Best colleges for Social Work in Kentucky
Ranked by graduate earnings
Brescia University, Northern Kentucky University and University of Kentucky are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. Brescia University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,841, College Scorecard. University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Campbellsville University award the most Social Work degrees in Kentucky: 1,355, 253 and 202 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Kentucky colleges offer Social Work and award 2,462 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 9 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 | Brescia University Owensboro Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,841 | 41 | 54% | $14,604 | $49,254 |
| 2 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,037 | 133 | 52% | — | $28,906 |
| 3 | University of Kentucky Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,312 | 1,355 | 71% | — | $26,875 |
| 4 | Morehead State University Morehead Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,300 | 46 | 52% | — | $32,002 |
| 5 | University of Louisville Louisville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,257 | 253 | 61% | — | $25,209 |
| 6 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,852 | 202 | 42% | $18,824 | $27,360 |
| 7 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,748 | 145 | 56% | — | $26,000 |
| 8 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,575 | 154 | 50% | — | $30,750 |
| 9 | Murray State University Murray Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,692 | 40 | 61% | — | $28,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Kentucky
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 Kentucky Lexington Public | 1,355 | $36,312 |
| 2 | University of Louisville Louisville Public | 253 | $35,257 |
| 3 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville Private not-for-profit | 202 | $34,852 |
| 4 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public | 154 | $33,575 |
| 5 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public | 145 | $34,748 |
| 6 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public | 133 | $37,037 |
| 7 | Morehead State University Morehead Public | 46 | $35,300 |
| 8 | Brescia University Owensboro Private not-for-profit | 41 | $37,841 |
| 9 | Murray State University Murray Public | 40 | $31,692 |
| 10 | Spalding University Louisville Private not-for-profit | 34 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 5 Kentucky colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pikeville | Pikeville | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| Asbury University | Wilmore | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| University of the Cumberlands | Williamsburg | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Kentucky State University | Frankfort | Public | 7 |
| Kentucky Christian University | Grayson | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Kentucky
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Kentucky.
Which Kentucky colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
University of Kentucky (1,355 graduates a year), University of Louisville (253 graduates a year) and Campbellsville University (202 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Kentucky colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Kentucky?+
By graduate earnings, Brescia University leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,841, College Scorecard. Northern Kentucky University and University of Kentucky follow. By degrees awarded, University of Kentucky is the largest, with 1,355 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Brescia University tops the list at $37,841. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Kentucky?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Kentucky is $64,960 (median $64,080), across about 1,980 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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