Best colleges for Social Work in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Briar Cliff University, Grand View University and University of Iowa are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Iowa by graduate earnings. Briar Cliff University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,935, College Scorecard. University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Saint Ambrose University award the most Social Work degrees in Iowa: 222, 100 and 55 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Iowa colleges offer Social Work and award 581 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 6 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 | Briar Cliff University Sioux City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,935 | 21 | 48% | $21,731 | $37,564 |
| 2 | Grand View University Des Moines Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,736 | 24 | 54% | $20,840 | $25,837 |
| 3 | University of Iowa Iowa City Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,285 | 222 | 75% | — | $25,180 |
| 4 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,257 | 100 | 68% | — | $22,847 |
| 5 | Mount Mercy University Cedar Rapids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,303 | 9 | 58% | $23,054 | $25,677 |
| 6 | Luther College Decorah Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,372 | 11 | 71% | $22,827 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Iowa
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 Iowa Iowa City Public | 222 | $39,285 |
| 2 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public | 100 | $37,257 |
| 3 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport Private not-for-profit | 55 | Not reported |
| 4 | Dordt University Sioux Center Private not-for-profit | 44 | Not reported |
| 5 | Grand View University Des Moines Private not-for-profit | 24 | $40,736 |
| 6 | Briar Cliff University Sioux City Private not-for-profit | 21 | $42,935 |
| 7 | Clarke University Dubuque Private not-for-profit | 18 | Not reported |
| 8 | Loras College Dubuque Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 9 | Wartburg College Waverly Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 10 | Luther College Decorah Private not-for-profit | 11 | $30,372 |
ShowHide the other 11 Iowa colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo | Public | 8 |
| Buena Vista University | Storm Lake | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport | Public | 7 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City | Public | 7 |
| Northwestern College | Orange City | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Indian Hills Community College | Ottumwa | Public | 5 |
| Southeastern Community College | West Burlington | Public | 5 |
| Ellsworth Community College | Iowa Falls | Public | 2 |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs | Public | 2 |
| Northeast Iowa Community College | Calmar | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
University of Iowa (222 graduates a year), University of Northern Iowa (100 graduates a year) and Saint Ambrose University (55 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Iowa colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Iowa?+
By graduate earnings, Briar Cliff University leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Iowa, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,935, College Scorecard. Grand View University and University of Iowa follow. By degrees awarded, University of Iowa is the largest, with 222 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Briar Cliff University tops the list at $42,935. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Iowa?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Iowa is $63,560 (median $63,050), across about 1,550 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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