2027 Best Social Work Schools in Kentucky
Social Work degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for social work students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Social Work in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social work education in Kentucky.
Top Schools in Social Work
Our analysis ranked University Of Kentucky the best school in the country for a degree in social work. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Kentucky awarded about 1,355 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $43,383. University Of Kentucky graduates carry a median of $26,875 in student loans.
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University Of The Cumberlands is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #2. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of The Cumberlands graduates 50% of students within six years. 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. Students borrow a median of $22,868 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at University Of The Cumberlands
A rank of #3 makes University Of Louisville one of the top schools for social work. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. University Of Louisville graduates 61% of students within six years. About 253 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Louisville in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $40,876. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at Asbury University, which ranked #4. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Wilmore. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 12 social work degrees were awarded at Asbury University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $50,086 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,104.
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Eastern Kentucky University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #5 spot this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 154 social work degrees were awarded at Eastern Kentucky University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Eastern Kentucky University earn around $33,575 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Eastern Kentucky University
Campbellsville University came in at #6 for social work this year. Set in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 202 social work degrees were awarded at Campbellsville University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Campbellsville University generally make around $40,399. Campbellsville University graduates carry a median of $27,360 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Campbellsville University
Northern Kentucky University came in at #7 for social work this year. Northern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. Northern Kentucky University graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 133 social work students who graduated with this degree at Northern Kentucky University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Northern Kentucky University earn around $42,361 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Kentucky University graduates carry a median of $28,906 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Northern Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University earned the #8 position for social work this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 145 social work degrees were awarded at Western Kentucky University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Western Kentucky University earn around $39,506 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Spalding University earned the #9 position for social work this year. Spalding University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. About 51% of students finish within six years. Spalding University awarded about 34 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Spalding University earn around $48,073 in the first couple years of their career. Spalding University graduates carry a median of $29,862 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from Spalding University
Murray State University came in at #10 for social work this year. This large public university is located in the town of Murray. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Murray State University awarded about 40 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $31,692 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
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Morehead State University came in at #11 for social work this year. Set in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 social work students who graduated with this degree at Morehead State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $35,300. Typical student debt for the program is $32,002.
More information about a degree in social work from Morehead State University
Pikeville College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the town of Pikeville, Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 42% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pikeville College awarded about 26 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $57,157 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,966 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Pikeville College
Brescia University landed the #13 spot for social work this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Owensboro. Brescia University graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 41 social work students who graduated with this degree at Brescia University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Brescia University earn a median of $42,368 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $49,254 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Brescia University
More Social Work Rankings
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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 · 13 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.
