by our College Data Analytics Team
[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find where social work graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose social work graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Mississippi College, our #1 for social work graduate salaries in Mississippi. Mississippi College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. Early-career social work graduates from Mississippi College make a median of around $42,640 per year.
Itawamba Community College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in social work, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a public institution. Social Work graduates of Itawamba Community College earn a median of about $31,677 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Northwest Mississippi Community College one of the highest-paying schools for social work. Set in the town of Senatobia, Northwest Mississippi Community College is a public institution. Early-career social work graduates from Northwest Mississippi Community College make a median of around $31,474 per year.
A rank of #4 makes Holmes Community College one of the highest-paying schools for social work. Set in the rural area of Goodman, Holmes Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $28,785.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Mississippi Main Campus one of the highest-paying schools for social work. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,925.
East Mississippi Community College earned the #6 position for social work graduate earnings this year. East Mississippi Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Scooba. Early-career social work graduates from East Mississippi Community College make a median of around $28,415 per year.
University Of Southern Mississippi placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for social work. University Of Southern Mississippi is a public school located in the city of Hattiesburg. After graduating, social work degree recipients from University Of Southern Mississippi typically earn about $41,536 annually.
Mississippi State University came in at #8 for social work graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,512.
Jackson State University landed the #9 spot for social work salaries this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Jackson State University is a public institution. Early-career social work graduates from Jackson State University make a median of around $37,885 per year.
Mississippi Valley State University earned the #10 position for social work graduate earnings this year. Mississippi Valley State University is a public school located in the rural area of Itta Bena. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $26,814.
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 · 10 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.