Best colleges for Social Work in New Jersey
Ranked by graduate earnings
Seton Hall University, Rutgers University - New Brunswick and Stockton University are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in New Jersey by graduate earnings. Seton Hall University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,734, College Scorecard. Rutgers University - New Brunswick, Ramapo College of New Jersey and Montclair State University award the most Social Work degrees in New Jersey: 765, 145 and 140 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 25 New Jersey colleges offer Social Work and award 1,747 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 6 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 | Seton Hall University South Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,734 | 51 | 69% | $27,376 | $25,721 |
| 2 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,936 | 765 | 84% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Stockton University Galloway Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,749 | 133 | 69% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | Montclair State University Montclair Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,095 | 140 | 65% | — | $25,000 |
| 5 | Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,210 | 145 | 70% | — | $24,491 |
| 6 | Georgian Court University Lakewood Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,530 | 18 | 54% | $19,504 | $23,000 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
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 | Camden County College Blackwood Public · Associate degree | $24,616 | 30 | 31% | — | $9,219 |
| 2 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus Vineland Public · Associate degree Small program | $37,250 | 14 | 33% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in New Jersey
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 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick Public | 765 | $39,936* |
| 2 | Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah Public | 145 | $31,210 |
| 3 | Montclair State University Montclair Public | 140 | $33,095 |
| 4 | Stockton University Galloway Public | 133 | $37,749 |
| 5 | Monmouth University West Long Branch Private not-for-profit | 107 | Not reported |
| 6 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark Public | 65 | $39,936* |
| 7 | Seton Hall University South Orange Private not-for-profit | 51 | $47,734 |
| 8 | Rutgers University - Camden Camden Public | 44 | $39,936* |
| 9 | Kean University Union Public | 40 | Not reported |
| 10 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus Teaneck Private not-for-profit | 25 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 15 New Jersey colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passaic County Community College | Paterson | Public | 42 |
| Camden County College | Blackwood | Public | 30 |
| Brookdale Community College | Lincroft | Public | 24 |
| Essex County College | Newark | Public | 20 |
| Hudson County Community College | Jersey City | Public | 20 |
| Georgian Court University | Lakewood | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Rowan University | Glassboro | Public | 18 |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | Wayne | Public | 17 |
| Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus | Vineland | Public | 14 |
| Ocean County College | Toms River | Public | 7 |
| Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus | Sewell | Public | 6 |
| Saint Elizabeth University | Morristown | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Sussex County Community College | Newton | Public | 5 |
| Centenary University | Hackettstown | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Saint Peter's University | Jersey City | 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 New Jersey
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in New Jersey.
Which New Jersey colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
Rutgers University - New Brunswick (765 graduates a year), Ramapo College of New Jersey (145 graduates a year) and Montclair State University (140 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in New Jersey, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 25 New Jersey colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in New Jersey?+
By graduate earnings, Seton Hall University leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in New Jersey, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,734, College Scorecard. Rutgers University - New Brunswick and Stockton University follow. By degrees awarded, Rutgers University - New Brunswick is the largest, with 765 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in New Jersey has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Seton Hall University tops the list at $47,734. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in New Jersey?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in New Jersey is $85,340 (median $82,690), across about 4,310 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card