2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Missouri
[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools to find the best return on investment for social work students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Missouri
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social work degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Social Work Schools
For return on investment in social work, no school beat Missouri Southern State University this year. Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Joplin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $25,983. Early-career social work graduates make about $27,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri Southern State University admits about 97% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in social work will find it at University Of Missouri St Louis, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, while out-of-state students pay about $37,620. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $31,000. Early-career social work graduates make about $42,241. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Missouri Kansas City one of the best values for social work. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $50,723 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Southeast Missouri State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,433 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $32,224. Set against $25,433 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Missouri is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $26,579. Early-career social work graduates make about $39,295. Set against $26,579 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Western State University came in at #6 for value in social work this year. Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Saint Joseph. In-state tuition and fees average $9,545, compared with $18,455 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $27,679. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Missouri Western State University generally make around $33,532. Set against $27,679 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Park University earned the #7 position for value in social work this year. Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. Students from in state pay about $12,116 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Park University generally make around $49,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #8 among the best values for social work. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $25,085 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $41,349. Set against $25,085 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Lindenwood University landed the #9 spot for social work value this year. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Social Work graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career social work graduates make about $48,197. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #10 spot for social work value this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Students borrow a median of $23,119 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $44,434. That is a strong return on a $23,119 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Evangel University came in at #11 for value in social work this year. Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $28,548 in tuition and fees. Social Work graduates carry a median of $24,876 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Evangel University generally make around $42,039. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis landed the #12 spot for social work value this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $50,855 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Missouri Baptist University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $33,122 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,337 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of Missouri Baptist University earn a median of $45,270 early in their careers. Set against $27,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri Baptist University admits about 69% of applicants.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #14 for value in social work this year. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $27,166 in tuition and fees. Social Work graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $67,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Maryville University Of Saint Louis admits about 95% of applicants.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $22,875. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $48,270. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
More Social Work Rankings
View All Social Work Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
