2027 Best Social Work Schools in Virginia
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 11 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 Virginia
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 George Mason University this year for social work. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 165 social work students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from George Mason University earn around $50,675 in the first couple years of their career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $24,188 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from George Mason University
A rank of #2 makes James Madison University one of the top schools for social work. 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. James Madison University awarded about 44 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $31,687 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,989.
See the full social work program report for James Madison University
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Richmond. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. 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
Christopher Newport University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Newport News. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 social work degrees were awarded at Christopher Newport University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Christopher Newport University earn around $41,656 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,492.
More information about a degree in social work from Christopher Newport University
Liberty University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #5. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 317 social work students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $38,828. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Liberty University
Longwood University earned the #6 position for social work this year. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Longwood University awarded about 17 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $41,160 early in their careers. Longwood University graduates carry a median of $26,419 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for Longwood University
Radford University came in at #7 for social work this year. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. Radford University awarded about 82 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $44,071. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in social work from Radford University
Norfolk State University came in at #8 for social work this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 99 social work students who graduated with this degree at Norfolk State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Norfolk State University generally make around $53,070.
See the full social work program report for Norfolk State University
Mary Baldwin College placed #9 among the best social work schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Staunton. Mary Baldwin College graduates 39% of students within six years. Mary Baldwin College awarded about 26 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Mary Baldwin College earn around $37,537 in the first couple years of their career. Mary Baldwin College graduates carry a median of $33,375 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Mary Baldwin College
Virginia State University placed #10 among the best social work schools. Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Petersburg. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Virginia State University awarded about 45 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Virginia State University earn a median of $28,527 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
More information about a degree in social work from Virginia State University
Virginia Union University came in at #11 for social work this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Richmond. Virginia Union University graduates 34% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 social work students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Union University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Virginia Union University earn a median of $25,910 early in their careers. Virginia Union University graduates carry a median of $30,593 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Virginia Union University
More Social Work Rankings
View All Social Work Rankings >
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 · 11 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.
