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. The highest-paying schools turn a social work degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying social work schools.
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.
For graduate earnings in social work, no school beat Bristol Community College this year. Bristol Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Fall River. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $44,205.
Strong graduate earnings at Boston University earned it the #2 place for social work. Boston University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,106.
Strong graduate earnings at Boston College earned it the #3 place for social work. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,225.
Salem State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,344.
Springfield College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in social work, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Springfield College typically earn about $67,600 annually.
University Of Massachusetts Boston ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public school located in the city of Boston. After graduating, social work degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston typically earn about $53,689 annually.
Simmons College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Simmons College make a median of around $68,432 per year.
Bridgewater State University landed the #8 spot for social work salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,463.
Westfield State University earned the #9 position for social work graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a public institution. Social Work graduates of Westfield State University earn a median of about $64,706 a year early in their careers.
Smith College landed the #10 spot for social work salaries this year. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a private not-for-profit institution. Social Work graduates of Smith College earn a median of about $69,652 a year early in their careers.
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms came in at #11 for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Chicopee, College Of Our Lady Of The Elms is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from College Of Our Lady Of The Elms make a median of around $53,977 per year.
Anna Maria College placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for social work. Located in the rural area of Paxton, Anna Maria College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Anna Maria College make a median of around $57,125 per year.
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 · 12 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.