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. The schools below stand out for the salaries their social work graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying social work schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose social work graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Hawaii Pacific University, our #1 for social work graduate salaries in Hawaii. Set in the city of Honolulu, Hawaii Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Social Work graduates of Hawaii Pacific University earn a median of about $68,975 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in social work will find them at University Of Hawaii At Manoa, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,518.
Students chasing top earnings in social work will find them at Brigham Young University Hawaii, which ranked #3. Brigham Young University Hawaii is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Laie. Social Work graduates of Brigham Young University Hawaii earn a median of about $41,902 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries social work graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 3 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.