2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k
439
Ranked Colleges
57,401
Degrees Awarded
$4,700
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 57,401 social work students received their degree, making the major the 9th most popular in the country.
This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 439 colleges that offered a degree in social work. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social work programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the social work program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social work degrees to 175 students in 2020-2021.
UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $2,500 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Social Work at University of Chicago
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Pennsylvania is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 180 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, UPenn has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UPenn is $580 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Pennsylvania Social Work Report
Out of the 439 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #3 spot on the list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 403 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, U-M has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. It costs about $2,670 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Out of the 439 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington University in St Louis landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 267 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
WUSTL also took the #6 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Washington University in St Louis is $1,556 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Washington University in St Louis Social Work Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. University of California - Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 197 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley also took the #1 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Berkeley is $8,450 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Social Work at UC Berkeley
Hunter College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Hunter College is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 661 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Hunter also claimed a top spot on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Hunter is $396 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Hunter College Social Work Report
Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Columbia University in the City of New York is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 501 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia is $9,873 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Social Work at Columbia
University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 208 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also took the #16 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $3,981 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UW - Madison Social Work Report
California State University - Los Angeles came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 308 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Los Angeles is $1,887 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Cal State LA
With a ranking of #10, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 137 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
UNC Chapel Hill also claimed a top spot on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $3,753 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UNC Chapel Hill Social Work Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 226 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $4,858 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full UIUC Social Work Report
University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large public school situated in Seattle, Washington. It awarded 140 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW Seattle has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW Seattle is $5,194 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Social Work at UW Seattle
Lehman College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Lehman is a public institution located in Bronx, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 213 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Lehman College is $881 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Social Work at Lehman College
Boston College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 273 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Boston College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It costs about $10,212 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Boston College.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Full Boston College Social Work Report
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 617 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, IUPUI is in the top on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $7,026 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Social Work Report
California State University - Fresno landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California State University - Fresno is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 184 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $3,859 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at California State University - Fresno
With a ranking of #17, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 92 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCLA is $9,037 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read more about Social Work at UCLA
Smith College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Smith College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Northampton, Massachusetts. It awarded 127 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on this list, Smith is in the top on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Smith College is $9,215 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at Smith College
With a ranking of #19, York College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. York is a medium-sized school located in Jamaica, New York that handed out 89 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend York is $2,316 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at York College
Florida Atlantic University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. FAU is a public institution located in Boca Raton, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 208 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, FAU is also in the top of our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It costs about $6,726 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend FAU.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full FAU Social Work Report
With a ranking of #21, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 526 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $7,068 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full Ohio State Social Work Report
University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 182 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $4,176 for social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend USF Tampa.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Social Work at USF Tampa
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 281 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UT Rio Grande Valley is $2,191 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Camden County College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Blackwood, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 38 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Camden County College is also in the top of our “Best Social Work Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It costs about $4,978 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Camden County College.
Read full report on Social Work at Camden County College
Florida State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school handed out 101 degrees to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
Florida State also claimed a top spot on our “Best Social Work Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. It costs about $4,950 for Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Florida State.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Social Work at Florida State University
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