Best colleges for Social Work in Minnesota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Metropolitan State University, Bemidji State University and Southwest Minnesota State University are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Minnesota by graduate earnings. Metropolitan State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,637, College Scorecard. Winona State University, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota award the most Social Work degrees in Minnesota: 142, 108 and 108 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 29 Minnesota colleges offer Social Work and award 2,994 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 | Metropolitan State University Saint Paul Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,637 | 65 | 44% | — | $29,615 |
| 2 | Bemidji State University Bemidji Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,192 | 34 | 48% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,368 | 38 | 45% | — | — |
| 4 | The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,371 | 91 | 71% | $21,150 | $37,059 |
| 5 | Bethel University Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,259 | 29 | 71% | $25,225 | $25,000 |
| 6 | Winona State University Winona Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,546 | 142 | 57% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | St Catherine University Saint Paul Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,257 | 77 | 61% | $21,042 | $30,912 |
| 8 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,726 | 71 | 40% | — | $27,996 |
| 9 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,471 | 67 | 57% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | Augsburg University Minneapolis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,303 | 30 | 52% | $23,585 | $25,737 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Minnesota
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 | Winona State University Winona Public | 142 | $44,546 |
| 2 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis Public | 108 | Not reported |
| 3 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona Private not-for-profit | 108 | Not reported |
| 4 | The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth Private not-for-profit | 91 | $45,371 |
| 5 | University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth Public | 87 | $43,198 |
| 6 | St Catherine University Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 77 | $44,257 |
| 7 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 74 | Not reported |
| 8 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato Public | 73 | $42,915 |
| 9 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud Public | 71 | $43,726 |
| 10 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead Public | 67 | $43,471 |
ShowHide the other 19 Minnesota colleges offering Social Work
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Minnesota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Minnesota.
Which Minnesota colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
Winona State University (142 graduates a year), University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (108 graduates a year) and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (108 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 29 Minnesota colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Minnesota?+
By graduate earnings, Metropolitan State University leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Minnesota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,637, College Scorecard. Bemidji State University and Southwest Minnesota State University follow. By degrees awarded, Winona State University is the largest, with 142 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Minnesota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Metropolitan State University tops the list at $47,637. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Minnesota?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Minnesota is $73,510 (median $73,970), across about 2,430 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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