California · Social Work

Best institutions to study Social Work in California

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…

Institutions
37
offering CIP 44.07
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
4,577
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$40,458
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
16
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,504
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
62%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Healthcare Social Workers
$93,840
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1San Francisco State University
San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree
$48,7509150%$17,259
2University of California - Berkeley
Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,90619293%$13,719
3California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,92531769%$11,276
4La Sierra University
Riverside Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$42,213860%$26,504$35,500
5University of Massachusetts Global
Aliso Viejo Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,32735543%$34,250
6Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$40,4588550%$14,298$25,000
7California State University - San Bernardino
San Bernardino Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,14520055%$13,018
8Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$38,5121353%$25,892$30,000
9California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,47736553%$11,000
10California State University - Sacramento
Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,29023356%$18,000

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+7.7%
Faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~18,400
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$68,090
typically Master's degree

Top skills

SpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionWritingActive Learning

What Healthcare Social Workers earn in California

Jobs in California
17,690
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$93,840
median $89,660
Best-paying metro
$129,130
Napa, CA

Related careers

Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$71,940 avg · 60,310 jobs
Marriage and Family Therapists
$79,440 avg · 34,970 jobs
Social and Community Service Managers
$95,910 avg · 33,510 jobs
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$91,050 avg · 19,860 jobs
Healthcare Social Workers
$93,840 avg · 17,690 jobs
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$105,440 avg · 13,900 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in California.

Which Social Work program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), San Francisco State University tops the list at $48,750. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in California?+

The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in California is $93,840 (median $89,660), across about 17,690 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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