2027 Best Social Work Schools in the Southeast Region
Social Work programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 126 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best social work schools.
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Best Schools for Social Work in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social work education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Social Work
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill tops our 2027 ranking of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 158 social work degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $49,662 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,117.
See the full social work program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
George Mason University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 165 social work students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $50,675 early in their careers. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $24,188 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for George Mason University
A rank of #3 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the top schools for social work. This very large public university is located in the city of Boca Raton. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 152 social work degrees were awarded at Florida Atlantic University in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $39,912 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,695.
See the full social work program report for Florida Atlantic University
Florida State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 89 social work students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $37,177 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,193 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Florida State University
James Madison University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #5. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 social work degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $31,687 in their early career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $18,989 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for James Madison University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #6 position for social work this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 143 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $41,233 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,791 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #7 for social work this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 452 social work degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $42,898 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full social work details for Virginia Commonwealth University
Florida International University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Florida International University graduates 74% of students within six years. About 55 social work degrees were awarded at Florida International University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Florida International University earn around $41,626 in the first couple years of their career. Florida International University graduates carry a median of $18,800 in student loans.
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University Of North Florida came in at #9 for social work this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 26 social work degrees were awarded at University Of North Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $49,208. University Of North Florida graduates carry a median of $13,029 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at University Of North Florida
University Of Central Florida placed #10 among the best social work schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. There were roughly 321 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $41,483 early in their careers. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from University Of Central Florida
University Of Georgia ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 240 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $39,078 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,314 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at University Of Georgia
Appalachian State University came in at #12 for social work this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 152 social work degrees were awarded at Appalachian State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $40,115 in their early career. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $22,184 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for Appalachian State University
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #13 spot for social work this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 261 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of South Florida Main Campus earn around $43,978 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from University Of South Florida Main Campus
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #14 among the best social work schools. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates 66% of students within six years. About 456 social work degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $48,116 in their early career. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates carry a median of $21,348 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #15 spot for social work this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Orleans. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. Tulane University Of Louisiana awarded about 182 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Tulane University Of Louisiana earn around $46,565 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,077.
More information about a degree in social work from Tulane University Of Louisiana
The University Of Tennessee placed #16 among the best social work schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 563 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $43,853. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $25,683 in student loans.
Get the full social work details for The University Of Tennessee
University Of Kentucky ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Lexington. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. University Of Kentucky awarded about 1,355 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Kentucky earn around $43,383 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,875 to complete this degree.
Get the full social work details for University Of Kentucky
East Carolina University came in at #18 for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 117 social work degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $43,448 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for East Carolina University
University Of Mississippi Main Campus landed the #19 spot for social work this year. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 52 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $31,190 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,986 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Belmont University came in at #20 for social work this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Belmont University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 15 social work degrees were awarded at Belmont University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Belmont University earn around $49,699 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,447.
More information about a degree in social work from Belmont University
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #21 spot for social work this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 80 social work students who graduated with this degree at Florida Gulf Coast University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of $45,605 early in their careers. Florida Gulf Coast University graduates carry a median of $18,837 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for Florida Gulf Coast University
University Of South Carolina Columbia placed #22 among the best social work schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates 79% of students within six years. About 139 social work degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $35,441. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at University Of South Carolina Columbia
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #23 among the best social work schools. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 151 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $43,289 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,361 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
The University Of West Florida placed #24 among the best social work schools. This large public university is located in the rural area of Pensacola. The University Of West Florida graduates 59% of students within six years. The University Of West Florida awarded about 39 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $36,573. Students borrow a median of $17,373 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from The University Of West Florida
University Of The Cumberlands earned the #25 position for social work this year. Located in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 10 social work degrees were awarded at University Of The Cumberlands in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $50,547 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,868.
More information about a degree in social work from University Of The Cumberlands
Rest of the Top 50 Social Work Schools
These schools also placed among the best for social work this year:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 126 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.