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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Social Work Schools in Massachusetts

8 Colleges in the United States
2,172 Social Work Degrees Awarded
$51,583 Avg Early-Career Salary

Social Work programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for social work students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Social Work in Massachusetts

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social work education in Massachusetts.

Top Schools in Social Work

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Massachusetts Amherst the best school in the country for a degree in social work. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. About 83% of students finish within six years. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 37 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn around $53,543 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. See the full social work program report for University Of Massachusetts Amherst

2
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 354 social work degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $57,991. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from Boston University

3
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA

A rank of #3 makes Boston College one of the top schools for social work. 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 278 social work degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Boston College earn a median of $56,920 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree. Read more about the social work program at Boston College

4
Simmons College crest
Simmons College
Boston, MA

Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at Simmons College, which ranked #4. Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Simmons College awarded about 632 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Simmons College earn around $45,268 in the first couple years of their career. Simmons College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full social work details for Simmons College

5
Smith College crest
Smith College
Northampton, MA

Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at Smith College, which ranked #5. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. About 89% of students finish within six years. Smith College awarded about 138 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Smith College earn a median of $53,525 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,941. Get the full social work details for Smith College

6

Bristol Community College landed the #6 spot for social work this year. Located in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 26 social work students who graduated with this degree at Bristol Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $37,897 in their early career. Bristol Community College graduates carry a median of $6,433 in student loans. See the full social work program report for Bristol Community College

7
Springfield College crest
Springfield College
Springfield, MA

Springfield College earned the #7 position for social work this year. Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Springfield College awarded about 87 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Springfield College earn around $57,311 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,151. More information about a degree in social work from Springfield College

8

Westfield State University earned the #8 position for social work this year. Set in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 123 social work students who graduated with this degree at Westfield State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Westfield State University earn around $47,739 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from Westfield State University

9
Regis College crest
Regis College
Weston, MA

Regis College placed #9 among the best social work schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Weston. Regis College graduates 71% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 social work students who graduated with this degree at Regis College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Regis College earn around $69,483 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,441. More information about a degree in social work from Regis College

10

Bridgewater State University earned the #10 position for social work this year. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 174 social work degrees were awarded at Bridgewater State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $51,697 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full social work program report for Bridgewater State University

11

Salem State University placed #11 among the best social work schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Salem. Salem State University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 157 social work students who graduated with this degree at Salem State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Salem State University earn around $52,651 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Read more about the social work program at Salem State University

12
Lesley University crest
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA

Lesley University came in at #12 for social work this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 18 social work students who graduated with this degree at Lesley University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $48,287 in their early career. Lesley University graduates carry a median of $24,818 in student loans. Read more about the social work program at Lesley University

13

University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #13 among the best social work schools. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 20 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Boston in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Massachusetts Boston earn around $45,227 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,947. Read more about the social work program at University Of Massachusetts Boston

14

College Of Our Lady Of The Elms placed #14 among the best social work schools. Set in the suburb of Chicopee, College Of Our Lady Of The Elms is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 social work students who graduated with this degree at College Of Our Lady Of The Elms in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from College Of Our Lady Of The Elms earn around $40,161 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,682 to complete this degree. See the full social work program report for College Of Our Lady Of The Elms

15

Anna Maria College came in at #15 for social work this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Paxton. Anna Maria College graduates 46% of students within six years. Anna Maria College awarded about 21 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Anna Maria College earn around $57,125 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from Anna Maria College

16
Merrimack College crest
Merrimack College
North Andover, MA

Merrimack College landed the #16 spot for social work this year. Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Andover. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Merrimack College awarded about 18 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Merrimack College earn a median of $50,506 early in their careers. Merrimack College graduates carry a median of $26,913 in student loans. Read more about the social work program at Merrimack College

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 21 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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