2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Oklahoma

[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/social-work/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong social work education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for social work students.
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2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Oklahoma
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
Leading the list is Tulsa Community College, our #1 best value for social work in Oklahoma. Tulsa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tulsa. In-state tuition and fees average $3,792, while out-of-state students pay about $9,720. Students borrow a median of $10,038 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $41,718. Set against $10,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,779 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,564 for out-of-state students. Social Work graduates carry a median of $18,726 in student loans. Early-career social work graduates make about $45,580. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Central University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. East Central University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Ada. In-state tuition and fees average $8,032, with out-of-state students paying around $17,842. Students borrow a median of $26,219 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of East Central University earn a median of $42,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwestern Oklahoma State University earned it the #4 place for social work. Located in the town of Alva, Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,970, compared with $11,664 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $22,438. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Northwestern Oklahoma State University generally make around $46,196. That is a strong return on a $22,438 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northeastern State University earned it the #5 place for social work. Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Tahlequah. In-state tuition and fees average $7,810, compared with $17,290 for out-of-state students. Social Work graduates carry a median of $30,785 in student loans. Social Work graduates of Northeastern State University earn a median of $43,407 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $53,107 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.