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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Social Work Schools in North Carolina

17 Colleges in the United States
1,694 Social Work Degrees Awarded
$40,505 Avg Early-Career Salary

Social Work is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best social work schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Social Work in North Carolina

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

Top Schools in Social Work

1

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill tops our 2026 ranking of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 139 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $49,662 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Read more about the social work program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

2

North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 154 social work degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $41,233 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,791. More information about a degree in social work from North Carolina State University At Raleigh

3

Appalachian State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #3. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Appalachian State University awarded about 163 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Appalachian State University earn around $40,115 in the first couple years of their career. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $22,184 in student loans. More information about a degree in social work from Appalachian State University

4

East Carolina University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. East Carolina University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 135 social work students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $43,448 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the social work program at East Carolina University

5

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #5. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 223 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $37,850 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte

6

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington landed the #6 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 151 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $43,289 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,361 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

7

Western Carolina University earned the #7 position for social work this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. Western Carolina University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 116 social work students who graduated with this degree at Western Carolina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Western Carolina University earn around $42,004 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,857 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from Western Carolina University

8

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned the #8 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 111 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn around $39,033 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. See the full social work program report for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

9
Meredith College crest
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC

Meredith College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 social work students who graduated with this degree at Meredith College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Meredith College earn around $40,537 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,381. See the full social work program report for Meredith College

10
Barton College crest
Barton College
Wilson, NC

Barton College came in at #10 for social work this year. Barton College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Wilson. About 46% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 social work students who graduated with this degree at Barton College in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Barton College earn a median of $38,312 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full social work program report for Barton College

11

Winston Salem State University landed the #11 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 33 social work degrees were awarded at Winston Salem State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Winston Salem State University earn around $29,617 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,537. Get the full social work details for Winston Salem State University

12

North Carolina A And T State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 76 social work degrees were awarded at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $37,036 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the social work program at North Carolina A And T State University

13

North Carolina Central University earned the #13 position for social work this year. North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. North Carolina Central University awarded about 104 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from North Carolina Central University earn around $38,543 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree. Get the full social work details for North Carolina Central University

14

University Of North Carolina At Pembroke came in at #14 for social work this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Pembroke. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 107 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $37,841 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full social work details for University Of North Carolina At Pembroke

15
Methodist University crest
Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC

Methodist University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fayetteville. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. There were roughly 15 social work students who graduated with this degree at Methodist University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Methodist University earn a median of $56,375 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,604. See the full social work program report for Methodist University

16
Mars Hill College crest
Mars Hill College
Mars Hill, NC

Mars Hill College earned the #16 position for social work this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Mars Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. About 11 social work degrees were awarded at Mars Hill College in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Mars Hill College earn around $41,643 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,133. See the full social work program report for Mars Hill College

17

Elizabeth City State University landed the #17 spot for social work this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Elizabeth City. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 social work students who graduated with this degree at Elizabeth City State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Elizabeth City State University earn around $28,300 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,467. Read more about the social work program at Elizabeth City State University

18

Fayetteville State University came in at #18 for social work this year. Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 78 social work degrees were awarded at Fayetteville State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Fayetteville State University generally make around $36,417. Fayetteville State University graduates carry a median of $32,500 in student loans. See the full social work program report for Fayetteville State University

19

Johnson C Smith University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Johnson C Smith University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. Johnson C Smith University graduates 34% of students within six years. About 35 social work degrees were awarded at Johnson C Smith University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Johnson C Smith University generally make around $48,343. Johnson C Smith University graduates carry a median of $41,000 in student loans. Read more about the social work program at Johnson C Smith University

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Notes and References

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 · 26 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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