Best colleges for Social Work in Missouri
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Central Missouri, University of Missouri-Columbia and University of Missouri-St Louis are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. University of Central Missouri leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,295, College Scorecard. Missouri State University - Springfield, Washington University in St Louis and Saint Louis University award the most Social Work degrees in Missouri: 143, 112 and 101 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Missouri colleges offer Social Work and award 729 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 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,295 | 21 | 54% | — | $26,579 |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,236 | 42 | 75% | — | $23,119 |
| 3 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,862 | 97 | 57% | — | $31,000 |
| 4 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,544 | 143 | 58% | — | $25,085 |
| 5 | Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,532 | 25 | 39% | — | $27,679 |
| 6 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,224 | 24 | 58% | — | $25,433 |
| 7 | Lincoln University Jefferson City Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,951 | 4 | 21% | — | $31,000 |
| 8 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,701 | 10 | 64% | $8,360 | — |
| 9 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,936 | 10 | 42% | — | $25,983 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Missouri
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 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | 143 | $35,544 |
| 2 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis Private not-for-profit | 112 | Not reported |
| 3 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 101 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of Missouri-St Louis Saint Louis Public | 97 | $35,862 |
| 5 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public | 42 | $38,236 |
| 6 | Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 36 | Not reported |
| 7 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis Private not-for-profit | 31 | Not reported |
| 8 | Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph Public | 25 | $33,532 |
| 9 | University of Missouri-Kansas City Kansas City Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 10 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public | 24 | $32,224 |
ShowHide the other 11 Missouri colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg | Public | 21 |
| Park University | Parkville | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Avila University | Kansas City | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Missouri Southern State University | Joplin | Public | 10 |
| College of the Ozarks | Point Lookout | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Lindenwood University | Saint Charles | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Southwest Baptist University | Bolivar | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lincoln University | Jefferson City | Public | 4 |
| Evangel University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Hannibal-LaGrange University | Hannibal | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| William Woods University | Fulton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
Missouri State University - Springfield (143 graduates a year), Washington University in St Louis (112 graduates a year) and Saint Louis University (101 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Missouri colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Missouri?+
By graduate earnings, University of Central Missouri leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,295, College Scorecard. University of Missouri-Columbia and University of Missouri-St Louis follow. By degrees awarded, Missouri State University - Springfield is the largest, with 143 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Central Missouri tops the list at $39,295. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Missouri?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Missouri is $60,560 (median $59,870), across about 4,430 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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