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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work

280 Ranked Colleges
32,208 Degrees Awarded
$12,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master's

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s” 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 32,208 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s” ranking, we looked at 280 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the social work program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree social work students.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work

#1

Westfield State University

Westfield, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Westfield State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s. Located in Westfield, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school handed out 97 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Westfield State University are $6,696, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at Westfield State University

#2

Walden University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Walden University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s. Walden University is a large private for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 671 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Walden University are $10,716, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at Walden University

Out of the 280 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Provo, Utah, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 41 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at BYU are $7,510, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at BYU

#4

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois
Top 15% in overall quality

Out of the 280 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Aurora University landed the #4 spot on the list. Aurora University is located in Aurora, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 460 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Aurora is also in the top of our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora University are $13,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Aurora Social Work Report

#5

Western New Mexico University

Silver City, New Mexico
Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western New Mexico University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s list. This small school is located in Silver City, New Mexico, and it awarded 139 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Western New Mexico University are $10,348, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Western New Mexico University Social Work Report

With a ranking of #6, Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it awarded 328 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Skysong are $6,724, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at ASU - Skysong

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is located in Mankato, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State Mankato are $8,788, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#8

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Augsburg University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 81 diplomas to qualified masters’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 Augsburg University are $13,165.

Read more about Social Work at Augsburg University

Top 25% in overall quality

The College of Saint Scholastica ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s list. This small school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 30 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at The College of Saint Scholastica are $15,502, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at St. Scholastica

#10

Seattle University

Seattle, Washington
Top 25% in overall quality

Seattle University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #10. Seattle U is a medium-sized school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 26 masters’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 Seattle University are $14,040.

Read full report on Social Work at Seattle University

#11

Hunter College

New York, New York
Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Hunter College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s list. Hunter is a large school located in New York, New York that handed out 544 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Hunter is in the top on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at Hunter are $20,828, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Hunter Social Work Report

#12

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts
#13 in overall quality

Simmons University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking. Simmons is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 571 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Simmons also took the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Simmons are $21,698.

Read full report on Social Work at Simmons

#13

Brescia University

Owensboro, Kentucky

Brescia University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Owensboro, Kentucky, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 30 degrees to qualified masters’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 Brescia University are $850.

Full Brescia University Social Work Report

Northwest Nazarene University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking. Located in Nampa, Idaho, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 39 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at NNU are $11,121, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at NNU

#15

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

Loyola University Chicago came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 249 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Chicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Social Work Master’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.

Read more about Social Work at Loyola University Chicago

#16

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking. Saint Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 47 masters’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 Saint Cloud State University are $12,904.

Read full report on Social Work at St. Cloud State University

#17

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
Top 25% in overall quality

University of North Dakota landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 75 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UND are $18,326, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of North Dakota Social Work Report

#18

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, Michigan

Spring Arbor University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #18. Spring Arbor is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Spring Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 103 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Spring Arbor University are $8,232, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at Spring Arbor

#19

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #19. This fairly large school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 29 masters’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 Ferris State University are $7,908.

Read more about Social Work at Ferris

#20

Anna Maria College

Paxton, Massachusetts

Anna Maria College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking. Anna Maria is a private not-for-profit institution located in Paxton, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Anna Maria College are $10,530, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at Anna Maria

Top 20% in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 230 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, CSULB is also in the top of our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Long Beach Social Work Report

#22

Salisbury University

Salisbury, Maryland

Salisbury University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking. Salisbury University is a medium-sized school located in Salisbury, Maryland that handed out 176 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Salisbury University are $15,543, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Salisbury University Social Work Report

#23

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee

Southern Adventist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #23. Southern Adventist is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Collegedale, Tennessee. It awarded 34 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Adventist University are $11,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Southern Adventist Social Work Report

#24

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California

Azusa Pacific University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking. Azusa Pacific is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Azusa, California. It awarded 78 masters’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 Azusa Pacific are $16,571.

Read full report on Social Work at Azusa Pacific

#25

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee

Union University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #25. Jackson, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 76 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Union are $10,671, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at Union

Rest of the Best 43 in Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s

Not only did these schools make the top 43 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#28

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts
#32

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#33

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville, Kentucky
#35

Marywood University

Scranton, Pennsylvania
#36

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania
#37

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#38

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#39

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, Massachusetts
#39

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#41

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas
#43

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

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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