Best colleges for Social Work in West Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Concord University, West Virginia University and Marshall University are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in West Virginia by graduate earnings. Concord University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,930, College Scorecard. West Virginia University, Concord University and Marshall University award the most Social Work degrees in West Virginia: 132, 110 and 67 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 West Virginia colleges offer Social Work and award 344 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 5 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 | Concord University Athens Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,930 | 110 | 39% | — | $18,967 |
| 2 | West Virginia University Morgantown Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,344 | 132 | 65% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Marshall University Huntington Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,344 | 67 | 51% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | Shepherd University Shepherdstown Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,965 | 9 | 51% | — | $27,722 |
| 5 | West Virginia State University Institute Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,060 | 13 | 39% | — | $37,371 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in West Virginia
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 | West Virginia University Morgantown Public | 132 | $34,344 |
| 2 | Concord University Athens Public | 110 | $35,930 |
| 3 | Marshall University Huntington Public | 67 | $33,344 |
| 4 | West Virginia State University Institute Public | 13 | $30,060 |
| 5 | Shepherd University Shepherdstown Public | 9 | $32,965 |
| 6 | Bethany College Bethany Private not-for-profit | 6 | Not reported |
| 7 | West Liberty University West Liberty Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 8 | West Virginia Northern Community College Wheeling Public | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in West Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in West Virginia.
Which West Virginia colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
West Virginia University (132 graduates a year), Concord University (110 graduates a year) and Marshall University (67 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in West Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 West Virginia colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in West Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Concord University leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in West Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,930, College Scorecard. West Virginia University and Marshall University follow. By degrees awarded, West Virginia University is the largest, with 132 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in West Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Concord University tops the list at $35,930. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in West Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in West Virginia is $63,470 (median $60,140), across about 1,100 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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