Best Social Work Colleges for Social Mobility (2026)
Updated
This page lists 221 colleges in the United States for Social Work that clear Azimuth's mobility threshold among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of California-Berkeley ranks 1st on this list and reports an average net price of $13,481.
The same school posts an average net price of $5,311 for families earning under $30,000. Providence College ranks 2nd on this list, with an average net price of $48,523.
Fordham University ranks 3rd on this list, with an average net price of $44,338. The group includes 206 public and 15 private nonprofit institutions.
The list is overwhelmingly public: 206 of the 221 schools are public, and just 15 are private nonprofit. CUNY Hunter College posts the lowest average net price on the list at $2,984.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 10 years after entry | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Pell share | Mobility percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $92,446 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 28.6% | 98th |
| At the 98th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, University of California-Berkeley reports a share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants of 29%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (88 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($67,393) | ||||||
| 2 | Providence College · Providence, RI | $87,054 | $48,523 | $28,152 | 13.4% | 60th |
| Providence College ranks 2nd on this list, with a share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants of 13% and an average net price of $48,523. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (17 graduates), Community Organization and Advocacy (10 graduates) | ||||||
| 3 | Fordham University · Bronx, NY | $85,569 | $44,338 | $32,474 | 21.4% | 74th |
| An average net price of $44,338 coincides with a 74th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions at Fordham University. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (16 graduates) | ||||||
| 4 | New York University · New York, NY | $82,509 | $37,050 | $16,977 | 17.9% | 93rd |
| New York University reports an average net price of $16,977 for families earning under $30,000 and a share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants of 18%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($59,593) | ||||||
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $81,054 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 23.4% | 98th |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sits at the 98th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports a share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants of 23%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (76 graduates) | ||||||
| 6 | Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY | $79,164 | $38,793 | $15,817 | 17.1% | 82nd |
| Syracuse University ranks 6th on this list and posts an average net price of $38,793. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Public Administration (85 graduates), Human Services, General (24 graduates), Social Work (20 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Public Administration ($89,732) | ||||||
| 7 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $78,988 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 35.2% | 98th |
| A share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants of 35% accompanies an average net price of $13,760 at San Jose State University. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (79 graduates) | ||||||
| 8 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Seattle, WA | $78,466 | $14,091 | $6,384 | 14.9% | 95th |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus reports an average net price of $6,384 for families earning under $30,000 and sits at the 95th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (51 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($59,256) | ||||||
| 9 | Marquette University · Milwaukee, WI | $78,257 | $31,487 | $22,269 | 18.4% | 78th |
| Marquette University ranks 9th on this page and reports a share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants of 18%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (14 graduates) | ||||||
| 10 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $76,343 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 30.1% | 98th |
| George Mason University reports a share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants of 30% and sits at the 98th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (65 graduates), Public Administration (34 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Public Administration ($67,973), Social Work ($55,715) | ||||||
| 11 | Adelphi University · Garden City, NY | $75,482 | $30,783 | $24,095 | 31.0% | 61st |
| An average net price of $24,095 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with a 61st percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions at Adelphi University. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (43 graduates) | ||||||
| 12 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $75,121 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 25.9% | 99th |
| The University of Texas at Austin reports a share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants of 26% and an average net price of $19,857. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (67 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($59,850) | ||||||
| 13 | Stony Brook University · Stony Brook, NY | $74,502 | $18,784 | $12,943 | 39.4% | 97th |
| Stony Brook University ranks 13th on this list, reports a 97th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, and has a Pell share of 39%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (62 graduates) | ||||||
| 14 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ | $74,479 | $24,406 | $16,343 | 27.9% | 99th |
| With an average net price of $16,343 for families earning under $30,000, Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks 14th on this list and posts a 99th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (83 graduates), Public Policy Analysis (18 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($56,797) | ||||||
| 15 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $73,792 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 15.9% | 96th |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison has a Pell share of 16% and an average net price of $4,200 for families earning under $30,000, ranking 15th on this page. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (71 graduates) | ||||||
| 16 | Loyola University Chicago · Chicago, IL | $71,530 | $36,079 | $28,992 | 23.8% | 77th |
| A private nonprofit university in Chicago, Loyola University Chicago reports an average net price of $36,079 and a 77th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (67 graduates), Human Services, General (6 graduates) | ||||||
| 17 | Seton Hall University · South Orange, NJ | $70,196 | $31,446 | $19,623 | 32.5% | 74th |
| Seton Hall University ranks 17th on this list, with a 74th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions and a Pell share of 32%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($63,559) | ||||||
| 18 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County · Baltimore, MD | $69,960 | $16,467 | $5,087 | 30.0% | 89th |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County posts an average net price of $5,087 for families earning under $30,000, alongside an 89th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (112 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($58,412) | ||||||
| 19 | James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA | $69,954 | $23,322 | $11,444 | 17.1% | 93rd |
| Ranking 19th on this page, James Madison University reports a 93rd percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions and a Pell share of 17%. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (64 graduates), Public Administration (48 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Public Administration ($71,626), Social Work ($52,991) | ||||||
| 20 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $68,758 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 19.6% | 95th |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh has a Pell share of 20% and an average net price of $17,303, with a 95th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (67 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($53,209) | ||||||
| 21 | University of Georgia · Athens, GA | $68,726 | $13,936 | $8,085 | 16.8% | 94th |
| University of Georgia ranks 21st on this list with a 94th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, and reports an average net price of $13,936. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (46 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($48,747) | ||||||
| 22 | Texas Christian University · Fort Worth, TX | $68,424 | $36,660 | $17,956 | 14.3% | 71st |
| A private nonprofit university in Fort Worth, Texas Christian University posts an average net price of $17,956 for families earning under $30,000 and a 71st percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($65,536) | ||||||
| 23 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $68,077 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 42.2% | 97th |
| San Francisco State University reports a Pell share of 42% and an average net price of $9,341 for families earning under $30,000, ranking 23rd on this page. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($68,524) | ||||||
| 24 | University at Albany · Albany, NY | $67,979 | $17,167 | $11,112 | 43.7% | 94th |
| With a 94th percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions, University at Albany ranks 24th on this list and reports an average net price of $17,167. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Public Policy Analysis (29 graduates), Social Work (22 graduates) | ||||||
| 25 | Ramapo College of New Jersey · Mahwah, NJ | $67,541 | $18,173 | $9,008 | 28.2% | 82nd |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey sits at the 82nd percentile on Azimuth's mobility index among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $18,173. | ||||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (57 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($58,371) | ||||||
How this list is ordered
Schools first had to sit at or above the 60th percentile on Azimuth's mobility pillar; those that qualified are ordered by the school's median earnings of all students ten years after entry, highest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. The metric covers all federally aided students at the institution who were working and not enrolled, measured ten years after entry. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. University of California-Berkeley leads with $92,446, and the gap to second-ranked Providence College is $5,392.
Job market context in the United States
The occupations linked to Social Work in the United States include such roles as Social and Human Service Assistants, Child, Family, and School Social Workers, and Healthcare Social Workers. Across those occupations, the median annual wage is $64,756, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $51,418. The linked occupations have about 707,100 projected openings a year, or about 2,051 openings a year for every hundred graduates, and more projected openings than graduates. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 6.8% higher. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings, the market figures describe the occupations, and the two are not the same measure.
Related rankings
- Public Administration Colleges for Social Mobility
- Public Administration Colleges in the United States