by our College Data Analytics Team
[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. 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.
San Jose State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools in the United States. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. After graduating, social work degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $102,199 annually.
San Francisco State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in social work, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Early-career social work graduates from San Francisco State University make a median of around $90,439 per year.
A rank of #3 makes California State University East Bay one of the highest-paying schools for social work. California State University East Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $94,698.
California State University Bakersfield produces some of the highest-paid graduates in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. California State University Bakersfield is a public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,867.
California State University Monterey Bay came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,843.
California State University Los Angeles came in at #6 for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $88,174.
California State University Long Beach earned the #7 position for social work graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,404.
California State University Sacramento came in at #8 for social work graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from California State University Sacramento typically earn about $84,839 annually.
California State University Stanislaus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,032.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #10 for social work graduate earnings this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, social work degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles typically earn about $82,792 annually.
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #11 for social work graduate earnings this year. California State University Dominguez Hills is a public school located in the city of Carson. Early-career social work graduates from California State University Dominguez Hills make a median of around $80,731 per year.
California State University San Bernardino ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $77,306.
California State University Fresno came in at #13 for social work graduate earnings this year. California State University Fresno is a public school located in the city of Fresno. Early-career social work graduates from California State University Fresno make a median of around $79,777 per year.
California State University Northridge earned the #14 position for social work graduate earnings this year. California State University Northridge is a public school located in the city of Northridge. Early-career social work graduates from California State University Northridge make a median of around $79,887 per year.
California State University Fullerton earned the #15 position for social work graduate earnings this year. California State University Fullerton is a public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,871.
Azusa Pacific University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. Early-career social work graduates from Azusa Pacific University make a median of around $78,483 per year.
San Diego State University earned the #17 position for social work graduate earnings this year. San Diego State University is a public school located in the city of San Diego. Social Work graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of about $76,958 a year early in their careers.
California State University Chico landed the #18 spot for social work salaries this year. California State University Chico is a public school located in the city of Chico. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,410.
California State University San Marcos came in at #19 for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a public institution. Social Work graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of about $72,619 a year early in their careers.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #20 for social work graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Columbia University In The City Of New York make a median of around $76,461 per year.
Cuny Lehman College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Cuny Lehman College is a public school located in the city of Bronx. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College typically earn about $71,468 annually.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Early-career social work graduates from University Of Washington Seattle Campus make a median of around $73,295 per year.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public school located in the city of Tacoma. Early-career social work graduates from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus make a median of around $73,295 per year.
University Of Alaska Anchorage ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the city of Anchorage, University Of Alaska Anchorage is a public institution. Early-career social work graduates from University Of Alaska Anchorage make a median of around $69,992 per year.
Cuny Hunter College landed the #25 spot for social work salaries this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a public institution. Social Work graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of about $73,624 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning social work graduates:
These schools earned honorable mentions for social work graduate pay:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | Simmons College | Boston, MA | $69,360 | Full Report |
| #52 | Widener University Main Campus | Chester, PA | $68,978 | Full Report |
| #53 | West Chester University Of Pennsylvania | West Chester, PA | $60,954 | Full Report |
| #54 | Southern Connecticut State University | New Haven, CT | $70,451 | Full Report |
| #55 | Touro College | New York, NY | $65,070 | Full Report |
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Social Work rankings across degree levels:
This list is compiled 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 · 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.