social sciences from ASU - Skysong. Around 32% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 52% were women. Data shows that ASU - Skysong graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $61,019.
The Graduate Center, CUNY comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social sciences. Each year, around 9,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,930 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 156 people received their master's degree in social sciences from The Graduate Center. About 56% of this group were women, and 43% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Data shows that The Graduate Center graduates that hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $61,019.
University of California - San Diego comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social sciences. Roughly 39,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,834 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,264 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 149 people received their master's degree in social sciences from UCSD. Of these students, 50% were women and 34% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. University of California - San Diego social sciences graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $61,019.
The University of Texas at Austin comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social sciences. Roughly 50,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,678 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,012 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 142 people received their master's degree in social sciences from UT Austin. About 40% of this group were women, and 25% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. The University of Texas at Austin social sciences graduates who receive their master's degree go on to jobs earning a median salary of $61,019.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to social sciences that offer master’s degrees.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Theology & Religious Vocations | 13,310 |
Communication & Journalism | 12,991 |
English Language & Literature | 8,374 |
History | 3,626 |
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences | 3,059 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By AndrГ© KГјnzelmann under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.