Best colleges for Social Work in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Liberty University, George Mason University and Radford University are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Liberty University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,828, College Scorecard. Virginia Commonwealth University, Liberty University and George Mason University award the most Social Work degrees in Virginia: 452, 317 and 165 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 Virginia colleges offer Social Work and award 1,299 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 8 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 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,828 | 317 | 65% | $28,911 | $29,000 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,559 | 165 | 68% | — | $24,188 |
| 3 | Radford University Radford Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,272 | 82 | 49% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | Mary Baldwin University Staunton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,537 | 26 | 39% | $18,500 | $33,375 |
| 5 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,088 | 452 | 63% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,687 | 44 | 80% | — | $18,989 |
| 7 | Virginia State University Petersburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,527 | 45 | 39% | — | $31,000 |
| 8 | Longwood University Farmville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,160 | 17 | 61% | — | $26,419 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Virginia
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 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 452 | $34,088 |
| 2 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 317 | $38,828 |
| 3 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 165 | $38,559 |
| 4 | Norfolk State University Norfolk Public | 99 | Not reported |
| 5 | Radford University Radford Public | 82 | $38,272 |
| 6 | Virginia State University Petersburg Public | 45 | $28,527 |
| 7 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 44 | $31,687 |
| 8 | Mary Baldwin University Staunton Private not-for-profit | 26 | $37,537 |
| 9 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 10 | Longwood University Farmville Public | 17 | $41,160 |
ShowHide the other 4 Virginia colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Union University | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
Virginia Commonwealth University (452 graduates a year), Liberty University (317 graduates a year) and George Mason University (165 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 Virginia colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Liberty University leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,828, College Scorecard. George Mason University and Radford University follow. By degrees awarded, Virginia Commonwealth University is the largest, with 452 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Liberty University tops the list at $38,828. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Virginia is $69,390 (median $66,550), across about 3,070 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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