North Carolina · Social Work

Best institutions to study Social Work in North Carolina

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
24
offering CIP 44.07
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,517
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$35,485
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
14
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,259
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
52%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Healthcare Social Workers
$64,720
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Mars Hill University
Mars Hill Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$41,643945%$20,402$29,133
2University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,38015171%$22,361
3Barton College
Wilson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$38,3121246%$23,133$27,000
4Western Carolina University
Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,7279660%$25,857
5East Carolina University
Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,74511763%$26,000
6North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,48514385%$20,791
7Appalachian State University
Boone Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,72515275%$22,184
8Shaw University
Raleigh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$31,138922%$16,542$38,000
9North Carolina Central University
Durham Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,61510342%$31,000
10University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,5099456%$26,000

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 North Carolina

Jobs in North Carolina
5,120
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$64,720
median $63,280
Best-paying metro
$72,150
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Related careers

Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$59,660 avg · 13,010 jobs
Healthcare Social Workers
$64,720 avg · 5,120 jobs
Social and Community Service Managers
$85,690 avg · 4,970 jobs
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$59,880 avg · 3,690 jobs
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$60,280 avg · 3,310 jobs
Social Workers, All Other
$74,680 avg · 1,670 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in North Carolina.

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Mars Hill University tops the list at $41,643. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in North Carolina?+

The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in North Carolina is $64,720 (median $63,280), across about 5,120 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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