Best colleges for Social Work in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, Pennsylvania Western University and Temple University are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,836, College Scorecard. University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, Pennsylvania Western University and University of Pennsylvania award the most Social Work degrees in Pennsylvania: 320, 233 and 209 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 45 Pennsylvania colleges offer Social Work and award 2,248 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 Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,836 | 320 | 85% | — | $22,000 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania Western University California Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,192 | 233 | 52% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,055 | 175 | 75% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | La Salle University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,453 | 31 | 57% | $21,997 | $33,206 |
| 5 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,206 | 73 | 56% | — | $26,982 |
| 6 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,135 | 93 | 54% | — | $26,624 |
| 7 | Eastern University Saint Davids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,308 | 29 | 54% | $25,146 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,958 | 75 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,119 | 141 | 58% | — | $27,937 |
| 10 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,316 | 49 | 66% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Pennsylvania
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 Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 320 | $40,836 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania Western University California Public | 233 | $39,192 |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 209 | Not reported |
| 4 | Widener University Chester Private not-for-profit | 206 | Not reported |
| 5 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 175 | $39,055 |
| 6 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 150 | Not reported |
| 7 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public | 141 | $33,119 |
| 8 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public | 93 | $37,135 |
| 9 | Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr Private not-for-profit | 75 | Not reported |
| 10 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public | 75 | $33,958 |
ShowHide the other 35 Pennsylvania colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 73 |
| Marywood University | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 53 |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock | Public | 49 |
| Carlow University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 41 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Public | 33 |
| Alvernia University | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 32 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Public | 31 |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 31 |
| Eastern University | Saint Davids | Private not-for-profit | 29 |
| Cedar Crest College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Northampton County Area Community College | Bethlehem | Public | 26 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | East Stroudsburg | Public | 24 |
| Lancaster Bible College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Reading Area Community College | Reading | Public | 14 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Grove City College | Grove City | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | Schnecksville | Public | 6 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Bucks County Community College | Newtown | Public | 5 |
| Butler County Community College | Butler | Public | 5 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Chatham University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Gannon University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Gwynedd Mercy University | Gwynedd Valley | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Immaculata University | Immaculata | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Neumann University | Aston | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Public | 3 |
| Saint Francis University | Loretto | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Valley Forge | Phoenixville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Misericordia University | Dallas | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | Johnstown | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (320 graduates a year), Pennsylvania Western University (233 graduates a year) and University of Pennsylvania (209 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 45 Pennsylvania colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,836, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania Western University and Temple University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is the largest, with 320 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus tops the list at $40,836. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Pennsylvania is $65,690 (median $61,900), across about 9,630 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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