Connecticut · Social Work

Best colleges for Social Work in Connecticut

Ranked by graduate earnings

Central Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University and Western Connecticut State University are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Connecticut by graduate earnings. Central Connecticut State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,519, College Scorecard. University of Connecticut, Southern Connecticut State University and Sacred Heart University award the most Social Work degrees in Connecticut: 196, 160 and 131 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Connecticut colleges offer Social Work and award 883 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…

Institutions
11
offering CIP 44.07
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
883
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$33,033
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$36,845
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
62%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Healthcare Social Workers
$83,290
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 4 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Central Connecticut State University
New Britain Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,5193448%—$24,844
2Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,86216050%—$23,935
3Western Connecticut State University
Danbury Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,0332552%—$24,527
4Eastern Connecticut State University
Willimantic Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,4713258%—$22,325

Top certificate or associate program

Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Connecticut State Community College
New Britain Public · Associate degree
$29,55518524%——

Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Connecticut

Top 9 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Connecticut
Storrs Public
196Not reported
2Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven Public
160$33,862
3Sacred Heart University
Fairfield Private not-for-profit
131Not reported
4University of Saint Joseph
West Hartford Private not-for-profit
55Not reported
5Quinnipiac University
Hamden Private not-for-profit
46Not reported
6Central Connecticut State University
New Britain Public
34$37,519
7Eastern Connecticut State University
Willimantic Public
32$29,471
8Western Connecticut State University
Danbury Public
25$33,033
9Fairfield University
Fairfield Private not-for-profit
7Not reported
Show the other 2 Connecticut colleges offering Social Work
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Connecticut State Community CollegeNew BritainPublic185
Charter Oak State College (Online)New BritainPublic12

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 Connecticut

Jobs in Connecticut
1,650
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$83,290
median $79,900
Best-paying metro
$90,800
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT

Related careers

Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$80,180 avg · 5,230 jobs
Social and Community Service Managers
$80,910 avg · 4,350 jobs
Healthcare Social Workers
$83,290 avg · 1,650 jobs
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$78,250 avg · 1,540 jobs
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$97,050 avg · 1,200 jobs
Social Workers, All Other
$76,860 avg · 460 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Connecticut.

Which Connecticut colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+

University of Connecticut (196 graduates a year), Southern Connecticut State University (160 graduates a year) and Sacred Heart University (131 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Connecticut, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Connecticut colleges offer Social Work.

What is the best college for Social Work in Connecticut?+

By graduate earnings, Central Connecticut State University leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Connecticut, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,519, College Scorecard. Southern Connecticut State University and Western Connecticut State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Connecticut is the largest, with 196 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Central Connecticut State University tops the list at $37,519. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Connecticut?+

The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Connecticut is $83,290 (median $79,900), across about 1,650 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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