Social Work degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 181 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best social work schools.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor tops our 2026 ranking of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 417 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $52,424. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Stout one of the top schools for social work. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Stout in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $54,235. Typical student debt for the program is $25,821.
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Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 258 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $43,709 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,344 to complete this degree.
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University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 177 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $52,551. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire, which ranked #5. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 103 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $40,562 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #6 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 142 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $54,548. Typical student debt for the program is $21,398.
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Case Western Reserve University placed #7 among the best social work schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. About 159 social work degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $51,720 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete this degree.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #8 for social work this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 298 social work students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $51,834. Typical student debt for the program is $21,133.
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Marquette University earned the #9 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 social work degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $37,494. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Set in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit institution. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois graduates 42% of students within six years. About 86 social work degrees were awarded at Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earn a median of $101,006 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $39,146.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 245 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $51,727 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
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Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #12 spot for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 502 social work degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $44,632. Typical student debt for the program is $26,970.
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Michigan State University landed the #13 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 77 social work degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Michigan State University earn around $42,640 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,169 to complete this degree.
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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #14 among the best social work schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates 54% of students within six years. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis awarded about 588 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn around $44,292 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates carry a median of $16,473 in student loans.
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Ball State University came in at #15 for social work this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. Ball State University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 113 social work students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $39,094 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,900 to complete this degree.
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Taylor University came in at #16 for social work this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Upland. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 social work students who graduated with this degree at Taylor University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Taylor University generally make around $45,090. Taylor University graduates carry a median of $21,832 in student loans.
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Western Michigan University earned the #17 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Western Michigan University awarded about 75 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $44,056 early in their careers. Western Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Marian University Wisconsin ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Fond Du Lac, Marian University Wisconsin is a small private not-for-profit university. Marian University Wisconsin graduates 44% of students within six years. About 18 social work degrees were awarded at Marian University Wisconsin in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $72,102 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,242.
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Cedarville University landed the #19 spot for social work this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 social work students who graduated with this degree at Cedarville University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Cedarville University earn around $35,967 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Marian University Indiana landed the #20 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Marian University Indiana is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 social work students who graduated with this degree at Marian University Indiana in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Marian University Indiana earn a median of $49,784 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,633.
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Bradley University earned the #21 position for social work this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Peoria. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 social work degrees were awarded at Bradley University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Bradley University earn around $36,017 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Concordia University Wisconsin landed the #22 spot for social work this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Mequon. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 20 social work students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Wisconsin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Concordia University Wisconsin generally make around $58,227. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Detroit Mercy landed the #23 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of Detroit Mercy graduates 67% of students within six years. University Of Detroit Mercy awarded about 16 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Detroit Mercy generally make around $76,755. University Of Detroit Mercy graduates carry a median of $52,651 in student loans.
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Ohio University Main Campus came in at #24 for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 137 social work degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $43,618 in their early career. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,570 in student loans.
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Central Michigan University placed #25 among the best social work schools. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. About 59% of students finish within six years. About 29 social work degrees were awarded at Central Michigan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $35,800 in their early career. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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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 · 181 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).
