Best colleges for Social Work in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Michigan-Flint, Wayne State University and Spring Arbor University are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. University of Michigan-Flint leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,371, College Scorecard. Wayne State University, Grand Valley State University and Spring Arbor University award the most Social Work degrees in Michigan: 354, 240 and 204 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 32 Michigan colleges offer Social Work and award 2,461 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 10 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 | University of Michigan-Flint Flint Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,371 | 40 | 40% | — | $38,000 |
| 2 | Wayne State University Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,774 | 354 | 58% | — | $28,012 |
| 3 | Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,071 | 204 | 64% | $19,806 | $29,893 |
| 4 | Ferris State University Big Rapids Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,870 | 114 | 47% | — | $27,500 |
| 5 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,517 | 149 | 46% | — | $31,111 |
| 6 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,503 | 126 | 48% | — | $31,000 |
| 7 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,446 | 150 | 58% | — | $28,250 |
| 8 | Hope College Holland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,270 | 23 | 80% | $21,746 | $26,670 |
| 9 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,233 | 240 | 67% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,205 | 77 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Public · Graduate degree | $51,416 | 507 | 93% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Michigan
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 | Wayne State University Detroit Public | 354 | $39,774 |
| 2 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 240 | $37,233 |
| 3 | Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor Private not-for-profit | 204 | $39,071 |
| 4 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 150 | $38,446 |
| 5 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 149 | $38,517 |
| 6 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public | 126 | $38,503 |
| 7 | Ferris State University Big Rapids Public | 114 | $38,870 |
| 8 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 81 | $34,089 |
| 9 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 77 | $37,205 |
| 10 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public | 67 | $36,513 |
ShowHide the other 22 Michigan colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Public | 507 |
| Oakland Community College | Auburn Hills | Public | 71 |
| Madonna University | Livonia | Private not-for-profit | 44 |
| University of Michigan-Flint | Flint | Public | 40 |
| Andrews University | Berrien Springs | Private not-for-profit | 36 |
| Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant | Public | 32 |
| Henry Ford College | Dearborn | Public | 31 |
| Macomb Community College | Warren | Public | 30 |
| Hope College | Holland | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Cornerstone University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Adrian College | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Bay de Noc Community College | Escanaba | Public | 6 |
| Delta College | University Center | Public | 6 |
| Gogebic Community College | Ironwood | Public | 6 |
| Wayne County Community College District | Detroit | Public | 6 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Kuyper College | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Muskegon Community College | Muskegon | Public | 4 |
| Lake Superior State University | Sault Ste Marie | Public | 3 |
| Siena Heights University | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
Wayne State University (354 graduates a year), Grand Valley State University (240 graduates a year) and Spring Arbor University (204 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 32 Michigan colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, University of Michigan-Flint leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,371, College Scorecard. Wayne State University and Spring Arbor University follow. By degrees awarded, Wayne State University is the largest, with 354 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Michigan-Flint tops the list at $40,371. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Michigan is $69,940 (median $67,600), across about 4,860 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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