2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 a Doctorate” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2019-2020, 56,762 social work students received their degree, making the major the 8th most popular in the country.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 640 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate” ranking analyzed 67 colleges that offered a degree in social work. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent social work programs, but they also 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.
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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 a Doctorate” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to 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 Doctorate
The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree social work students.
Top 25 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work
Out of the 67 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Walden University landed the #1 spot on the list. Walden University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Walden University are $10,716, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 67 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Capella University landed the #2 spot on the list. Capella University is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 60 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Aurora University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Aurora University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Aurora, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora University are $13,200.
Out of the 67 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras is a fairly large public school situated in San Juan, . It awarded 2 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UPR Rio Piedras are $3,620.
Full University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Social Work Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of St Thomas Minnesota. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 15 degrees to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2019-2020.
UST MN also took the #11 spot in our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UST MN are $24,814, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #6, The University of Texas at Austin did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
UT Austin also made our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #15. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886.
Read more about Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin
University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison also took the #9 spot in our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Loyola Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Loyola Chicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola University Chicago are $19,154.
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Kutztown University are $16,300.
With a ranking of #10, Millersville University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Millersville University of Pennsylvania is located in Millersville, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Millersville University of Pennsylvania are $16,350, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Millersville University of Pennsylvania Social Work Report
University of Utah did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #11. U of U is a large public school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 5 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Utah are $24,695.
Simmons University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Simmons University is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Simmons are $21,698, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Houston came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston are $18,689.
University of Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #14. KU is a large school located in Lawrence, Kansas that handed out 4 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Kansas are $25,007.
Saint Louis University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Saint Louis University is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Louis University are $22,074.
With a ranking of #16, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Mizzou also made our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #25. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #17, Jackson State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Jackson State University is located in Jackson, Mississippi and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Jackson State University are $9,445.
University of Georgia landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Located in Athens, Georgia, this large public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Georgia are $27,476, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #19, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our doctor’s degree social work students list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845.
Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Social Work Report
Clark Atlanta University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Clark Atlanta University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 4 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Clark Atlanta University are $15,464, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #21, Florida International University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate list. Florida International University is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211.
Barry University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Barry University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Miami, Florida. It awarded 2 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Barry University are $17,910.
Colorado State University - Fort Collins landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Fort Collins, Colorado is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Colorado State are $28,055.
Read more about Social Work at Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Social Work at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate ranking. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 3 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
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Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Southeast Region
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Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Rocky Mountains Region
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Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Middle Atlantic Region
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Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Southwest Region
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Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Social Work in the New England Region
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Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Plains States Region
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Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Far Western US Region
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Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Great Lakes Region
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Army Medicine.
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