2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
Social Work is the 12th most popular major in the country with 57,618 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, social work graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,459 and had an average of $30,084 in loans still to pay off.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 32,385 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 278 colleges that offer a degree in social work. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent social work programs, but they also cost less that 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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 a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 193 students in 2019-2020.
UPenn also took the #9 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Pennsylvania are $41,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Social Work at University of Pennsylvania
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 199 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.
UChicago also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 278 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington University in St Louis landed the #3 spot on the list. WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 247 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
WUSTL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Washington University in St Louis are $56,562, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 278 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 379 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
U-M also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.
Read more about Social Work at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Out of the 278 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Hunter College landed the #5 spot on the list. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 544 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, Hunter is in the top on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Hunter College are $20,828.
With a ranking of #6, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 142 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UNC Chapel Hill is also in the top of our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248.
Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Social Work Report
With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 167 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - Los Angeles came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 174 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 248 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.
UW Seattle not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 502 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Social Work at Columbia University in the City of New York
Lehman College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lehman College is a public institution located in Bronx, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 81 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Lehman are $21,000.
University of California - Berkeley came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of California - Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 91 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.
UC Berkeley also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 151 students in 2019-2020.
On top of its placing in this ranking, UIUC also did well on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Social Work Report
University of California - Los Angeles ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 79 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131.
Full University of California - Los Angeles Social Work Report
California State University - Fresno came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - Fresno is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 49 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UT Rio Grande Valley is a public institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 86 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UT Rio Grande Valley are $15,151.
Read more about Social Work at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
With a ranking of #17, California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Carson, California, and it awarded 99 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Dominguez Hills are $17,884, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #18, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stan State is a public institution located in Turlock, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 89 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stan State are $18,540.
California State University - Long Beach ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSULB is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 230 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on this list, CSULB is in the top on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
California State University - Fullerton ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 93 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.
University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of South Florida - Main Campus is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 128 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at USF Tampa are $21,126, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full University of South Florida - Main Campus Social Work Report
University of Central Florida ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Central Florida is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 194 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Florida are $28,657, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Social Work at University of Central Florida
Boston College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, and it awarded 217 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Boston College also took the #17 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boston College are $31,930.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 124 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UMN Twin Cities excels when it comes to social work quality. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Social Work Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 365 students in 2019-2020.
Ohio State also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #23. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141.
Rest of the Best 42 in Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k
Not only did these schools make the top 42 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Army Medicine.
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