2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Florida
[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/social-work/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value social work schools.
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2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Florida
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social work degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Social Work Schools
Florida Atlantic University tops our 2026 list of the best value social work schools in Florida. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $19,695. Social Work graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $39,912 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,695 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in social work will find it at The University Of West Florida, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Students borrow a median of $17,373 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $36,573 early in their careers. Set against $17,373 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
Florida International University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $18,800. Early-career social work graduates make about $41,626. That is a strong return on a $18,800 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Students looking for strong value in social work will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #4. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Social Work graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans. Early-career social work graduates make about $43,978. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
A rank of #5 makes Florida Gulf Coast University one of the best values for social work. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Social Work graduates carry a median of $18,837 in student loans. Social Work graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of $45,605 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,837 median debt. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
University Of North Florida came in at #6 for value in social work this year. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,029 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $49,208. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Social Work graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans. Early-career social work graduates make about $41,483. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Florida State University came in at #8 for value in social work this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,193 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $37,177 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,193 median debt. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University landed the #9 spot for social work value this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785, with out-of-state students paying around $17,725. Social Work graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career social work graduates make about $33,951. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University admits about 21% of applicants.
Saint Leo University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Set in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $30,000 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $33,457. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Saint Leo University generally make around $43,239. Set against $33,457 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Barry University earned the #11 position for value in social work this year. Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,350. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $30,675. Early-career social work graduates make about $51,176. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Southeastern University landed the #12 spot for social work value this year. Set in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,950. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $24,923. Early-career social work graduates make about $48,071. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 53%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
