by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 71 schools in the Southeast Region to determine which ones were the best for social work students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 5,428 master's degrees in social work to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The social work master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality social work program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we consider a college's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for social work students working on their master's degree.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Social Work Master's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list, to help you choose the best school for you.
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for social work students seeking a a master's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
It is difficult to beat University of Kentucky if you wish to pursue a master's degree in social work. Located in the large city of Lexington, UK is a public university with a fairly large student population.
After graduation, social work master's recipients usually earn an average of $38,642 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a master’s in social work from University of Kentucky
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a good decision for students interested in a master's degree in social work. Located in the small city of Chapel Hill, UNC Chapel Hill is a public university with a very large student population.
Those social work students who get their master's degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill receive $3,198 more than the average social work student.
More information about a master’s in social work from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Every student who is interested in a master's degree in social work needs to take a look at University of Georgia. UGA is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Athens.
Students who graduate with their master's from the social work program state that they receive average early career earnings of $41,594.
More information about a master’s in social work from University of Georgia
It is difficult to beat The University of Tennessee - Knoxville if you want to pursue a master's degree in social work. UT Knoxville is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Knoxville.
After graduating, social work master's recipients generally earn an average of $39,989 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in social work from The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Located in the large city of New Orleans, Tulane is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the social work program earn an average of $40,451 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in social work from Tulane University of Louisiana
VCU is a very large public university located in the city of Richmond.
Master's recipients from the social work major at Virginia Commonwealth University earn $4,730 more than the average graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University
Louisiana State University is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Baton Rouge.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the social work program make about $39,032 for their early career.
More information about a master’s in social work from Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
UA is a fairly large public university located in the city of Tuscaloosa.
After graduation, social work master's recipients generally make an average of $38,260 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a master’s in social work from The University of Alabama
Located in the medium-sized city of Columbia, UofSC is a public university with a very large student population.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the social work program make an average of $39,788 for their early career.
More information about a master’s in social work from University of South Carolina - Columbia
Located in the suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Master's recipients from the social work major at George Mason University get $11,526 above the average college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in social work from George Mason UniversityHere are some additional great schools for Social Work students in the Southeast Region that almost earned our Best Social Work Master's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Auburn University | Auburn, AL |
| 12 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL |
| 13 | University of Louisville | Louisville, KY |
| 14 | North Carolina State University | Raleigh, NC |
| 15 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR |
| 16 | University of South Florida - Main Campus | Tampa, FL |
| 17 | Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, TN |
Explore the best social work schools for a specific state in the Southeast Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 208 | 686 |
| Georgia | 190 | 430 |
| Virginia | 182 | 366 |
| North Carolina | 178 | 823 |
| Tennessee | 166 | 568 |
| Alabama | 151 | 603 |
| Kentucky | 147 | 764 |
| Louisiana | 147 | 574 |
| South Carolina | 146 | 209 |
| Mississippi | 145 | 137 |
| Arkansas | 121 | 125 |
| West Virginia | 112 | 143 |
One of 0 majors within the <nil> area of study, Social Work has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 5,381 |
| Child Advocacy & Policy | 47 |
