2027 Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina
Social Work degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their social work programs.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best social work schools.
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Best Schools for Social Work in North Carolina
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
No school ranked higher than University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year for social work. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 158 social work degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $49,662 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
Get the full social work details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
North Carolina State University At Raleigh 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 Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 143 social work students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh 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. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $20,791 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Appalachian State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. 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. Students who receive their social work degree from Appalachian State University earn around $40,115 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,184.
Read more about the social work program at Appalachian State University
East Carolina University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 117 social work students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $43,448 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full social work program report for East Carolina University
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Wilmington. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates 71% of students within six years. 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. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $43,289. Typical student debt for the program is $22,361.
See the full social work program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #6 among the best social work schools. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 179 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $37,850 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Western Carolina University earned the #7 position for social work this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Western Carolina University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 96 social work degrees were awarded at Western Carolina University in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $42,004 early in their careers. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $25,857 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #8 for social work this year. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public school located in the city of Greensboro. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 94 social work degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $39,033 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in social work from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Barton College came in at #9 for social work this year. Located in the town of Wilson, Barton College is a small private not-for-profit university. Barton College graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 social work students who graduated with this degree at Barton College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Barton College generally make around $38,312. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for Barton College
Winston Salem State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 39 social work students who graduated with this degree at Winston Salem State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $29,617 in their early career. Winston Salem State University graduates carry a median of $28,537 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from Winston Salem State University
Methodist University placed #11 among the best social work schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Methodist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. There were roughly 13 social work students who graduated with this degree at Methodist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Methodist University earn around $56,375 in the first couple years of their career. Methodist University graduates carry a median of $27,604 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Methodist University
North Carolina A And T State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina A And T State University awarded about 71 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from North Carolina A And T State University earn around $37,036 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,000.
More information about a degree in social work from North Carolina A And T State University
North Carolina Central University placed #13 among the best social work schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Durham. About 42% of students finish within six years. About 103 social work degrees were awarded at North Carolina Central University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from North Carolina Central University earn around $38,543 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
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Elizabeth City State University landed the #14 spot for social work this year. Located in the town of Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City State University is a mid-sized public university. Elizabeth City State University graduates 44% of students within six years. Elizabeth City State University awarded about 12 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Elizabeth City State University generally make around $28,300. Elizabeth City State University graduates carry a median of $25,467 in student loans.
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Fayetteville State University came in at #15 for social work this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 86 social work students who graduated with this degree at Fayetteville State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Fayetteville State University generally make around $36,417. Fayetteville State University graduates carry a median of $32,500 in student loans.
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Johnson C Smith University came in at #16 for social work this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Johnson C Smith University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 social work students who graduated with this degree at Johnson C Smith University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $48,343 in their early career. Johnson C Smith University graduates carry a median of $41,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from Johnson C Smith University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 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.