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.
College Factual analyzed 864 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best social work schools.
Leading the list is University Of Pennsylvania, our #1 school for social work. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 167 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $54,533 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from University Of Pennsylvania
California State University Long Beach is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #2 spot this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 224 social work students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $66,873 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,276 to complete this degree.
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University Of Maryland Baltimore came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore is a moderately-sized public university. University Of Maryland Baltimore awarded about 321 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $59,340 in their early career. University Of Maryland Baltimore graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 100 social work degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $65,106. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. About 82 social work degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $58,587 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,719 to complete this degree.
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Boston University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 351 social work students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Boston University earn around $57,991 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,232.
See the full social work program report for Boston University
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #7 for social work this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 546 social work students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $59,891 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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Boston College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 273 social work degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $56,920. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Boston College
San Diego State University earned the #9 position for social work this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 78 social work students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $61,978 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,176 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from San Diego State University
University Of Southern California came in at #10 for social work this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 528 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $61,298 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
More information about a degree in social work from University Of Southern California
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #11 for social work this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 68 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 $61,696. Students borrow a median of $17,396 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #12 position for social work this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 417 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $53,431 in their early career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
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New York University earned the #13 position for social work this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. New York University awarded about 419 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from New York University earn around $57,712 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full social work program report for New York University
California State University Sacramento ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 103 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $65,967 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the social work program at California State University Sacramento
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota placed #15 among the best social work schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Winona. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota graduates 66% of students within six years. About 102 social work degrees were awarded at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $69,785 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,081.
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Cuny Hunter College landed the #16 spot for social work this year. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 587 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $60,587 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,608 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 191 social work degrees in the most recent data year.
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San Francisco State University placed #18 among the best social work schools. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Francisco State University awarded about 48 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $93,023. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $17,259 in student loans.
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California State University Fullerton placed #19 among the best social work schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 105 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $64,167 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,525.
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California State University Los Angeles earned the #20 position for social work this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 160 social work students who graduated with this degree at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from California State University Los Angeles earn around $64,869 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Connecticut placed #21 among the best social work schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 144 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $55,081 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,637.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #22 position for social work this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 671 social work degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $54,225 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #23 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 104 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,823 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
See the full social work program report for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Washington University In St Louis came in at #24 for social work this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. About 135 social work degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $50,855 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 180 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $50,602 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,344 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. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, 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).
