Mississippi · Social Work

Best colleges for Social Work in Mississippi

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University and University of Southern Mississippi are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Mississippi by graduate earnings. University of Mississippi leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,190, College Scorecard. Jackson State University, University of Southern Mississippi and University of Mississippi award the most Social Work degrees in Mississippi: 133, 133 and 52 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 17 Mississippi colleges offer Social Work and award 506 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
17
offering CIP 44.07
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
506
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$28,262
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
4
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,096
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
47%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Healthcare Social Workers
$60,300
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 4 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
1University of Mississippi
University Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,1905272%—$21,986
2Mississippi State University
Mississippi State Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,2422367%—$26,297
3University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,26213349%—$30,700
4Jackson State University
Jackson Public · Bachelor's degree
$26,87313351%—$36,403

Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Mississippi

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)
1Jackson State University
Jackson Public
133$26,873
2University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg Public
133$28,262
3University of Mississippi
University Public
52$31,190
4Northwest Mississippi Community College
Senatobia Public
25Not reported
5Itawamba Community College
Fulton Public
24Not reported
6Mississippi State University
Mississippi State Public
23$29,242
7Holmes Community College
Goodman Public
20Not reported
8Coahoma Community College
Clarksdale Public
15Not reported
9Alcorn State University
Alcorn State Public
13Not reported
10Delta State University
Cleveland Public
11Not reported
Show the other 7 Mississippi colleges offering Social Work
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Mississippi Valley State UniversityItta BenaPublic15
Belhaven UniversityJacksonPrivate not-for-profit9
Copiah-Lincoln Community CollegeWessonPublic9
Mississippi Christian UniversityClintonPrivate not-for-profit9
East Mississippi Community CollegeScoobaPublic6
Tougaloo CollegeTougalooPrivate not-for-profit6
Rust CollegeHolly SpringsPrivate not-for-profit3

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 Mississippi

Jobs in Mississippi
1,890
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$60,300
median $62,250
Best-paying metro
$64,370
Jackson, MS

Related careers

Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$47,750 avg · 3,310 jobs
Healthcare Social Workers
$60,300 avg · 1,890 jobs
Social and Community Service Managers
$73,530 avg · 1,120 jobs
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$50,750 avg · 920 jobs
Social Workers, All Other
$79,880 avg · 280 jobs
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
$71,260 avg · 200 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Mississippi.

Which Mississippi colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+

Jackson State University (133 graduates a year), University of Southern Mississippi (133 graduates a year) and University of Mississippi (52 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Mississippi, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 17 Mississippi colleges offer Social Work.

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

By graduate earnings, University of Mississippi leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Mississippi, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,190, College Scorecard. Mississippi State University and University of Southern Mississippi follow. By degrees awarded, Jackson State University is the largest, with 133 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Mississippi tops the list at $31,190. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Mississippi?+

The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Mississippi is $60,300 (median $62,250), across about 1,890 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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