2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Doctorate” ranking.
In 2019-2020, 57,618 people earned their degree in social work, making the major the 12th most popular in the United States. 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 doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 640 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate” ranking, we looked at 67 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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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 a Doctorate” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate.
Top 25 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Walden University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Walden University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 32 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Walden University are $10,716, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Capella University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large private for-profit school handed out 60 degrees to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Aurora University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate. Aurora is located in Aurora, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora University are $13,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 67 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras is a public institution located in San Juan, . The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UPR Rio Piedras are $3,620, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of St Thomas Minnesota. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate. University of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UST MN also took the #11 spot in our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UST MN are $24,814, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #6, The University of Texas at Austin did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
UT Austin also made our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin
University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #8, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Loyola Chicago also made our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola University Chicago are $19,154, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Kutztown University is a medium-sized public school situated in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 5 doctorate’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 Kutztown University are $16,300.
Millersville University of Pennsylvania ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Millersville, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Millersville University of Pennsylvania are $16,350, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Social Work at Millersville University of Pennsylvania
University of Utah did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #11. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U of U are $24,695.
Simmons University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Simmons is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Simmons are $21,698, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Houston came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Located in Houston, Texas, this large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Kansas landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at KU are $25,007, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Saint Louis University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Saint Louis University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 2 doctorate’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 SLU are $22,074.
University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #16. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 2 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Mizzou also made our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #25. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Social Work at University of Missouri - Columbia
With a ranking of #17, Jackson State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Jackson State is located in Jackson, Mississippi and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Jackson State are $9,445.
University of Georgia came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. UGA is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 8 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Georgia are $27,476, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Clark Atlanta University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Clark Atlanta University are $15,464, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #21, Florida International University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Social Work at Florida International University
With a ranking of #22, Barry University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Barry University is a medium-sized school located in Miami, Florida that handed out 2 doctorate’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 Barry University are $17,910.
With a ranking of #23, Colorado State University - Fort Collins did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Colorado State is a public institution located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Colorado State University - Fort Collins are $28,055, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Colorado State University - Fort Collins Social Work Report
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. This large school is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Social Work at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295.
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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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