2027 Best Social Work Schools in Missouri
Social Work is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their social work programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools to find the best for social work students.
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Best Schools for Social Work in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social work education in Missouri.
Top Schools in Social Work
Leading the list is Washington University In St Louis, our #1 school for social work. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. Washington University In St Louis awarded about 112 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $50,855 early in their careers. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for Washington University In St Louis
Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at University Of Missouri Columbia, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. About 42 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $44,434 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,119 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from University Of Missouri Columbia
Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #3 spot this year. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 social work students who graduated with this degree at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $67,909. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete this degree.
Get the full social work details for Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Saint Louis University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 101 social work students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Saint Louis University Main Campus earn around $48,270 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,875 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for Saint Louis University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at University Of Missouri Kansas City, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. University Of Missouri Kansas City awarded about 24 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $50,723 early in their careers. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for University Of Missouri Kansas City
Park University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Parkville. About 37% of students finish within six years. Park University awarded about 21 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Park University earn around $49,077 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
Read more about the social work program at Park University
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 143 social work students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $41,349 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,085 to complete this degree.
Get the full social work details for Missouri State University Springfield
Avila University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Avila University graduates 52% of students within six years. Avila University awarded about 11 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Avila University earn around $51,234 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,750.
See the full social work program report for Avila University
University Of Central Missouri placed #9 among the best social work schools. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 21 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $39,295 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,579.
Read more about the social work program at University Of Central Missouri
Missouri Baptist University placed #10 among the best social work schools. Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. About 46% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 social work students who graduated with this degree at Missouri Baptist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Missouri Baptist University earn around $45,270 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,337 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at Missouri Baptist University
University Of Missouri St Louis earned the #11 position for social work this year. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 97 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $42,241 early in their careers. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for University Of Missouri St Louis
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #12 spot for social work this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cape Girardeau. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 social work students who graduated with this degree at Southeast Missouri State University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $32,224 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,433.
See the full social work program report for Southeast Missouri State University
Missouri Southern State University came in at #13 for social work this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Joplin. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 social work students who graduated with this degree at Missouri Southern State University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Missouri Southern State University earn a median of $27,936 early in their careers. Missouri Southern State University graduates carry a median of $25,983 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Missouri Southern State University
College Of The Ozarks landed the #14 spot for social work this year. Located in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit university. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 social work students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Ozarks in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $32,701 in their early career.
See the full social work program report for College Of The Ozarks
Missouri Western State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. Missouri Western State University graduates 39% of students within six years. About 25 social work degrees were awarded at Missouri Western State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Missouri Western State University generally make around $33,532. Students borrow a median of $27,679 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at Missouri Western State University
More Social Work Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 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.
