Best colleges for Social Work in Ohio
Ranked by graduate earnings
Bowling Green State University, Wright State University and University of Cincinnati are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Ohio by graduate earnings. Bowling Green State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,959, College Scorecard. Ohio State University, Cleveland State University and University of Cincinnati award the most Social Work degrees in Ohio: 572, 209 and 189 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 60 Ohio colleges offer Social Work and award 2,463 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 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,959 | 87 | 64% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | Wright State University Dayton Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,926 | 60 | 42% | — | $28,250 |
| 3 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,292 | 189 | 75% | — | $29,125 |
| 4 | University of Toledo Toledo Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,254 | 59 | 57% | — | $31,000 |
| 5 | Ohio State University Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,739 | 572 | 88% | — | $26,970 |
| 6 | Ohio University Athens Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,990 | 152 | 65% | — | $23,570 |
| 7 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,541 | 55 | 52% | — | $27,708 |
| 8 | Youngstown State University Youngstown Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,445 | 166 | 50% | — | $33,422 |
| 9 | Cedarville University Cedarville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,967 | 22 | 73% | $22,701 | $19,500 |
| 10 | Cleveland State University Cleveland Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,869 | 209 | 51% | — | $33,000 |
Top certificate or associate program
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 | Clark State College Springfield Public · Associate degree | $29,981 | 33 | 22% | — | $25,631 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Ohio
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 | Ohio State University Columbus Public | 572 | $38,739 |
| 2 | Cleveland State University Cleveland Public | 209 | $35,869 |
| 3 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public | 189 | $39,292 |
| 4 | Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 166 | Not reported |
| 5 | Youngstown State University Youngstown Public | 166 | $36,445 |
| 6 | Ohio University Athens Public | 152 | $37,990 |
| 7 | Sinclair Community College Dayton Public | 147 | Not reported |
| 8 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public | 106 | $34,583 |
| 9 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public | 87 | $40,959 |
| 10 | Wright State University Dayton Public | 60 | $39,926 |
ShowHide the other 50 Ohio colleges offering Social Work
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Ohio
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Ohio.
Which Ohio colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
Ohio State University (572 graduates a year), Cleveland State University (209 graduates a year) and University of Cincinnati (189 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 60 Ohio colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Ohio?+
By graduate earnings, Bowling Green State University leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Ohio, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,959, College Scorecard. Wright State University and University of Cincinnati follow. By degrees awarded, Ohio State University is the largest, with 572 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Bowling Green State University tops the list at $40,959. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Ohio?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Ohio is $65,350 (median $63,610), across about 8,930 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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