2027 Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for social work students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Social Work in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social work education in Pennsylvania.
Top Schools in Social Work
University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in social work. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 209 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $74,896 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,155.
See the full social work program report for University Of Pennsylvania
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania graduates 70% of students within six years. About 150 social work degrees were awarded at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 320 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn around $47,518 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Elizabethtown College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elizabethtown. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 social work students who graduated with this degree at Elizabethtown College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Elizabethtown College generally make around $57,397. Elizabethtown College graduates carry a median of $26,599 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for Elizabethtown College
A rank of #5 makes Temple University one of the top schools for social work. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Temple University graduates 75% of students within six years. About 175 social work degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Temple University earn a median of $45,338 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full social work program report for Temple University
Widener University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Widener University Main Campus graduates 68% of students within six years. Widener University Main Campus awarded about 206 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Widener University Main Campus earn around $55,609 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,750 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for Widener University Main Campus
Bryn Mawr College earned the #7 position for social work this year. Set in the suburb of Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 75 social work students who graduated with this degree at Bryn Mawr College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Bryn Mawr College earn around $49,002 in the first couple years of their career. Bryn Mawr College graduates carry a median of $23,069 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for Bryn Mawr College
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earned the #8 position for social work this year. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania graduates 56% of students within six years. About 75 social work degrees were awarded at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $33,958. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Western University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This large public university is located in the town of California. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 233 social work students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania Western University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Pennsylvania Western University earn a median of $44,085 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Pennsylvania Western University
Marywood University placed #10 among the best social work schools. Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 53 social work degrees were awarded at Marywood University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Marywood University generally make around $49,452. Students borrow a median of $27,744 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at Marywood University
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania placed #11 among the best social work schools. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kutztown. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 93 social work degrees were awarded at Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $43,122. Typical student debt for the program is $26,624.
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Northampton County Area Community College placed #12 among the best social work schools. Set in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public institution. Northampton County Area Community College awarded about 26 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $35,960. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
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Cedar Crest College placed #13 among the best social work schools. Set in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 27 social work degrees were awarded at Cedar Crest College in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Cedar Crest College earn a median of $67,662 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $30,759 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Cedar Crest College
Carlow University landed the #14 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 41 social work degrees were awarded at Carlow University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Carlow University generally make around $66,938. Students borrow a median of $30,222 to complete this degree.
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Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania placed #15 among the best social work schools. Located in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 73 social work degrees were awarded at Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $43,037 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,982 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania
Reading Area Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Reading. Reading Area Community College awarded about 14 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Reading Area Community College generally make around $49,248. Reading Area Community College graduates carry a median of $11,725 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Reading Area Community College
La Salle University landed the #17 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. La Salle University awarded about 31 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from La Salle University generally make around $37,453. Students borrow a median of $33,206 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for La Salle University
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania landed the #18 spot for social work this year. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Slippery Rock. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 49 social work students who graduated with this degree at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $32,316 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg landed the #19 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a very large public university. There were roughly 31 social work students who graduated with this degree at Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earn around $41,382 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,867.
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Eastern University earned the #20 position for social work this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Davids. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Eastern University awarded about 29 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Eastern University earn around $36,308 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for Eastern University
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania placed #21 among the best social work schools. Set in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 141 social work students who graduated with this degree at Millersville University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earn around $41,348 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,937.
Read more about the social work program at Millersville University Of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania earned the #22 position for social work this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of East Stroudsburg. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania graduates 43% of students within six years. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 24 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania earn around $32,208 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the social work program at East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania
Community College Of Allegheny County placed #23 among the best social work schools. This large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. About 33 social work degrees were awarded at Community College Of Allegheny County in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Community College Of Allegheny County earn around $47,420 in the first couple years of their career. Community College Of Allegheny County graduates carry a median of $15,263 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Community College Of Allegheny County
Alvernia University landed the #24 spot for social work this year. Alvernia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Reading. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 32 social work students who graduated with this degree at Alvernia University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $53,960 in their early career. Alvernia University graduates carry a median of $41,574 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Alvernia University
More Social Work Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 24 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.