Best colleges for Social Work in Arkansas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Harding University, University of Arkansas and University of Arkansas at Little Rock are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Arkansas by graduate earnings. Harding University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,835, College Scorecard. University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University award the most Social Work degrees in Arkansas: 145, 110 and 108 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Arkansas colleges offer Social Work and award 461 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Social Work program prepares students to support individuals and communities in overcoming challenges and improving their well-being. This field focuses on advocacy, education, and resource connection, making it ideal for those…
Top 7 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harding University Searcy Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,835 | 25 | 69% | $19,423 | $29,000 |
| 2 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,424 | 110 | 71% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,408 | 145 | 42% | — | $26,980 |
| 4 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,140 | 108 | 55% | — | $29,370 |
| 5 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,532 | 21 | 38% | — | $23,500 |
| 6 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,094 | 7 | 40% | — | $29,145 |
| 7 | Henderson State University Arkadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $22,458 | 4 | 37% | — | $22,239 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Arkansas
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock Public | 145 | $35,408 |
| 2 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville Public | 110 | $35,424 |
| 3 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro Public | 108 | $33,140 |
| 4 | Harding University Searcy Private not-for-profit | 25 | $41,835 |
| 5 | Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Helena Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith Public | 21 | $32,532 |
| 7 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff Public | 7 | $28,094 |
| 9 | Philander Smith University Little Rock Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello Public | 4 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 Arkansas colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson State University | Arkadelphia | Public | 4 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Arkansas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Arkansas.
Which Arkansas colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
University of Arkansas at Little Rock (145 graduates a year), University of Arkansas (110 graduates a year) and Arkansas State University (108 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Arkansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Arkansas colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Arkansas?+
By graduate earnings, Harding University leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Arkansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,835, College Scorecard. University of Arkansas and University of Arkansas at Little Rock follow. By degrees awarded, University of Arkansas at Little Rock is the largest, with 145 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Arkansas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Harding University tops the list at $41,835. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Arkansas?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Arkansas is $56,980 (median $55,640), across about 1,250 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Social Work program?+
The Social Work program prepares students to support individuals and communities in overcoming challenges and improving their well-being. This field focuses on advocacy, education, and resource connection, making it ideal for those…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Healthcare Social Workers?+
The national job outlook is about +7.7% growth with around 18,400 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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