Best Colleges for Social Work in 2025–26

30 colleges with strong social work programs, ranked by size and selectivity.

University of Maryland

College Park, MD

44% acceptance$11,564 in-state

The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, TX

79.9% acceptance$11,950 in-state

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA

94% acceptance$8,018 in-state

Appalachian State University

Boone, NC

90.1% acceptance$7,579 in-state

Boise State University

Boise, ID

87.2% acceptance$9,048 in-state

CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY

53.8% acceptance$7,382 in-state

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO

98.8% acceptance$11,124 in-state

Indiana University-Indianapolis

Indianapolis, IN

76.4% acceptance$10,762 in-state

Portland State University

Portland, OR

90.9% acceptance$11,679 in-state

University of Houston-Downtown

Houston, TX

90% acceptance$7,708 in-state

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL

81.6% acceptance$53,710 in-state

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Omaha, NE

87% acceptance$8,718 in-state

Kean University

Union, NJ

75.9% acceptance$14,299 in-state

CUNY Lehman College

Bronx, NY

56.6% acceptance$7,410 in-state

Bellevue University

Bellevue, NE

$9,903 in-state

Howard University

Washington, DC

41.3% acceptance$35,810 in-state

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN

81.1% acceptance$10,448 in-state

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI

79.6% acceptance$16,240 in-state

Morgan State University

Baltimore, MD

82.2% acceptance$8,229 in-state

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY

67.7% acceptance$11,088 in-state

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater, MA

87.8% acceptance$11,808 in-state

University of Minnesota-Duluth

Duluth, MN

88.8% acceptance$14,610 in-state

University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage, AK

$7,738 in-state

Saint Leo University

Saint Leo, FL

78.4% acceptance$30,000 in-state

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Green Bay, WI

88.6% acceptance$8,700 in-state

Southern Connecticut State University

New Haven, CT

91.5% acceptance$13,438 in-state

University of St Thomas

Saint Paul, MN

85.4% acceptance$54,398 in-state

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, WA

90.8% acceptance$8,586 in-state

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, PA

90.8% acceptance$11,314 in-state

Salisbury University

Salisbury, MD

87.5% acceptance$11,084 in-state

About social work as a major

Social Work is one of the most direct college-to-career pipelines in the US — a BSW (Bachelor's in Social Work) plus state licensure (LSW or LBSW) is enough to work in the field. Most BSW grads work in child welfare, schools, hospitals, mental health agencies, or community organizations. For clinical social work (the LCSW credential, required for independent therapy practice), you need a Master's in Social Work (MSW) plus 2-3 years of supervised hours. Demand for social workers is consistently high — the field is projected to grow faster than average through 2032, especially in healthcare and substance-misuse-treatment settings. The trade-off: starting pay is among the lowest of all helping-profession careers despite the credentials required, and the work can be emotionally heavy.

Salary range

$45,000 – $55,000 starting with BSW; $60,000-$85,000 with MSW + LCSW; private clinical practice $100,000+

Study path

4-year BSW. Core: human behavior in social environment → social welfare policy → research methods → 400-500 hours supervised field placement (senior year). MSW is typically 1-2 additional years; LCSW requires 2-3 years post-MSW supervised practice.

How to choose a social work program

CSWE accreditation is essential for licensure — never enroll in a non-CSWE-accredited program. Look for programs with strong field placement programs — you'll spend hundreds of hours in supervised practice during senior year. Consider whether you want to focus on clinical social work (one-on-one therapy/case management), community organizing (program development, advocacy), or policy advocacy (state and federal-level work). 'Advanced Standing' MSW programs allow BSW grads to complete the MSW in 1 year instead of 2 — this is a major financial advantage. Schools with strong field-placement partnerships at children's hospitals, child protective agencies, and community mental health centers offer the best post-grad experience.

Common career paths for social work graduates

Clinical Social Worker, Child Welfare Specialist, School Social Worker, Community Organizer, Policy Advocate, Hospital Social Worker, Substance Abuse Counselor, Mental Health Case Manager, Adoption Specialist, Geriatric Social Worker

Real careers, real salaries

See all →
School Counselor$62K
+5% by 2032
Social Worker$58K
+7% by 2032

Scholarships for social work students

There are scholarships specifically for students studying social work. Search our database to find awards you qualify for.

Find social work scholarships →
Best social work colleges ranked →Compare collegesCheck your chancesNet price calculatorBrowse all colleges

Last updated: November 2025. Live acceptance rates and tuition pulled from each college's most recent reporting.

KidToCollege is free to use and editorially independent. Data sourced from public records including IPEDS, Common Data Sets, College Board and FAFSA.gov. Always verify deadlines and requirements directly with institutions. Not a guarantee of admission or financial aid.