Best colleges for Social Work
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Social Work by graduate earnings are University of North Dakota ($49,695), San Francisco State University ($48,750) and University of Alaska Fairbanks ($48,151), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND): $49,695, 118 graduates a year
- San Francisco State University (San Francisco, CA): $48,750, 91 graduates a year
- University of Alaska Fairbanks (Fairbanks, AK): $48,151, 23 graduates a year
- Seton Hall University (South Orange, NJ): $47,734, 51 graduates a year
- Metropolitan State University (Saint Paul, MN): $47,637, 65 graduates a year
Compare 801 U.S. colleges offering Social Work by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 54 states.
Social Work programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,290 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 44.07 and the Healthcare Social Workers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Social Work programs
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 passionate about helping others and addressing social issues. Students engage in practical experiences to develop essential skills for effective practice in diverse settings. Designed for those interested in public administration and social services, the program offers specializations such as Youth Services/Administration and Forensic Social Work. Graduates are equipped to work in various environments, advocating for clients and collaborating with other professionals to ensure comprehensive care and support.
In the Social Work program, students develop core skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework covers essential knowledge areas including psychology, sociology, therapy, and counseling, preparing students to understand and address the complex needs of clients.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 Dakota Grand Forks, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,695 | 118 | 60% | — | $26,000 |
| 2 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,750 | 91 | 50% | — | $17,259 |
| 3 | University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,151 | 23 | 38% | — | $28,750 |
| 4 | Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,734 | 51 | 69% | $27,376 | $25,721 |
| 5 | Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,637 | 65 | 44% | — | $29,615 |
| 6 | Bemidji State University Bemidji, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,192 | 34 | 48% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,368 | 38 | 45% | — | — |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,870 | 23 | 57% | — | $26,303 |
| 9 | University of Alaska Anchorage Anchorage, AK Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,565 | 71 | 30% | — | $31,750 |
| 10 | Salem State University Salem, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,450 | 146 | 50% | — | $27,000 |
| 11 | The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,371 | 91 | 71% | $21,150 | $37,059 |
| 12 | Bethel University Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,259 | 29 | 71% | $25,225 | $25,000 |
| 13 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,227 | 25 | 49% | — | $27,947 |
| 14 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,906 | 192 | 93% | — | $13,719 |
| 15 | CUNY York College Jamaica, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,742 | 65 | 32% | — | $9,500 |
| 16 | Minot State University Minot, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,731 | 37 | 45% | — | $27,000 |
| 17 | Winona State University Winona, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,546 | 142 | 57% | — | $27,000 |
| 18 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,427 | 121 | 51% | — | $21,686 |
| 19 | St Catherine University Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,257 | 77 | 61% | $21,042 | $30,912 |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,135 | 105 | 48% | — | $25,237 |
| 21 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,015 | 293 | 32% | — | $29,578 |
| 22 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,948 | 47 | 46% | — | $26,750 |
| 23 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,726 | 71 | 40% | — | $27,996 |
| 24 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,471 | 67 | 57% | — | $27,000 |
| 25 | Augsburg University Minneapolis, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,303 | 30 | 52% | $23,585 | $25,737 |
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 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · Graduate degree | $51,416 | 507 | 93% | — | — |
Specializations within Social Work
4 of the 4 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 44.07 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Social WorkCIP 44.070156,891 graduates / yr786 institutions54 states
- Social WorkCIP 44.0799556 graduates / yr31 institutions21 states
- Youth Services/CIP 44.0702
Administration 231 graduates / yr22 institutions18 states - Forensic Social WorkCIP 44.0703New in CIP 2020limited data31 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
Offered across 54 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-1022, Healthcare Social Workers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Social Work program can pursue careers in various settings, with a median wage of $68,090. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 7.7% and approximately 18,400 annual openings. A typical education requirement for these roles is a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Social Work
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 44.07.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 44.07 (Social Work) maps to 9 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9151 | Social and Community Service Managers |
| 21-1013 | Marriage and Family Therapists |
| 21-1019 | Counselors, All Other |
| 21-1021 | Child, Family, and School Social Workers |
| 21-1022 | Healthcare Social Workersprimary |
| 21-1023 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers |
| 21-1029 | Social Workers, All Other |
| 21-1092 | Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists |
| 25-1113 | Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Social Work programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
- Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Social Work program?+
The program focuses on advocacy, education, and connecting clients with resources to improve their well-being.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
Students will enhance skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What are the career prospects after graduation?+
The job outlook is strong, with a growth rate of 7.7% and around 18,400 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
A master's degree is typically required for careers in social work.
How much do Social Work graduates earn?+
Social Work graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $37,290, College Scorecard (2019); the Healthcare Social Workers occupation pays about $71,790 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Social Work?+
Social Work maps to CIP 44.07 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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