Journal profile · Multiple
Journal of Social Policy
ISSN 0047-2794 · eISSN 1469-7823 · Cambridge University Press
Journal of Social Policy: CAS Zone 3 · Sociology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.39; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,550; 49 articles in 2025; indexed in SSCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Social Policy is published by Cambridge University Press and is in Zone 3 of Sociology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Social Policy and Reform Studies, Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism and Healthcare innovation and challenges, together about 48.9% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Journal of Social Policy carries high quality articles on all aspects of social policy in an international context. It places particular emphasis upon articles which seek to contribute to debates on the future direction of social policy, to present new empirical data, to advance theories, or to analyse issues in the making and implementation of social policies.Please note that the Journal of Social Policy publishes Articles and Book Reviews. JSP does not publish special issues or systematic literature reviews.The Journal of Social Policy is part of the 'Social Policy Package', with Social Policy and Society.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Multiple
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United Kingdom 15, Australia 2, Ireland 2, United States 1, South Korea 1 (31 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Social Policy and Reform StudiesSocial Sciences26.5%
- Housing, Finance, and NeoliberalismEconomics, Econometrics and Finance13.8%
- Healthcare innovation and challengesSocial Sciences8.7%
- Employment and Welfare StudiesHealth Professions5.6%
- Diverse Scientific and Economic StudiesEconomics, Econometrics and Finance5.4%
- Human auditory perception and evaluationEngineering5.1%
- Political and Economic history of UK and USSocial Sciences3.8%
- Gender, Labor, and Family DynamicsSocial Sciences3.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Sociology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Sociology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Social Work | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Public Administration | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Social Issues | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Sociology Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Sociology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Public Administration | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Social Issues | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Social Work | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Sociology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Sociology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Social Work | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Social Issues | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Public Administration | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SSCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 2.39LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 37Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 7LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.34LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 2.06LetPub ·
- h-index
- 110OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,068OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.95OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 90.15%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 36LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 5,244 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 45 | 34 | 3 |
| 2025 | 49 | 47 | 75 |
| 2024 | 46 | 45 | 195 |
| 2023 | 85 | 69 | 535 |
| 2022 | 104 | 82 | 1,149 |
| 2021 | 95 | 56 | 969 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,550 / GBP 2,460 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Policy excerpts from the journal's websitePeer review
- Peer review
Peer-reviewed scholarly and scientific research Model summary
They consist of original, succinct, authoritative, and peer-reviewed scholarly and scientific research
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- ISSN
- 0047-2794
- Electronic ISSN
- 1469-7823
- Society / sponsor
- Social Policy Association
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Social Policy
What CAS zone is Journal of Social Policy in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Social Policy is in Zone 3 of Sociology, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Social Work / Public Administration / Social Issues. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Sociology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Social Policy?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.39; CiteScore 7, h-index 110.
Where are the editorial board members of Journal of Social Policy based?
Of the 31 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United Kingdom (15), Australia (2) and Ireland (2). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Social Policy?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Social Policy is indexed in SSCI and Scopus.
Is Journal of Social Policy open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Social Policy is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,550.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .