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2027 Best Social Work Schools in Ohio

35 Colleges in the United States
2,319 Social Work Degrees Awarded
$42,055 Avg Early-Career Salary

Social Work is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 35 schools to find the best for social work students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Social Work in Ohio

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

1

Leading the list is Case Western Reserve University, our #1 school for social work. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 166 social work degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $51,720 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete this degree. Get the full social work details for Case Western Reserve University

2

Ohio State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 572 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $44,632 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,970 to complete this degree. Read more about the social work program at Ohio State University Main Campus

3
Xavier University crest
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH

Xavier University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Xavier University awarded about 18 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $55,045 in their early career. Xavier University graduates carry a median of $26,614 in student loans. See the full social work program report for Xavier University

4

Ohio University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #4. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 152 social work degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $43,618 early in their careers. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,570 in student loans. See the full social work program report for Ohio University Main Campus

5
Cedarville University crest
Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH

Cedarville University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #5. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Cedarville. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cedarville University awarded about 22 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $35,967. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree. Get the full social work details for Cedarville University

6

Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #6 among the best social work schools. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 87 social work degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $46,602. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full social work program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus

7

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #7 spot for social work this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. About 189 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $44,195 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,600 to complete this degree. Get the full social work details for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

8
Owens Community College crest
Owens Community College
Perrysburg, OH

Owens Community College landed the #8 spot for social work this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Perrysburg. About 20 social work degrees were awarded at Owens Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $45,785 in their early career. Owens Community College graduates carry a median of $19,383 in student loans. Get the full social work details for Owens Community College

9

Miami University Oxford landed the #9 spot for social work this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Miami University Oxford awarded about 106 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $42,956 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,025 to complete this degree. Get the full social work details for Miami University Oxford

10

Sinclair Community College landed the #10 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 147 social work students who graduated with this degree at Sinclair Community College in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the social work program at Sinclair Community College

11

University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Ash. There were roughly 11 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $42,936 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,075 to complete this degree. See the full social work program report for University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College

12

Central Ohio Technical College earned the #12 position for social work this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, Central Ohio Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Central Ohio Technical College awarded about 23 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $47,021 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,779. See the full social work program report for Central Ohio Technical College

13
Capital University crest
Capital University
Columbus, OH

Capital University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Columbus. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 social work students who graduated with this degree at Capital University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Capital University earn around $44,344 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $43,038. More information about a degree in social work from Capital University

14

Edison State Community College landed the #14 spot for social work this year. Located in the rural area of Piqua, Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 11 social work degrees were awarded at Edison State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Edison State Community College generally make around $43,481. Edison State Community College graduates carry a median of $15,406 in student loans. Get the full social work details for Edison State Community College

15

Franciscan University Of Steubenville ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 social work students who graduated with this degree at Franciscan University Of Steubenville in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Franciscan University Of Steubenville earn a median of $36,697 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the social work program at Franciscan University Of Steubenville

16

University Of Toledo ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. University Of Toledo awarded about 59 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $43,564 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000. See the full social work program report for University Of Toledo

17

Wright State University Main Campus landed the #17 spot for social work this year. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 60 social work students who graduated with this degree at Wright State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Wright State University Main Campus earn around $44,971 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,250 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from Wright State University Main Campus

18

Youngstown State University landed the #18 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. About 50% of students finish within six years. Youngstown State University awarded about 166 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $43,426. Youngstown State University graduates carry a median of $33,422 in student loans. See the full social work program report for Youngstown State University

19

Clark State Community College earned the #19 position for social work this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Springfield. About 33 social work degrees were awarded at Clark State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Clark State Community College generally make around $29,981. Typical student debt for the program is $25,631. See the full social work program report for Clark State Community College

20

Cleveland State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This large public university is located in the city of Cleveland. Cleveland State University graduates 51% of students within six years. About 209 social work degrees were awarded at Cleveland State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Cleveland State University earn around $41,818 in the first couple years of their career. Cleveland State University graduates carry a median of $33,000 in student loans. Read more about the social work program at Cleveland State University

21
Defiance College crest
Defiance College
Defiance, OH

Defiance College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Defiance. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. There were roughly 14 social work students who graduated with this degree at Defiance College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Defiance College earn around $31,528 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full social work program report for Defiance College

22

Washington State Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Marietta. About 15 social work degrees were awarded at Washington State Community College in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Washington State Community College earn a median of $45,305 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,291. See the full social work program report for Washington State Community College

23
Central State University crest
Central State University
Wilberforce, OH

Central State University earned the #23 position for social work this year. Set in the rural area of Wilberforce, Central State University is a mid-sized public institution. About 23% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 social work students who graduated with this degree at Central State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Central State University earn around $27,388 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from Central State University

24

University Of Rio Grande placed #24 among the best social work schools. Located in the rural area of Rio Grande, University Of Rio Grande is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. About 16 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Rio Grande in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Rio Grande generally make around $46,611. Typical student debt for the program is $27,044. Get the full social work details for University Of Rio Grande

25

Lakeland Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Kirtland. About 13 social work degrees were awarded at Lakeland Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $51,941 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,857. Read more about the social work program at Lakeland Community College

Rest of the Top 35 Social Work Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s social work ranking:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
Malone University crest
Malone University
Canton, OH
35
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, OH

View All Social Work Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 35 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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