Louisiana · Social Work

Best colleges for Social Work in Louisiana

Ranked by graduate earnings

Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Grambling State University and Southeastern Louisiana University are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Louisiana by graduate earnings. Northwestern State University of Louisiana leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,596, College Scorecard. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Tulane University of Louisiana and Grambling State University award the most Social Work degrees in Louisiana: 456, 182 and 75 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 10 Louisiana colleges offer Social Work and award 923 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
10
offering CIP 44.07
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
923
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$26,980
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$18,826
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
46%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Healthcare Social Workers
$63,510
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 5 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
1Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,5964143%—$28,875
2Grambling State University
Grambling Public · Bachelor's degree
$26,9807536%—$49,736
3Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond Public · Bachelor's degree
$26,3883545%—$29,072
4Southern University and A & M College
Baton Rouge Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,7032027%—$32,634
5University of Louisiana at Monroe
Monroe Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$26,423754%—$29,600

Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Louisiana

Top 8 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)
1Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge Public
456Not reported
2Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans Private not-for-profit
182Not reported
3Grambling State University
Grambling Public
75$26,980
4Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches Public
41$33,596
5Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond Public
35$26,388
6Louisiana Christian University
Pineville Private not-for-profit
27Not reported
7Dillard University
New Orleans Private not-for-profit
9Not reported
8University of Louisiana at Monroe
Monroe Public
7$26,423
Show the other 2 Louisiana colleges offering Social Work
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Southern University at New OrleansNew OrleansPublic71
Southern University and A & M CollegeBaton RougePublic20

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 Louisiana

Jobs in Louisiana
1,970
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$63,510
median $61,080
Best-paying metro
$68,280
Lake Charles, LA

Related careers

Social and Community Service Managers
$87,430 avg · 2,680 jobs
Healthcare Social Workers
$63,510 avg · 1,970 jobs
Counselors, All Other
$49,960 avg · 1,510 jobs
Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$54,450 avg · 1,110 jobs
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$63,690 avg · 980 jobs
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$51,070 avg · 970 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Louisiana.

Which Louisiana colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (456 graduates a year), Tulane University of Louisiana (182 graduates a year) and Grambling State University (75 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Louisiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 10 Louisiana colleges offer Social Work.

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

By graduate earnings, Northwestern State University of Louisiana leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Louisiana, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,596, College Scorecard. Grambling State University and Southeastern Louisiana University follow. By degrees awarded, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is the largest, with 456 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northwestern State University of Louisiana tops the list at $33,596. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Louisiana?+

The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Louisiana is $63,510 (median $61,080), across about 1,970 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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