2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in New Jersey
[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for social work students.
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2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in social work, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Social Work Schools
Leading the list is Camden County College, our #1 best value for social work in New Jersey. Located in the suburb of Blackwood, Camden County College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,320, with out-of-state students paying around $4,416. Students borrow a median of $9,219 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of Camden County College earn a median of $24,616 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Essex County College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Essex County College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Newark. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,415, compared with $9,523 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,472 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $37,915. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cumberland County College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Cumberland County College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Vineland. Students from in state pay about $5,160 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,803 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Cumberland County College generally make around $37,250. That is a strong return on a $15,803 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in social work will find it at Brookdale Community College, which ranked #4. Brookdale Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lincroft. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,270, compared with $10,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,458 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Brookdale Community College generally make around $37,374. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hudson County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #5 spot this year. Hudson County Community College is a large public school located in the city of Jersey City. In-state tuition and fees average $5,384, with out-of-state students paying around $9,248. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $10,671. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Hudson County Community College generally make around $35,909. That is a strong return on a $10,671 median debt.
Passaic County Community College came in at #6 for value in social work this year. Located in the suburb of Paterson, Passaic County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,300, compared with $10,560 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $9,581. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Passaic County Community College generally make around $28,957. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ocean County College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Set in the suburb of Toms River, Ocean County College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,906, compared with $6,970 for out-of-state students. Social Work graduates carry a median of $13,792 in student loans. Social Work graduates of Ocean County College earn a median of $41,306 early in their careers. Set against $13,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kean University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Set in the suburb of Union, Kean University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,299, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Students borrow a median of $26,703 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of Kean University earn a median of $50,074 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Montclair State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Montclair State University generally make around $42,925. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Montclair State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus came in at #10 for value in social work this year. Set in the suburb of Teaneck, Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,010 in tuition and fees. Social Work graduates carry a median of $24,770 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus generally make around $54,505. That is a strong return on a $24,770 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University Camden earned the #11 position for value in social work this year. Located in the city of Camden, Rutgers University Camden is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $17,764 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,276. Social Work graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Social Work graduates of Rutgers University Camden earn a median of $47,081 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Centenary College landed the #12 spot for social work value this year. Centenary College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hackettstown. Students from in state pay about $37,732 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $20,476. Early-career social work graduates make about $46,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Rutgers University Newark landed the #13 spot for social work value this year. Set in the city of Newark, Rutgers University Newark is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,250, compared with $36,762 for out-of-state students. Social Work graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Social Work graduates of Rutgers University Newark earn a median of $47,081 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey placed #14 among the best values for social work. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the rural area of Galloway. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,266, with out-of-state students paying around $24,524. Social Work graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career social work graduates make about $44,545. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey admits about 89% of applicants.
Georgian Court University landed the #15 spot for social work value this year. Located in the city of Lakewood, Georgian Court University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,110. Social Work graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career social work graduates make about $38,530. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgian Court University admits about 79% of applicants.
Ramapo College Of New Jersey landed the #16 spot for social work value this year. Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Mahwah. In-state tuition and fees average $16,777, while out-of-state students pay about $27,708. Social Work graduates carry a median of $24,491 in student loans. Early-career social work graduates make about $40,113. That is a strong return on a $24,491 median debt. Ramapo College Of New Jersey admits about 71% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #17 position for value in social work this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Social Work graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Social Work graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $67,673 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Seton Hall University came in at #18 for value in social work this year. Located in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,170. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $25,721. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Seton Hall University generally make around $49,824. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Monmouth University earned the #19 position for value in social work this year. Monmouth University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Long Branch. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,552. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Monmouth University generally make around $51,318. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Monmouth University admits about 89% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
