UC Irvine graduate programs within the School of Social Sciences continue to earn national acclaim in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, with all four programs evaluated in this cycle ranking in the top 25 among public universities:

• Sociology – No. 9 (20th overall)
• Psychology – No. 13 (27th overall; administered by both the Department of Cognitive Sciences in Social Sciences and the Department of Psychological Science in Social Ecology)
• Economics – No. 18 (41st overall)
• Political science – No. 20 (41st overall)

Other social sciences graduate programs evaluated in prior review cycles by respective reporting bodies include:

• Anthropology: 8-22 (reviewed by Center for Public Anthropology & National Research Council; ranked within ranges; individual rankings not provided) 
• Logic & Philosophy of Science (reviewed by Philosophical Gourmet Report with multiple subfield rankings): 
• 1st in General Philosophy of Science
  1st in Philosophy of Physics
• 1st in Philosophy of Social Science*
• 1st in Philosophy of Biology
  1st in History of Analytic Philosophy*
• 2nd in Game Theory, Decision Theory, and Rational Choice
• 2nd in Philosophy of Mathematics
• 3rd in Epistemology (including Formal Epistemology)*
• 5th in Mathematical Logic

*key areas where both the Department of Logic & Philosophy of Science and Department of Philosophy have great strength

“Social sciences continues to lead the pack in terms of our graduate program rankings, on campus and nationally, thanks to our distinguished faculty and stellar graduate students,” says Bill Maurer, UC Irvine social sciences dean. “We're proud of what we've accomplished and excited for what is yet to come!”  

Read more about UCI’s graduate standings in other disciplines courtesy of UCI News: https://news.uci.edu/2025/04/08/uc-irvine-graduate-programs-recognized-among-nations-best-in-u-s-news-world-report-rankings/.