Best Colleges for Social Work

Social work graduates play a vital role in supporting vulnerable populations and strengthening communities. With 396 schools nationwide offering social work programs, students have numerous options to pursue this meaningful career path. Social work graduates typically earn around $31,428 annually, though salaries vary by specialization and location.

When evaluating social work programs, students should prioritize accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education, which ensures quality standards and enables professional licensing. Strong field placement opportunities, diverse practicum sites, and faculty with real-world experience are essential. Look for programs offering specializations in areas like clinical practice, policy, or community organizing that align with your career goals.

Schools Ranked

$40,885

Avg. Program Earnings

61.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	St Catherine University Saint Paul, Minnesota	$45,149	65.1%	private-nonprofit
2	University of Nevada-Reno Reno, Nevada	$44,276	62.4%	public
3	Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead, Minnesota	$44,170	71.8%	private-nonprofit
4	Bemidji State University Bemidji, Minnesota	$41,937	53.4%	public
5	Viterbo University La Crosse, Wisconsin	$41,937	65.2%	private-nonprofit
6	Winona State University Winona, Minnesota	$41,565	60.9%	public
7	Minot State University Minot, North Dakota	$41,565	47.8%	public
8	Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas	$41,565	85.6%	private-nonprofit
9	Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, Louisiana	$41,147	71.0%	public
10	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$41,007	50.1%	public
11	The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth, Minnesota	$40,896	63.0%	private-nonprofit
12	Saint Martin's University Lacey, Washington	$40,896	57.1%	private-nonprofit
13	Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas	$40,737	67.5%	public
14	California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, California	$40,492	54.7%	public
15	Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, Minnesota	$40,140	54.1%	public
16	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada	$40,017	50.1%	public
17	University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska	$39,909	28.9%	public
18	St Olaf College Northfield, Minnesota	$39,729	83.5%	private-nonprofit
19	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$39,585	92.9%	public
20	CUNY York College Jamaica, New York	$39,369	30.3%	public
21	Portland State University Portland, Oregon	$39,369	53.1%	public
22	Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, Minnesota	$39,286	46.9%	public
23	University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming	$39,271	59.8%	public
24	Bethel University Saint Paul, Minnesota	$39,099	75.2%	private-nonprofit
25	Boston University Boston, Massachusetts	$39,009	90.0%	private-nonprofit