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

11 Colleges in the United States
801 Social Work Degrees Awarded
$44,223 Avg Early-Career Salary

Social Work programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their social work programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools to find the best for social work students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Social Work in Missouri

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

Top Schools in Social Work

1

Washington University In St Louis is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in social work. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 147 social work students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $50,855. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree. Read more about the social work program at Washington University In St Louis

2

University Of Missouri Columbia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. About 33 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $44,434 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,119. More information about a degree in social work from University Of Missouri Columbia

3

Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #3 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Maryville University Of Saint Louis awarded about 18 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $67,909. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Get the full social work details for Maryville University Of Saint Louis

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Missouri Kansas City one of the top schools for social work. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. University Of Missouri Kansas City awarded about 41 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Missouri Kansas City earn around $50,723 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,741. Get the full social work details for University Of Missouri Kansas City

5

A rank of #5 makes Saint Louis University Main Campus one of the top schools for social work. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 91 social work degrees were awarded at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $48,270. Typical student debt for the program is $22,875. More information about a degree in social work from Saint Louis University Main Campus

6
Park University crest
Park University
Parkville, MO

Park University came in at #6 for social work this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Parkville. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. There were roughly 35 social work students who graduated with this degree at Park University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Park University earn around $49,077 in the first couple years of their career. Park University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Get the full social work details for Park University

7

Missouri State University Springfield landed the #7 spot for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 152 social work students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $41,349 in the first couple years of their career. Missouri State University Springfield graduates carry a median of $25,085 in student loans. More information about a degree in social work from Missouri State University Springfield

8

University Of Central Missouri landed the #8 spot for social work this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Missouri in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $39,295 in their early career. University Of Central Missouri graduates carry a median of $26,579 in student loans. Read more about the social work program at University Of Central Missouri

9

Missouri Baptist University placed #9 among the best social work schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 35 social work students who graduated with this degree at Missouri Baptist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Missouri Baptist University generally make around $45,270. Typical student debt for the program is $27,337. Read more about the social work program at Missouri Baptist University

10
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO

Lindenwood University placed #10 among the best social work schools. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. Lindenwood University graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 social work students who graduated with this degree at Lindenwood University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $48,197 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in social work from Lindenwood University

11

Southeast Missouri State University earned the #11 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southeast Missouri State University awarded about 38 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $32,224 early in their careers. Southeast Missouri State University graduates carry a median of $25,433 in student loans. Read more about the social work program at Southeast Missouri State University

12

University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #12 for social work this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. About 57% of students finish within six years. University Of Missouri St Louis awarded about 107 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Missouri St Louis earn around $42,241 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Read more about the social work program at University Of Missouri St Louis

13

Missouri Southern State University earned the #13 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 social work students who graduated with this degree at Missouri Southern State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $27,936. Typical student debt for the program is $25,983. See the full social work program report for Missouri Southern State University

14
Evangel University crest
Evangel University
Springfield, MO

Evangel University landed the #14 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Evangel University awarded about 11 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $42,039 in their early career. Evangel University graduates carry a median of $24,876 in student loans. See the full social work program report for Evangel University

15

Missouri Western State University landed the #15 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Missouri Western State University awarded about 30 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Missouri Western State University generally make around $33,532. Students borrow a median of $27,679 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from Missouri Western 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 · 24 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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