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 45 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.
Concordia College At Moorhead tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Concordia College At Moorhead is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Concordia College At Moorhead make a median of around $57,260 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in social work will find them at Saint Louis University Main Campus, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus typically earn about $53,171 annually.
A rank of #3 makes University Of St Thomas Minnesota one of the highest-paying schools for social work. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Early-career social work graduates from University Of St Thomas Minnesota make a median of around $52,015 per year.
St Catherine University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. St Catherine University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Social Work graduates of St Catherine University earn a median of about $62,568 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes University Of North Dakota one of the highest-paying schools for social work. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,263.
Metropolitan State University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for social work. Metropolitan State University is a public school located in the city of Saint Paul. Social Work graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of about $57,301 a year early in their careers.
Lindenwood University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for social work. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit institution. Social Work graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of about $49,067 a year early in their careers.
Bemidji State University earned the #8 position for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a public institution. Early-career social work graduates from Bemidji State University make a median of around $51,542 per year.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #9 spot for social work salaries this year. Saint Cloud State University is a public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Social Work graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of about $55,566 a year early in their careers.
Winona State University earned the #10 position for social work graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a public institution. Social Work graduates of Winona State University earn a median of about $54,119 a year early in their careers.
The College Of Saint Scholastica came in at #11 for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Duluth, The College Of Saint Scholastica is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,589.
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #12 spot for social work salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Social Work graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of about $50,324 a year early in their careers.
Minnesota State University Moorhead placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for social work. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. Social Work graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of about $52,122 a year early in their careers.
Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Located in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,740.
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #15 position for social work graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,856.
Minot State University came in at #16 for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Minot, Minot State University is a public institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Minot State University typically earn about $48,669 annually.
St Olaf College placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for social work. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,146.
Augsburg College came in at #18 for social work graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Social Work graduates of Augsburg College earn a median of about $47,032 a year early in their careers.
University Of Iowa earned the #19 position for social work graduate earnings this year. University Of Iowa is a public school located in the city of Iowa City. Social Work graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of about $52,381 a year early in their careers.
Fort Hays State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,993.
Nebraska Wesleyan University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lincoln. Social Work graduates of Nebraska Wesleyan University earn a median of about $49,893 a year early in their careers.
Kansas State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a public institution. Early-career social work graduates from Kansas State University make a median of around $47,230 per year.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for social work. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a public institution. Students who complete the social work program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,198.
Evangel University placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for social work. Set in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career social work graduates from Evangel University make a median of around $43,165 per year.
Briar Cliff University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying social work schools. Located in the city of Sioux City, Briar Cliff University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, social work degree recipients from Briar Cliff University typically earn about $42,935 annually.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning social work graduates:
The ranking above is published 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 · 45 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.