2027 Best Social Work Schools in the Southwest Region
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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 58 schools to find the best for social work students.
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Best Schools for Social Work in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social work education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Social Work
No school ranked higher than The University Of Texas At Austin this year for social work. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 204 social work degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $45,476. Typical student debt for the program is $21,506.
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Arizona State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 313 social work degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Arizona State University earn around $47,173 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for Arizona State University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus one of the top schools for social work. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus awarded about 338 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $53,107 in their early career. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Baylor University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Baylor University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 151 social work students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $51,193 early in their careers. Baylor University graduates carry a median of $23,198 in student loans.
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Tulsa Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 22 social work students who graduated with this degree at Tulsa Community College in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Tulsa Community College earn a median of $41,718 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,038 to complete this degree.
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Austin Community College District ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. About 45 social work degrees were awarded at Austin Community College District in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Austin Community College District earn around $34,003 in the first couple years of their career. Austin Community College District graduates carry a median of $17,922 in student loans.
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University Of Houston Downtown came in at #7 for social work this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public institution. About 33% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 89 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston Downtown in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $37,365 in their early career. University Of Houston Downtown graduates carry a median of $24,186 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from University Of Houston Downtown
The University Of Texas At Brownsville ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. There were roughly 33 social work students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Brownsville in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $30,343 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,550 to complete this degree.
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University Of Houston landed the #9 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 261 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $55,656 early in their careers. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans.
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Arizona State University Skysong landed the #10 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public institution. About 283 social work degrees were awarded at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $54,503 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,870.
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The University Of Texas At Arlington landed the #11 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Arlington graduates 54% of students within six years. The University Of Texas At Arlington awarded about 895 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Arlington generally make around $44,694. Students borrow a median of $21,546 to complete this degree.
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Texas Womans University landed the #12 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. Texas Womans University awarded about 51 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of $40,340 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
More information about a degree in social work from Texas Womans University
Texas Christian University placed #13 among the best social work schools. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. Texas Christian University awarded about 47 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $42,142 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at Texas Christian University
University Of North Texas ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. University Of North Texas awarded about 66 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $41,980 early in their careers. University Of North Texas graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
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Oral Roberts University came in at #15 for social work this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 16 social work degrees were awarded at Oral Roberts University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Oral Roberts University earn around $41,180 in the first couple years of their career. Oral Roberts University graduates carry a median of $28,022 in student loans.
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Texas State University San Marcos placed #16 among the best social work schools. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Texas State University San Marcos awarded about 173 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $46,923 in their early career. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for Texas State University San Marcos
Texas A And M University Central Texas ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Killeen. There were roughly 22 social work students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University Central Texas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Texas A And M University Central Texas generally make around $35,345. Students borrow a median of $26,631 to complete this degree.
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Northern Arizona University earned the #18 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 193 social work students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $42,918 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
More information about a degree in social work from Northern Arizona University
Tyler Junior College came in at #19 for social work this year. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. About 31 social work degrees were awarded at Tyler Junior College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $43,348. Tyler Junior College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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Mesa Community College landed the #20 spot for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Mesa. Mesa Community College awarded about 31 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Mesa Community College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas Pan American earned the #21 position for social work this year. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 269 social work degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Pan American in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $41,429 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,526 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for The University Of Texas Pan American
Texas Tech University landed the #22 spot for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 46 social work degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $43,544. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $29,875 in student loans.
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Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #23 among the best social work schools. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. There were roughly 11 social work students who graduated with this degree at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at Glendale Community College Glendale Az
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earned the #24 position for social work this year. Located in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 social work degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $60,503 in their early career. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin graduates carry a median of $20,052 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin
Saint Edwards University came in at #25 for social work this year. Set in the city of Austin, Saint Edwards University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Saint Edwards University awarded about 18 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Saint Edwards University earn around $34,200 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Edwards University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for Saint Edwards University
Rest of the Top 50 Social Work Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong social work education:
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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 · 58 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.
