2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k
441
Ranked Colleges
58,326
Degrees Awarded
$4,700
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Social Work is the 13th most popular major in the country with 58,326 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, social work graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $37,651 and had an average of $26,679 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 441 colleges that offered a degree in social work. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality social work programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the social work program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 175 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
UChicago also made our “Best Social Work Schools” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $2,500 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Read more about Social Work at University of Chicago
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. UPenn is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 180 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
UPenn also made our “Best Social Work Schools” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for UPenn is $580 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Social Work at UPenn
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 403 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $2,670 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Washington University in St Louis is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 267 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
WUSTL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It costs about $1,556 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WUSTL.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Washington University in St Louis Social Work Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 197 students in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley also took the #1 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Berkeley is $8,450 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read more about Social Work at University of California - Berkeley
Hunter College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in New York, New York, this large public school handed out 661 degrees to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, Hunter is in the top on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $396 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hunter College.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Hunter
Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 501 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
Columbia also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia is $9,873 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Social Work at Columbia
University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 208 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $3,981 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Social Work at UW - Madison
California State University - Los Angeles ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 308 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $1,887 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Cal State LA.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at California State University - Los Angeles
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 137 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Chapel Hill also claimed a top spot on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $3,753 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at UNC Chapel Hill
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 226 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $4,858 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UIUC Social Work Report
Lehman College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bronx, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 213 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Lehman is $881 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Lehman College Social Work Report
University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 170 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UW Seattle is $5,194 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read full report on Social Work at UW Seattle
Boston College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 273 degrees to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, Boston College has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Boston College is $10,212 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Social Work at Boston College
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 617 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, IUPUI is in the top on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $7,026 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
California State University - Fresno ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 184 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Fresno State is $3,859 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at California State University - Fresno
University of California - Los Angeles landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of California - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 92 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UCLA also took the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $9,037 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of California - Los Angeles Social Work Report
Smith College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Northampton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 127 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, Smith is in the top on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $9,215 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Smith.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Smith College Social Work Report
York College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. York is a medium-sized school located in Jamaica, New York that handed out 89 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $2,316 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend York.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at York College
Florida Atlantic University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Florida Atlantic University is a large school located in Boca Raton, Florida that handed out 208 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, FAU also did well on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Florida Atlantic University is $6,726 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at Florida Atlantic University
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 526 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ohio State has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $7,068 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Ohio State
University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 182 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend USF Tampa is $4,176 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at USF Tampa
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. UT Rio Grande Valley is a large public school situated in Edinburg, Texas. It awarded 281 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $2,191 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UT Rio Grande Valley Social Work Report
Camden County College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Camden County College is a medium-sized public school situated in Blackwood, New Jersey. It awarded 38 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, Camden County College is in the top on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It costs about $4,978 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Camden County College.
Read full report on Social Work at Camden County College
Florida State University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Florida State is a large school located in Tallahassee, Florida that handed out 101 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Florida State also did well on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $4,950 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Florida State.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Florida State University
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