Virginia · Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

Best colleges for Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions in Virginia

Ranked by graduate earnings

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Old Dominion University and Southside Virginia Community College are the top Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,904, College Scorecard. Liberty University, Old Dominion University and Regent University award the most Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions degrees and certificates in Virginia: 776, 173 and 152 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 Virginia colleges offer Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions and award 1,689 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions program focuses on equipping students with the skills needed to support individuals facing mental health challenges and social issues. This program is ideal for those interested…

Institutions
28
offering CIP 51.15
States offered
51
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,689
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$29,501
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
7
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,933
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
44%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$72,020
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 7 institutions, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Richmond Public · Associate degree
$39,90410832%—$32,601
2Old Dominion University
Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,64517346%—$30,949
3Southside Virginia Community College
Alberta Public · Certificate
$31,9752842%—$9,500
4Brightpoint Community College
Chester Public · Associate degree
$26,2773938%—$17,594
5Virginia Peninsula Community College
Hampton Public · Associate degree
$25,2712934%—$24,703
6Southwest Virginia Community College
Cedar Bluff Public · Certificate Small program
$29,5011546%——
7Tidewater Community College
Norfolk Public · Associate degree Small program
$23,5091432%—$25,000

Colleges awarding the most Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions degrees in Virginia

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Liberty University
Lynchburg Private not-for-profit
776Not reported
2Old Dominion University
Norfolk Public
173$37,645
3Regent University
Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit
152Not reported
4J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Richmond Public
108$39,904
5Blue Ridge Community College
Weyers Cave Public
45Not reported
6Marymount University
Arlington Private not-for-profit
41Not reported
7Brightpoint Community College
Chester Public
39$26,277
8Virginia Western Community College
Roanoke Public
34Not reported
9Virginia Peninsula Community College
Hampton Public
29$25,271
10Southside Virginia Community College
Alberta Public
28$31,975
Show the other 18 Virginia colleges offering Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Divine Mercy University (Graduate only)SterlingPrivate not-for-profit78
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondPublic27
New River Community CollegeDublinPublic19
Germanna Community CollegeLocust GrovePublic15
Southwest Virginia Community CollegeCedar BluffPublic15
Eastern Mennonite UniversityHarrisonburgPrivate not-for-profit14
University of LynchburgLynchburgPrivate not-for-profit14
Tidewater Community CollegeNorfolkPublic14
Virginia Union UniversityRichmondPrivate not-for-profit12
Northern Virginia Community CollegeAnnandalePublic11
Wytheville Community CollegeWythevillePublic9
Bluefield UniversityBluefieldPrivate not-for-profit8
Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAbingdonPublic8
South University - RichmondGlen AllenPrivate for-profit7
Emory & Henry UniversityEmoryPrivate not-for-profit6
Patrick & Henry Community CollegeMartinsvillePublic4
Bridgewater CollegeBridgewaterPrivate not-for-profit2
South University - Virginia BeachVirginia BeachPrivate for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (SOC 21-1023).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+9.7%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~13,500
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$60,060
typically Master's degree

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMonitoringLearning Strategies

What Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers earn in Virginia

Jobs in Virginia
3,670
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$72,020
median $64,240
Best-paying metro
$72,820
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

Related careers

Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$66,500 avg · 9,410 jobs
Psychiatric Technicians
$48,110 avg · 3,950 jobs
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$72,020 avg · 3,670 jobs
Healthcare Social Workers
$69,390 avg · 3,070 jobs
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
$98,460 avg · 2,140 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions programs in Virginia.

Which Virginia colleges award the most Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions degrees?+

Liberty University (776 graduates a year), Old Dominion University (173 graduates a year) and Regent University (152 graduates a year) award the most Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions degrees and certificates in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 Virginia colleges offer Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions.

What is the best college for Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions in Virginia?+

By graduate earnings, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College leads among Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,904, College Scorecard. Old Dominion University and Southside Virginia Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Liberty University is the largest, with 776 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College tops the list at $39,904. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers earn in Virginia?+

The average annual wage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Virginia is $72,020 (median $64,240), across about 3,670 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions program?+

The Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions program focuses on equipping students with the skills needed to support individuals facing mental health challenges and social issues. This program is ideal for those interested…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers?+

The national job outlook is about +9.7% growth with around 13,500 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).

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions in other statesCaliforniaColoradoGeorgiaMinnesotaWashingtonNew HampshireKansasSouth Dakota

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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