by our College Data Analytics Team
[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong social work education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for social work students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social work degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in social work, no school beat Truckee Meadows Community College this year. Truckee Meadows Community College is a large public school located in the city of Reno. Students from in state pay about $3,352 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,018. Students borrow a median of $12,290 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $52,785. Set against $12,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $21,686. Social Work graduates of University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn a median of $48,465 early in their careers. Set against $21,686 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Nevada Reno is a great value for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Reno, University Of Nevada Reno is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,578 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Students borrow a median of $17,905 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $49,026. That is a strong return on a $17,905 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.