by our College Data Analytics Team
[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where social work graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send social work graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Catholic University Of America, our #1 for social work graduate salaries in the United States. Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Catholic University Of America typically earn about $69,749 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in social work will find them at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,522.
Strong graduate earnings at Long Island University C W Post Campus earned it the #3 place for social work. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,188.
Marist College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Marist College make a median of around $63,079 per year.
Adelphi University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in social work, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit institution. Social Work graduates of Adelphi University earn a median of about $62,708 a year early in their careers.
Molloy College came in at #6 for social work graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Molloy College typically earn about $62,027 annually.
Saint Joseph College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for social work. Set in the city of West Hartford, Saint Joseph College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Saint Joseph College make a median of around $60,647 per year.
Saint Martins University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Saint Martins University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lacey. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,582.
Syracuse University landed the #9 spot for social work salaries this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Syracuse University typically earn about $59,353 annually.
Monmouth University came in at #10 for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of West Long Branch, Monmouth University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Monmouth University make a median of around $59,332 per year.
Sacred Heart University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Sacred Heart University make a median of around $59,083 per year.
Pacific Lutheran University came in at #12 for social work graduate earnings this year. Pacific Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Tacoma. Early-career social work graduates from Pacific Lutheran University make a median of around $58,933 per year.
Siena College earned the #13 position for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Loudonville, Siena College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Siena College make a median of around $57,978 per year.
Stony Brook University earned the #14 position for social work graduate earnings this year. Stony Brook University is a public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Early-career social work graduates from Stony Brook University make a median of around $57,611 per year.
Providence College came in at #15 for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Providence, Providence College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,571.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #16 for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Social Work graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $57,400 a year early in their careers.
Concordia College At Moorhead landed the #17 spot for social work salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Concordia College At Moorhead is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Concordia College At Moorhead typically earn about $57,260 annually.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #18 spot for social work salaries this year. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public school located in the suburb of West Chester. After graduating, social work degree recipients from West Chester University Of Pennsylvania typically earn about $56,840 annually.
Mcdaniel College came in at #19 for social work graduate earnings this year. Mcdaniel College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Westminster. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Mcdaniel College typically earn about $56,787 annually.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #20 for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago typically earn about $56,302 annually.
Oral Roberts University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Oral Roberts University typically earn about $56,203 annually.
San Francisco State University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for social work. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. Social Work graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of about $66,675 a year early in their careers.
Baylor University landed the #23 spot for social work salaries this year. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Baylor University make a median of around $55,750 per year.
Widener University Main Campus placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for social work. Set in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Social Work graduates of Widener University Main Campus earn a median of about $54,986 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Florida came in at #25 for social work graduate earnings this year. University Of North Florida is a public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,778.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning social work graduates:
These schools also placed among the highest-paying for social work graduates this year:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | Methodist University | Fayetteville, NC | $50,853 | Full Report |
| #52 | University Of Nevada Reno | Reno, NV | $65,551 | Full Report |
| #53 | Saint Marys College | Notre Dame, IN | $50,474 | Full Report |
| #54 | University Of St Francis | Joliet, IL | $50,385 | Full Report |
| #55 | University Of Wyoming | Laramie, WY | $50,305 | Full Report |
| #56 | University Of Washington Seattle Campus | Seattle, WA | $64,100 | Full Report |
| #57 | University Of Washington Tacoma Campus | Tacoma, WA | $64,100 | Full Report |
| #58 | Marian University Wisconsin | Fond Du Lac, WI | $50,092 | Full Report |
| #59 | Carlow University | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,896 | Full Report |
| #60 | Cuny Medgar Evers College | Brooklyn, NY | $58,038 | Full Report |
| #61 | East Central University | Ada, OK | $49,640 | Full Report |
| #62 | Daemen College | Amherst, NY | $49,506 | Full Report |
| #63 | University Of Mary Hardin Baylor | Belton, TX | $49,498 | Full Report |
| #64 | University Of Wisconsin River Falls | River Falls, WI | $54,835 | Full Report |
| #65 | Alvernia University | Reading, PA | $49,329 | Full Report |
Also worth considering for earnings in social work:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Social Work rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their social work graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
