Best colleges for Social Work in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of North Carolina Wilmington, Western Carolina University and East Carolina University are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. University of North Carolina Wilmington leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,380, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Appalachian State University award the most Social Work degrees in North Carolina: 179, 158 and 152 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 North Carolina colleges offer Social Work and award 1,517 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 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,380 | 151 | 71% | — | $22,361 |
| 2 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,727 | 96 | 60% | — | $25,857 |
| 3 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,745 | 117 | 63% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,485 | 143 | 85% | — | $20,791 |
| 5 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,725 | 152 | 75% | — | $22,184 |
| 6 | North Carolina Central University Durham Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,615 | 103 | 42% | — | $31,000 |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,509 | 94 | 56% | — | $26,000 |
| 8 | Fayetteville State University Fayetteville Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,726 | 86 | 38% | — | $32,500 |
| 9 | Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,617 | 39 | 47% | — | $28,537 |
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,425 | 179 | 69% | — | $24,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in North Carolina
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 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 179 | $28,425 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public | 158 | Not reported |
| 3 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 152 | $32,725 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public | 151 | $38,380 |
| 5 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 143 | $35,485 |
| 6 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 117 | $35,745 |
| 7 | North Carolina Central University Durham Public | 103 | $30,615 |
| 8 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public | 96 | $36,727 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 94 | $30,509 |
| 10 | Fayetteville State University Fayetteville Public | 86 | $29,726 |
ShowHide the other 14 North Carolina colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro | Public | 71 |
| Johnson C Smith University | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 44 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 39 |
| Methodist University | Fayetteville | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City | Public | 12 |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Shaw University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Warren Wilson College | Swannanoa | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | Public | 5 |
| Livingstone College | Salisbury | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Bennett College | Greensboro | 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 North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Charlotte (179 graduates a year), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (158 graduates a year) and Appalachian State University (152 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 North Carolina colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, University of North Carolina Wilmington leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,380, College Scorecard. Western Carolina University and East Carolina University follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Charlotte is the largest, with 179 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of North Carolina Wilmington tops the list at $38,380. Compare it against graduates a year, 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.
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