2027 Best Social Work Schools in Tennessee
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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools to find the best for social work students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Social Work in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social work education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Social Work
Our analysis ranked The University Of Tennessee the best school in the country for a degree in social work. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 563 social work degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $43,853 in their early career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $25,683 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for The University Of Tennessee
Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at Belmont University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Belmont University graduates 70% of students within six years. Belmont University awarded about 15 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $49,699 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at Belmont University
Middle Tennessee State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 social work students who graduated with this degree at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $43,102 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,100.
Read more about the social work program at Middle Tennessee State University
Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at The University Of Tennessee Martin, which ranked #4. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 social work students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $34,240 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,653 to complete this degree.
Get the full social work details for The University Of Tennessee Martin
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 50 social work students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $35,667. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $20,043 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
East Tennessee State University came in at #6 for social work this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 77 social work degrees were awarded at East Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $37,775 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from East Tennessee State University
University Of Memphis landed the #7 spot for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Memphis. About 51% of students finish within six years. University Of Memphis awarded about 133 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Memphis generally make around $41,864. University Of Memphis graduates carry a median of $36,506 in student loans.
Get the full social work details for University Of Memphis
Southern Adventist University landed the #8 spot for social work this year. Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegedale. Southern Adventist University graduates 55% of students within six years. About 34 social work degrees were awarded at Southern Adventist University in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Southern Adventist University earn a median of $47,542 early in their careers. Southern Adventist University graduates carry a median of $24,575 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Southern Adventist University
Union University came in at #9 for social work this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Jackson. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 86 social work degrees were awarded at Union University in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Union University earn a median of $41,049 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $39,415.
More information about a degree in social work from Union University
King College earned the #10 position for social work this year. Located in the city of Bristol, King College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 53 social work students who graduated with this degree at King College in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of King College earn a median of $34,380 early in their careers. King College graduates carry a median of $28,732 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from King College
Austin Peay State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 49 social work students who graduated with this degree at Austin Peay State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $38,190 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Austin Peay State University
Tennessee State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Tennessee State University graduates 35% of students within six years. About 27 social work degrees were awarded at Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $38,965 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,500.
Read more about the social work program at Tennessee State University
More Social Work Rankings
View All Social Work Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 12 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.
