Best colleges for Social Work in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Eastern Washington University and Heritage University are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Washington by graduate earnings. University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,969, College Scorecard. Eastern Washington University, University of Washington-Seattle Campus and University of Washington-Tacoma Campus award the most Social Work degrees in Washington: 158, 86 and 76 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 Washington colleges offer Social Work and award 526 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 3 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 Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,969 | 86 | 85% | — | $17,396 |
| 2 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,102 | 158 | 43% | — | $17,109 |
| 3 | Heritage University Toppenish Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,164 | 39 | 54% | $13,380 | $14,007 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Washington
Top 8 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 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public | 158 | $39,102 |
| 2 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 86 | $40,969* |
| 3 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma Public | 76 | $40,969* |
| 4 | Walla Walla University College Place Private not-for-profit | 71 | Not reported |
| 5 | Seattle University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 55 | Not reported |
| 6 | Heritage University Toppenish Private not-for-profit | 39 | $37,164 |
| 7 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
| 8 | Saint Martin's University Lacey Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 Washington colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonds College | Lynnwood | Public | 9 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
Eastern Washington University (158 graduates a year), University of Washington-Seattle Campus (86 graduates a year) and University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (76 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 Washington colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, University of Washington-Seattle Campus leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,969, College Scorecard. Eastern Washington University and Heritage University follow. By degrees awarded, Eastern Washington University is the largest, with 158 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Washington-Seattle Campus tops the list at $40,969. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Washington?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Washington is $81,040 (median $78,570), across about 5,180 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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