Kansas · Social Work

Best colleges for Social Work in Kansas

Ranked by graduate earnings

Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University and University of Kansas are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Kansas by graduate earnings. Fort Hays State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,413, College Scorecard. University of Kansas, Fort Hays State University and Wichita State University award the most Social Work degrees in Kansas: 253, 151 and 99 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 13 Kansas colleges offer Social Work and award 685 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
13
offering CIP 44.07
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
685
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$38,288
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,730
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
48%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Healthcare Social Workers
$64,860
BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

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
1Fort Hays State University
Hays Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,41315148%—$27,000
2Kansas State University
Manhattan Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,8332871%—$24,603
3University of Kansas
Lawrence Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,03225369%—$24,000
4Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,2882257%—$27,000
5Wichita State University
Wichita Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,2569951%—$31,000
6Washburn University
Topeka Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,9086153%—$24,623

Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Kansas

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.

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 Kansas
Lawrence Public
253$40,032
2Fort Hays State University
Hays Public
151$42,413
3Wichita State University
Wichita Public
99$38,256
4Washburn University
Topeka Public
61$37,908
5Kansas State University
Manhattan Public
28$41,833
6Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg Public
22$38,288
7Newman University
Wichita Private not-for-profit
19Not reported
8University of Saint Mary
Leavenworth Private not-for-profit
10Not reported
9Bethel College - North Newton
North Newton Private not-for-profit
8Not reported
10Kansas Wesleyan University
Salina Private not-for-profit
7Not reported
Show the other 3 Kansas colleges offering Social Work
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Haskell Indian Nations UniversityLawrencePublic20
Dodge City Community CollegeDodge CityPublic5
Tabor CollegeHillsboroPrivate not-for-profit2

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 Kansas

Jobs in Kansas
1,360
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$64,860
median $64,440
Best-paying metro
$66,110
Topeka, KS

Related careers

Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$56,360 avg · 3,190 jobs
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$60,380 avg · 1,620 jobs
Social and Community Service Managers
$86,540 avg · 1,570 jobs
Healthcare Social Workers
$64,860 avg · 1,360 jobs
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$62,750 avg · 760 jobs
Marriage and Family Therapists
$71,920 avg · 190 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Kansas.

Which Kansas colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+

University of Kansas (253 graduates a year), Fort Hays State University (151 graduates a year) and Wichita State University (99 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Kansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 13 Kansas colleges offer Social Work.

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

By graduate earnings, Fort Hays State University leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Kansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $42,413, College Scorecard. Kansas State University and University of Kansas follow. By degrees awarded, University of Kansas is the largest, with 253 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Fort Hays State University tops the list at $42,413. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Kansas?+

The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Kansas is $64,860 (median $64,440), across about 1,360 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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