Social Work programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their social work programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 421 schools to find the best for social work students.
Our analysis ranked University Of California Berkeley the best school in the country for a degree in social work. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 72 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $44,906. Typical student debt for the program is $13,719.
See the full social work program report for University Of California Berkeley
California State University Long Beach came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 53 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $42,925. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $11,276 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes California State University Sacramento one of the top schools for social work. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 129 social work students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $37,290 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $18,000 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for California State University Sacramento
San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #4. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 43 social work degrees in the most recent data year.
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Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 58 social work students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $37,437 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,506.
See the full social work program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #6 position for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. About 79 social work degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $39,936. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #7 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 77 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $36,815 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,344 in student loans.
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San Diego State University came in at #8 for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 102 social work degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from San Diego State University earn around $36,916 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $15,176 in student loans.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #9 spot for social work this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 social work degrees were awarded at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #10 among the best social work schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 67 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $40,969 early in their careers. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $17,396 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Loyola University Chicago came in at #11 for social work this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 social work students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $51,834 in their early career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $21,133 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from Loyola University Chicago
Syracuse University came in at #12 for social work this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 22 social work students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Syracuse University earn around $53,346 in the first couple years of their career. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #13 position for social work this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 78 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $54,548. Students borrow a median of $21,398 to complete this degree.
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Stony Brook University earned the #14 position for social work this year. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 social work degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Stony Brook University earn around $51,751 in the first couple years of their career. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $23,981 in student loans.
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University Of Utah earned the #15 position for social work this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Utah awarded about 93 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $38,338 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,038 to complete this degree.
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California State University Chico earned the #16 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. California State University Chico awarded about 92 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $36,840 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for California State University Chico
San Francisco State University placed #17 among the best social work schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 social work degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $48,750 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,259 to complete this degree.
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Creighton University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Creighton University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 15 social work degrees were awarded at Creighton University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $64,369 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete this degree.
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California State University Los Angeles landed the #19 spot for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 192 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $37,477 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #20 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 72 social work degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $35,485. Students borrow a median of $20,791 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Bernardino earned the #21 position for social work this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 58 social work degrees were awarded at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $39,145 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,018.
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University Of Nevada Reno came in at #22 for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Reno. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 109 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nevada Reno in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $40,530 in their early career. University Of Nevada Reno graduates carry a median of $17,905 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri Columbia landed the #23 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 37 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $38,236 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,119.
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Baylor University placed #24 among the best social work schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waco. About 80% of students finish within six years. Baylor University awarded about 23 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $51,193 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,198 to complete this degree.
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George Mason University placed #25 among the best social work schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 56 social work students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $38,559. Typical student debt for the program is $24,188.
See the full social work program report for George Mason University
Rest of the Top 50 Social Work Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s social work ranking:
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 · 421 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).
