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2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid

18 Ranked Colleges
1,465 Degrees Awarded
$15,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 California, there were 4,945 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,465 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the social work program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 California For Those Getting Aid” 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in California (With Aid)

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 224 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State LA also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $2,768 for California Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid per year to attend California State University - Los Angeles.

The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%.

Read full report on Social Work at Cal State LA

#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Fresno State is a large school located in Fresno, California that handed out 119 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Fresno is $5,464 for California Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Fresno State

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - San Bernardino. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Bernardino, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 52 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree social work students with aid list, CSUSB has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CSUSB is $7,342 for California Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full California State University - San Bernardino Social Work Report

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 69 students in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #7 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,622 for California Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid per year to attend California State University - Long Beach.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full CSULB Social Work Report

#1 in overall quality

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 a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school awarded 90 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for UC Berkeley is $15,329 for california bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.

Read full report on Social Work at University of California - Berkeley

#8 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. California State University - Sacramento is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 244 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Sac State is $9,979 for California Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at California State University - Sacramento

#7

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 106 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Diego State University is $14,788 for california bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Social Work at SDSU

#8

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for SFSU is $15,113 for california bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

Read full report on Social Work at SFSU

#9

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Jose State is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 77 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree social work students with aid list, San Jose State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State University is $14,928 for California Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full San Jose State University Social Work Report

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large public school situated in Hayward, California. It awarded 1 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay also took the #15 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $11,116 for california bachelor’s degree social work students with aid per year to attend Cal State East Bay.

Read full report on Social Work at California State University - East Bay

#10 in overall quality

California State University - Chico ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Chico State is a fairly large school located in Chico, California that handed out 74 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $15,017 for california bachelor’s degree social work students with aid per year to attend California State University - Chico.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Read full report on Social Work at California State University - Chico

#12

Humboldt State University

Arcata, California
#18 in overall quality

Humboldt State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Arcata, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 52 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Humboldt State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $14,692 for California Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid per year to attend Humboldt State University.

Full Humboldt State University Social Work Report

#13

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, California
#13 in overall quality

Fresno Pacific University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Fresno Pacific University is located in Fresno, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 79 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Fresno Pacific also took the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $16,356 for california bachelor’s degree social work students with aid per year to attend Fresno Pacific.

Read more about Social Work at Fresno Pacific

#14

Brandman University

Irvine, California
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Brandman University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 123 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Brandman not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $21,604 for California Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid per year to attend Brandman.

Read full report on Social Work at Brandman University

#15

La Sierra University

Riverside, California
#12 in overall quality

La Sierra University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

La Sierra not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $24,046 for California Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid per year to attend La Sierra.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at La Sierra

#16

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#17 in overall quality

Mount Saint Mary’s University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSMU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mount Saint Mary’s University is $29,214 for California Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Social Work at Mount Saint Mary’s University

#17

Whittier College

Whittier, California
#16 in overall quality

Whittier College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Whittier is a small school located in Whittier, California that handed out 9 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Whittier also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Whittier College is $24,570 for california bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at Whittier

#18

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Azusa Pacific University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Azusa, California. It awarded 48 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree social work students with aid list, Azusa Pacific has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Azusa Pacific University is $26,293 for California Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Azusa Pacific

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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