2027 Best Value Social Work Schools in Florida
[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/social-work/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value social work schools.
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2027 Best Value Social Work Schools in Florida
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in social work, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Social Work Schools
Florida Atlantic University tops our 2027 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. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $39,912 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Florida International University one of the best values for social work. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Social Work graduates carry a median of $18,800 in student loans. 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%.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of West Florida one of the best values for social work. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Social Work graduates carry a median of $17,373 in student loans. Social Work graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $36,573 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,373 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Florida Main Campus earned it the #4 place for social work. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $43,978. That is a strong return on a $21,875 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Florida came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value social work schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $13,029. Social Work graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $49,208 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,029 median debt. University Of North Florida admits about 53% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value social work schools. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. 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. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value social work schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $15,193 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $37,177. That is a strong return on a $15,193 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #8 for value in social work this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $18,837. Early-career social work graduates make about $45,605. That is a strong return on a $18,837 median debt. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University came in at #9 for value in social work this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785, while out-of-state students pay about $17,725. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $27,000. Early-career social work graduates make about $33,951. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Saint Leo University placed #10 among the best values for social work. Located in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,000. Students borrow a median of $33,457 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of Saint Leo University earn a median of $43,239 early in their careers. 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. Set in the suburb of Miami, Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,350 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,675 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Barry University generally make around $51,176. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Southeastern University placed #12 among the best values for social work. Set in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,950. Students borrow a median of $24,923 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $48,071. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 12 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.
