Social Work degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 864 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for social work students pursuing a degree.
University Of California Berkeley tops our 2026 ranking of the best social work schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 64 social work degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $44,906 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,719 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes California State University Long Beach one of the top schools for social work. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 60 social work students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $42,925 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,276 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #3. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 social work students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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A rank of #4 makes California State University Sacramento one of the top schools for social work. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 149 social work students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $37,290 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for California State University Sacramento
Loyola University Chicago came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 49 social work degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $51,834 in their early career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $21,133 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #6 among the best social work schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 62 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $40,969. Students borrow a median of $17,396 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #7 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 73 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $36,815 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,344 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #8 spot for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 88 social work students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $37,437. Typical student debt for the program is $21,506.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #9 position for social work this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. About 70% of students finish within six years. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 48 social work degrees in the most recent data year.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #10 position for social work this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 86 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $39,936 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Rutgers University New Brunswick
James Madison University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. James Madison University awarded about 48 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $31,687. Typical student debt for the program is $18,989.
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California State University San Bernardino earned the #12 position for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Bernardino. About 55% of students finish within six years. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 80 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $39,145 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,018 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #13 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 50 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $54,548 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,398.
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San Francisco State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 21 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $48,750 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,259.
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University Of Utah placed #15 among the best social work schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Salt Lake City. University Of Utah graduates 65% of students within six years. About 117 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $38,338 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,038 to complete this degree.
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Stony Brook University came in at #16 for social work this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 social work degrees were awarded at Stony Brook University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Stony Brook University earn around $51,751 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,981.
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California State University Chico earned the #17 position for social work this year. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 66 social work degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from California State University Chico earn around $36,840 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for California State University Chico
Syracuse University placed #18 among the best social work schools. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 15 social work degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $53,346 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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California State University Los Angeles landed the #19 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. California State University Los Angeles graduates 53% of students within six years. About 217 social work degrees were awarded at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from California State University Los Angeles earn around $37,477 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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Marist College landed the #20 spot for social work this year. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 16 social work degrees were awarded at Marist College in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Marist College earn around $60,521 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,251.
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Seattle University came in at #21 for social work this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 social work degrees were awarded at Seattle University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Seattle University earn around $65,650 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,289 to complete this degree.
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University Of Portland landed the #22 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Portland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 15 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Portland in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $54,739 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,169 to complete this degree.
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Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #23 spot for social work this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 social work students who graduated with this degree at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $54,116 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete this degree.
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George Mason University landed the #24 spot for social work this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 50 social work degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from George Mason University earn around $38,559 in the first couple years of their career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $24,188 in student loans.
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University Of Nevada Reno earned the #25 position for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Reno. About 61% of students finish within six years. University Of Nevada Reno awarded about 105 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Nevada Reno generally make around $40,530. Students borrow a median of $17,905 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Social Work Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s social work ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 864 schools evaluated.
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).
