Best colleges for Social Work in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Union University, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and University of Memphis are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. Union University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,056, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, University of Memphis and Union University award the most Social Work degrees in Tennessee: 563, 133 and 86 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 19 Tennessee colleges offer Social Work and award 1,214 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 | Union University Jackson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,056 | 86 | 66% | $25,882 | $39,415 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,730 | 563 | 74% | — | $25,683 |
| 3 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,220 | 133 | 51% | — | $36,506 |
| 4 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,574 | 54 | 54% | — | $22,100 |
| 5 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,384 | 49 | 40% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | King University Bristol Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,380 | 53 | 48% | $23,546 | $28,732 |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,240 | 38 | 53% | — | $25,653 |
| 8 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,514 | 77 | 53% | — | $23,000 |
| 9 | Tennessee State University Nashville Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,449 | 27 | 34% | — | $31,500 |
| 10 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,923 | 50 | 50% | — | $20,043 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Tennessee
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 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 563 | $37,730 |
| 2 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 133 | $36,220 |
| 3 | Union University Jackson Private not-for-profit | 86 | $38,056 |
| 4 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 77 | $32,514 |
| 5 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 54 | $35,574 |
| 6 | King University Bristol Private not-for-profit | 53 | $34,380 |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 50 | $27,923 |
| 8 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 49 | $34,384 |
| 9 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public | 38 | $34,240 |
| 10 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale Private not-for-profit | 34 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 9 Tennessee colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee State University | Nashville | Public | 27 |
| Belmont University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Le Moyne-Owen College | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (563 graduates a year), University of Memphis (133 graduates a year) and Union University (86 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 19 Tennessee colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, Union University leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,056, College Scorecard. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville and University of Memphis follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is the largest, with 563 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Union University tops the list at $38,056. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Tennessee is $62,750 (median $61,240), across about 5,970 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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