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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Social Work Schools in Tennessee

14 Colleges in the United States
1,116 Social Work Degrees Awarded
$42,129 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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools to find the best for social work students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Social Work in Tennessee

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the social work degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Social Work

1

Our analysis ranked The University Of Tennessee the best school in the country for a degree in social work. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. The University Of Tennessee graduates 74% of students within six years. About 429 social work degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $43,853 in their early career. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $25,683 in student loans. Get the full social work details for The University Of Tennessee

2
Belmont University crest
Belmont University
Nashville, TN

Belmont University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. Belmont University awarded about 19 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $49,699. Typical student debt for the program is $23,447. See the full social work program report for Belmont University

3

Middle Tennessee State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #3. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 110 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $43,102 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,100. More information about a degree in social work from Middle Tennessee State University

4

The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga awarded about 57 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $35,667. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $20,043 in student loans. Get the full social work details for The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga

5
Lipscomb University crest
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN

A rank of #5 makes Lipscomb University one of the top schools for social work. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Lipscomb University graduates 72% of students within six years. Lipscomb University awarded about 12 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Lipscomb University earn around $48,949 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529. More information about a degree in social work from Lipscomb University

6

The University Of Tennessee Martin placed #6 among the best social work schools. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 social work degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $34,240 early in their careers. The University Of Tennessee Martin graduates carry a median of $25,653 in student loans. See the full social work program report for The University Of Tennessee Martin

7

East Tennessee State University came in at #7 for social work this year. East Tennessee State University is a large public school located in the city of Johnson City. About 53% of students finish within six years. East Tennessee State University awarded about 98 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from East Tennessee State University earn around $37,775 in the first couple years of their career. East Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in social work from East Tennessee State University

8

Southern Adventist University landed the #8 spot for social work this year. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Southern Adventist University graduates 55% of students within six years. Southern Adventist University awarded about 33 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $47,542. Students borrow a median of $24,575 to complete this degree. Read more about the social work program at Southern Adventist University

9

University Of Memphis came in at #9 for social work this year. University Of Memphis is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis. University Of Memphis graduates 51% of students within six years. University Of Memphis awarded about 119 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $41,864 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $36,506. More information about a degree in social work from University Of Memphis

10

Freed Hardeman University earned the #10 position for social work this year. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 10 social work degrees were awarded at Freed Hardeman University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $54,530 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,200 to complete this degree. Get the full social work details for Freed Hardeman University

11
Union University crest
Union University
Jackson, TN

Union University earned the #11 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Jackson, Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Union University graduates 66% of students within six years. About 72 social work degrees were awarded at Union University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Union University generally make around $41,049. Students borrow a median of $39,415 to complete this degree. Read more about the social work program at Union University

12
King College crest
King College
Bristol, TN

King College earned the #12 position for social work this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bristol. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. King College awarded about 61 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from King College generally make around $34,380. Typical student debt for the program is $28,732. See the full social work program report for King College

13

Austin Peay State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Austin Peay State University awarded about 47 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $38,190. Austin Peay State University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full social work details for Austin Peay State University

14

Tennessee State University earned the #14 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. Tennessee State University awarded about 28 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Tennessee State University earn a median of $38,965 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,500. More information about a degree in social work from Tennessee State University

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Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 19 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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