2023 Most Popular Colleges for Social Work in California
34
Ranked Colleges
4,819
Degrees Awarded
$27,900
Avg Cost*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Social Work is the 13th most popular major in the country with 58,326 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, social work graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $37,651 and had an average of $26,679 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 4,819 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $48,229 and $20,404 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California” ranking analyzed 34 colleges that offered a degree in social work. To top this list, a school must have a successful social work program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California
The colleges and universities below are the best for california social work students.
Top 25 Most Popular Colleges for Social Work in California
Out of the 34 schools in the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1,081 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full University of Southern California Social Work Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Sacramento. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California list. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school awarded 310 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at California State University - Sacramento
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 308 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Cal State LA
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 301 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at California State University - Long Beach
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brandman University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California list. Brandman University is a medium-sized school located in Irvine, California that handed out 215 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Brandman University Social Work Report
San Jose State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. San Jose State is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 211 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at San Jose State
Fresno Pacific University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. Fresno, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social work degrees to 210 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at Fresno Pacific
San Diego State University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 201 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Social Work at SDSU
California State University - Fresno ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California list. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 184 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Fresno State Social Work Report
California State University - Chico came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California ranking. California State University - Chico is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 173 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Chico State
University of California - Berkeley did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 197 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read more about Social Work at UC Berkeley
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California ranking, coming in at #12. California State University - San Bernardino is located in San Bernardino, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 155 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Full California State University - San Bernardino Social Work Report
California State University - Northridge ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California list. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 148 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at California State University - Northridge
Azusa Pacific University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Azusa, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 118 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Azusa Pacific University
Humboldt State University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California list. Arcata, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 113 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Social Work at Humboldt State University
California Baptist University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California ranking. California Baptist University is a fairly large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 108 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Cal Baptist
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California ranking, coming in at #17. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 107 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Social Work at Cal State Fullerton
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 92 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of California - Los Angeles Social Work Report
California State University - Stanislaus ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California list. Stan State is a public institution located in Turlock, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 87 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at California State University - Stanislaus
California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California ranking. Located in Carson, California, this fairly large public school handed out 86 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at California State University - Dominguez Hills
California State University - Bakersfield landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California ranking. California State University - Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 81 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Social Work at California State University - Bakersfield
California State University - East Bay landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California ranking. Hayward, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 77 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full California State University - East Bay Social Work Report
San Francisco State University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California list. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school awarded 63 degrees to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at SFSU
With a ranking of #24, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California list. California State University - San Marcos is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 58 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full CSUSM Social Work Report
California State University - Monterey Bay ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Social Work Major in California list. Seaside, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 42 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at CSUMB
college factual
