2026 Best Social Work Schools in California
Social Work is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their social work programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 39 schools to find the best for social work students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Social Work in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the social work degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Social Work
Leading the list is California State University Long Beach, our #1 school for social work. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 284 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $54,899 early in their careers. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $11,276 in student loans.
Get the full social work details for California State University Long Beach
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the top schools for social work. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 106 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $65,106. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
Get the full social work details for University Of California Los Angeles
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for social work. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 152 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $58,587 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,719.
Read more about the social work program at University Of California Berkeley
University Of Southern California came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 623 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $78,196 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at University Of Southern California
California State University Sacramento came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 252 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $51,629 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full social work details for California State University Sacramento
San Jose State University placed #6 among the best social work schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 243 social work degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in social work from San Jose State University
California State University Fullerton earned the #7 position for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 105 social work degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $64,167 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from California State University Fullerton
San Francisco State University placed #8 among the best social work schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 69 social work degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $70,887. Typical student debt for the program is $17,259.
Read more about the social work program at San Francisco State University
San Diego State University came in at #9 for social work this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. San Diego State University awarded about 156 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $49,447. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $15,176 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from San Diego State University
California State University Los Angeles placed #10 among the best social work schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. California State University Los Angeles graduates 53% of students within six years. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 377 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $51,173 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Read more about the social work program at California State University Los Angeles
California State University Northridge landed the #11 spot for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 150 social work students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $49,320. Students borrow a median of $12,449 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from California State University Northridge
California State University San Bernardino ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. California State University San Bernardino graduates 55% of students within six years. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 180 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $53,312. Students borrow a median of $13,018 to complete this degree.
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Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #13 for social work this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Point Loma Nazarene University awarded about 12 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Point Loma Nazarene University earn around $54,116 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,542.
Get the full social work details for Point Loma Nazarene University
California State University Chico earned the #14 position for social work this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chico. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 174 social work students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $49,751. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000.
Get the full social work details for California State University Chico
California State University East Bay landed the #15 spot for social work this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. California State University East Bay awarded about 61 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from California State University East Bay earn around $81,059 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at California State University East Bay
California State University Dominguez Hills landed the #16 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. About 43% of students finish within six years. About 85 social work degrees were awarded at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $66,121 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete this degree.
Get the full social work details for California State University Dominguez Hills
California State University Fresno placed #17 among the best social work schools. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 134 social work students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fresno in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $48,430 early in their careers. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at California State University Fresno
California State University Stanislaus placed #18 among the best social work schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Turlock. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Stanislaus awarded about 88 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $67,567 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,813.
See the full social work program report for California State University Stanislaus
California State University Monterey Bay ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 51 social work students who graduated with this degree at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from California State University Monterey Bay generally make around $71,186. Students borrow a median of $14,622 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at California State University Monterey Bay
Azusa Pacific University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 62% of students finish within six years. Azusa Pacific University awarded about 108 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Azusa Pacific University earn around $47,351 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,643 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for Azusa Pacific University
California State University Bakersfield ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. California State University Bakersfield is a large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. California State University Bakersfield graduates 50% of students within six years. California State University Bakersfield awarded about 60 social work degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full social work program report for California State University Bakersfield
California Baptist University placed #22 among the best social work schools. California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverside. California Baptist University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 212 social work students who graduated with this degree at California Baptist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $62,331. Typical student debt for the program is $28,169.
See the full social work program report for California Baptist University
California State University San Marcos landed the #23 spot for social work this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 63 social work degrees were awarded at California State University San Marcos in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $62,668 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,527 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from California State University San Marcos
Fresno Pacific University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fresno. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Fresno Pacific University awarded about 70 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $40,458 in their early career. Fresno Pacific University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from Fresno Pacific University
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System came in at #25 for social work this year. Located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public university. About 384 social work degrees were awarded at Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System generally make around $41,327. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System graduates carry a median of $34,250 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System
Rest of the Top 29 Social Work Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong social work education:
More Social Work Rankings
View All Social Work Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 39 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
