Best colleges for Social Work in Wisconsin
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Wisconsin-River Falls, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. University of Wisconsin-River Falls leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,870, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater award the most Social Work degrees in Wisconsin: 229, 202 and 111 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Wisconsin colleges offer Social Work and award 1,011 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 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,870 | 23 | 57% | — | $26,303 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,135 | 105 | 48% | — | $25,237 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,948 | 47 | 46% | — | $26,750 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,582 | 25 | 51% | — | $26,500 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,562 | 95 | 64% | — | $23,000 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,188 | 229 | 49% | — | $29,610 |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,952 | 111 | 59% | — | $25,912 |
| 8 | Viterbo University La Crosse Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $46,384 | 14 | 68% | $20,655 | $31,000 |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-Superior Superior Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,487 | 18 | 42% | — | $29,166 |
| 10 | Marquette University Milwaukee Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,494 | 10 | 83% | $25,376 | $19,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Wisconsin
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 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee Public | 229 | $40,188 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Public | 202 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater Public | 111 | $37,952 |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay Public | 105 | $44,135 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire Public | 95 | $40,562 |
| 6 | Concordia University - Wisconsin Mequon Private not-for-profit | 63 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh Public | 47 | $43,948 |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point Public | 25 | $41,582 |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls River Falls Public | 23 | $45,870 |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie Public | 20 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 Wisconsin colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Superior | Superior | Public | 18 |
| Viterbo University | La Crosse | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Carthage College | Kenosha | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Mount Mary University | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Herzing University - Madison (Online) | Madison | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Marian University | Fond Du Lac | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Alverno College | Milwaukee | 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 Wisconsin
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Wisconsin.
Which Wisconsin colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (229 graduates a year), University of Wisconsin-Madison (202 graduates a year) and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (111 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Wisconsin colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Wisconsin?+
By graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-River Falls leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,870, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh follow. By degrees awarded, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is the largest, with 229 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Wisconsin has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Wisconsin-River Falls tops the list at $45,870. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Wisconsin?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Wisconsin is $69,510 (median $66,910), across about 3,770 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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