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 highest-paying schools turn a social work degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 73 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.
Catholic University Of America tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Catholic University Of America make a median of around $69,749 per year.
A rank of #2 makes Long Island University C W Post Campus one of the highest-paying schools for social work. Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookville. 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 #3 spot this year. Located 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 came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Garden City. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,708.
Strong graduate earnings at Molloy College earned it the #5 place for social work. Set in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,027.
Syracuse University landed the #6 spot for social work salaries this year. Syracuse University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Social Work graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of about $59,353 a year early in their careers.
Monmouth University earned the #7 position for social work graduate earnings this year. Monmouth University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Long Branch. Social Work graduates of Monmouth University earn a median of about $59,332 a year early in their careers.
Siena College came in at #8 for social work graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Loudonville, Siena College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,978.
Brookdale Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a public institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Brookdale Community College typically earn about $45,935 annually.
Stony Brook University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a public institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Stony Brook University typically earn about $57,611 annually.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #11 position for social work graduate earnings this year. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Social Work graduates of West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $56,840 a year early in their careers.
Mcdaniel College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the town of Westminster, Mcdaniel College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Mcdaniel College make a median of around $56,787 per year.
Widener University Main Campus placed #13 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.
Dominican College Of Blauvelt landed the #14 spot for social work salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Orangeburg, Dominican College Of Blauvelt is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,403.
Iona College earned the #15 position for social work graduate earnings this year. Iona College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of New Rochelle. Social Work graduates of Iona College earn a median of about $53,144 a year early in their careers.
Northampton County Area Community College earned the #16 position for social work graduate earnings this year. Northampton County Area Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Bethlehem. Social Work graduates of Northampton County Area Community College earn a median of about $42,138 a year early in their careers.
Cuny York College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Located in the city of Jamaica, Cuny York College is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,534.
Carlow University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for social work. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carlow University is a private not-for-profit institution. Social Work graduates of Carlow University earn a median of about $49,896 a year early in their careers.
Cuny Medgar Evers College came in at #19 for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Medgar Evers College is a public institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Cuny Medgar Evers College typically earn about $58,038 annually.
Daemen College came in at #20 for social work graduate earnings this year. Daemen College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Amherst. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Daemen College typically earn about $49,506 annually.
Alvernia University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the city of Reading, Alvernia University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Alvernia University typically earn about $49,329 annually.
Seton Hall University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Social Work graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of about $51,459 a year early in their careers.
Cumberland County College landed the #23 spot for social work salaries this year. Located in the city of Vineland, Cumberland County College is a public institution. Early-career social work graduates from Cumberland County College make a median of around $44,364 per year.
Gloucester County College came in at #24 for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Sewell, Gloucester County College is a public institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Gloucester County College typically earn about $44,364 annually.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #25 for social work graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,482.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid social work ranking:
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 · 73 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.