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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

34 Ranked Colleges
2,369 Degrees Awarded
$9,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Social Work is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 8th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 56,762 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across the Southwest region, there were 6,025 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,369 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 34 colleges that offer a degree in social work. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality social work programs that also have a lower cost than 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

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k) in the Southwest Region

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 121 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UT Rio Grande Valley also took the #5 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Rio Grande Valley is $2,993 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Social Work Report

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas Woman’s University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Denton, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 53 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, TWU has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $6,706 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend TWU.

Read full report on Social Work at TWU

#13 in overall quality

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Texas landed the #3 spot on the list. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 64 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNT, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Texas is $8,521 for southwest region bachelor’s degree 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 85%.

Read more about Social Work at UNT

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 68 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Austin has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Austin is $12,203 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 97%.

Read more about Social Work at UT Austin

#5

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma
#19 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northeastern State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Northeastern State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. It awarded 41 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

NSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for NSU is $7,614 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northeastern State University Social Work Report

#6

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas
#23 in overall quality

MSU Texas landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wichita Falls, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

MSU Texas also took the #23 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Texas is $7,703 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Work at MSU Texas

#7

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Texas Tech University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Texas Tech University is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas Tech University is $12,317 for southwest region bachelor’s degree 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 87%.

Read more about Social Work at Texas Tech

#8

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas
#11 in overall quality

Angelo State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Angelo State University is located in San Angelo, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Angelo State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Angelo State is $9,799 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Work at Angelo State University

#9

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas
#3 in overall quality

Texas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Texas State University is a large school located in San Marcos, Texas that handed out 111 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas State University is $11,125 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Work at Texas State University

#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Stephen F Austin State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. SFASU is a fairly large public school situated in Nacogdoches, Texas. It awarded 72 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

SFASU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $8,650 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Stephen F Austin State University.

Read more about Social Work at Stephen F Austin State University

#17 in overall quality

University of Houston - Clear Lake landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Houston - Clear Lake is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 12 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Clear Lake also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston - Clear Lake is $4,517 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UH Clear Lake Social Work Report

#12

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
#10 in overall quality

Northern Arizona University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Northern Arizona University is a public institution located in Flagstaff, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 148 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NAU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for NAU is $9,251 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Work at NAU

#13

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Lamar University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lamar University is a public institution located in Beaumont, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Lamar University also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $9,200 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lamar University.

Read full report on Social Work at Lamar University

With a ranking of #14, The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,092 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UTEP.

Read more about Social Work at The University of Texas at El Paso

New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 45 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for New Mexico State University - Main Campus is $6,896 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Work at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Arlington, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 234 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Arlington has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UT Arlington is $11,811 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Work at The University of Texas at Arlington

#17

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma

East Central University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Ada, Oklahoma, this small public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend ECU is $7,787 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Work at East Central University

#24 in overall quality

University of Houston - Downtown ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 56 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Downtown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $5,065 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UH Downtown.

Read full report on Social Work at UH Downtown

#25 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - Kingsville landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Texas A&M University - Kingsville is a medium-sized school located in Kingsville, Texas that handed out 30 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Kingsville also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $11,105 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Texas A&M Kingsville.

Read full report on Social Work at Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Texas A&M University - Commerce landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Commerce, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 54 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M University - Commerce is $10,013 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Work at Texas A&M University - Commerce

#21

Western New Mexico University

Silver City, New Mexico
#9 in overall quality

Western New Mexico University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Silver City, New Mexico, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Western New Mexico University also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Western New Mexico University is $12,306 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Work at Western New Mexico University

#22

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas
#22 in overall quality

West Texas A&M University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Canyon, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 48 students in 2019-2020.

West Texas A&M University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for West Texas A&M University is $8,730 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Work at West Texas A&M University

#23

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas
#6 in overall quality

Tarleton State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Tarleton State University is located in Stephenville, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 84 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Tarleton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Tarleton is $15,604 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Work at Tarleton

#24

Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View, Texas

Prairie View A & M University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Prairie View, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 47 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,291 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend PVAMU.

Full Prairie View A & M University Social Work Report

#18 in overall quality

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

University of Oklahoma not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Oklahoma is $16,675 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 87%.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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