Best Social Work Colleges in New York (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 27 colleges in New York that report a Social Work earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Social Work graduates four years after completing. CUNY Hunter College leads the list at $70,273, followed by Iona University at $66,417 and Fordham University at $66,349.
Across the 24 schools with a published figure, median earnings reach $59,534, with values spanning from $70,273 to $44,863.
The list includes 11 public and 16 private nonprofit institutions. CUNY Hunter College reports the lowest average net price on the page at $2,984, and it also holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank, placing 20th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. New York University posts the highest six-year completion rate at 88%.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Social Work Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Hunter College · New York, NY | $70,273 | $2,984 | $1,029 | 53.8% |
| CUNY Hunter College reports $70,273 in median earnings of Social Work graduates four years after completing and carries an average net price of $2,984. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (43 graduates) | |||||
| 2 | Iona University · New Rochelle, NY | $66,417 | $29,188 | $25,785 | 86.9% |
| Graduates of Iona University earned a median of $66,417 four years after completing their Social Work degree, and the university admits 87% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (17 graduates) | |||||
| 3 | Fordham University · Bronx, NY | $66,349 | $44,338 | $32,474 | 59.3% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 82%, Fordham University ranks 3rd on this list and reports median earnings of $66,349 for its Social Work graduates. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (16 graduates) | |||||
| 4 | Adelphi University · Garden City, NY | $66,162 | $30,783 | $24,095 | 65.9% |
| Adelphi University posts median earnings of $66,162 four years after completing Social Work and an average net price of $24,095 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (43 graduates) | |||||
| 5 | Dominican University New York · Orangeburg, NY | $64,672 | $41,832 | $40,695 | 63.3% |
| Dominican University New York, a private nonprofit university in Orangeburg, ranks 5th on this page with median earnings of $64,672 for its Social Work graduates. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (6 graduates) | |||||
| 6 | CUNY Lehman College · Bronx, NY | $62,955 | $3,148 | $1,589 | 56.6% |
| CUNY Lehman College reports median earnings of $62,955 four years after completing Social Work and an average net price of $1,589 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (133 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($62,955) | |||||
| 7 | College of Staten Island CUNY · Staten Island, NY | $61,558 | $5,579 | $3,903 | 92.3% |
| College of Staten Island CUNY admits 92% of applicants and its Social Work graduates earn a median of $61,558 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (25 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($61,558) | |||||
| 8 | Skidmore College · Saratoga Springs, NY | $61,428 | $32,297 | $9,932 | 21.1% |
| Skidmore College has an admission rate of 21% and a six-year completion rate of 83%, while its Social Work graduates earn a median of $61,428. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (17 graduates) | |||||
| 9 | Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY | $60,920 | $38,793 | $15,817 | 45.9% |
| Syracuse University ranks 9th on this list and reports a six-year completion rate of 84% alongside an average net price of $15,817 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
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) | |||||
| 10 | CUNY York College · Jamaica, NY | $60,820 | $4,456 | $2,861 | 64.1% |
| CUNY York College reports median earnings of $60,820 for its Social Work graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $4,456. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (81 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($60,820) | |||||
| 11 | CUNY Medgar Evers College · Brooklyn, NY | $60,755 | $5,718 | $4,368 | 86.1% |
| An admission rate of 86% and an average net price of $4,368 for families earning under $30,000 accompany CUNY Medgar Evers College's 11th position on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (66 graduates), Public Administration (19 graduates) | |||||
| 12 | Siena University · Loudonville, NY | $60,100 | $33,733 | $26,417 | 69.0% |
| Siena University reports median earnings of $60,100 four years after completing Social Work and a six-year completion rate of 75%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (15 graduates) | |||||
| 13 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh · Plattsburgh, NY | $59,925 | $17,156 | $9,400 | 78.4% |
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh reports $59,925 in median earnings of Social Work graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $17,156. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (38 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($59,925) | |||||
| 14 | New York University · New York, NY | $59,593 | $37,050 | $16,977 | 9.2% |
| New York University admits 9% of applicants and ranks 146th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($59,593) | |||||
| 15 | University at Albany · Albany, NY | $59,475 | $17,167 | $11,112 | 69.1% |
| University at Albany graduates 61% of its students within six years and carries an average net price of $11,112 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Public Policy Analysis (29 graduates), Social Work (22 graduates) | |||||
| 16 | Stony Brook University · Stony Brook, NY | $59,449 | $18,784 | $12,943 | 49.0% |
| Stony Brook University ranks 45th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports $59,449 in median earnings of Social Work graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (62 graduates) | |||||
| 17 | Long Island University · Brookville, NY | $59,425 | $33,062 | $22,019 | 86.2% |
| Long Island University admits 86% of applicants and shows a six-year completion rate of 57%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (17 graduates) | |||||
| 18 | Molloy University · Rockville Centre, NY | $59,130 | $24,347 | $17,548 | 81.7% |
| Molloy University reports $59,130 in median earnings of Social Work graduates four years after completing alongside an average net price of $17,548 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (11 graduates) | |||||
| 19 | Mercy University · Dobbs Ferry, NY | $59,024 | $14,072 | $11,974 | 85.8% |
| Mercy University ranks 309th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $14,072. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (30 graduates), Human Services, General (21 graduates), Public Policy Analysis (8 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($59,024), Human Services, General ($49,634) | |||||
| 20 | Nazareth University · Rochester, NY | $57,949 | $29,357 | $22,796 | 74.7% |
| Nazareth University reports $57,949 in median earnings of Social Work graduates four years after completing and graduates 73% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (28 graduates), Community Organization and Advocacy (6 graduates) | |||||
| 21 | Daemen University · Amherst, NY | $57,850 | $18,693 | $10,773 | 68.3% |
| Daemen University carries an average net price of $10,773 for families earning under $30,000 and admits 68% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (19 graduates) | |||||
| 22 | SUNY Brockport · Brockport, NY | $55,602 | $16,353 | $10,911 | 70.7% |
| SUNY Brockport reports $55,602 in median earnings of Social Work graduates four years after completing and ranks 344th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (57 graduates) | |||||
| 23 | Marist University · Poughkeepsie, NY | $55,501 | $41,544 | $26,083 | 56.5% |
| Marist University posts a six-year completion rate of 80% and an average net price of $41,544. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (19 graduates) | |||||
| 24 | Keuka College · Keuka Park, NY | $54,540 | $24,338 | $19,368 | 68.1% |
| Keuka College reports $54,540 in median earnings of Social Work graduates four years after completing and admits 68% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (95 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($54,540) | |||||
| 25 | SUNY at Fredonia · Fredonia, NY | $53,223 | $15,897 | $9,395 | 77.7% |
| SUNY at Fredonia reports median earnings of $53,223 for its Social Work graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate stands at 50%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (36 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($53,223) | |||||
| 26 | SUNY Buffalo State University · Buffalo, NY | $53,130 | $11,346 | $7,405 | 73.0% |
| With an admission rate of 73%, SUNY Buffalo State University ranks 269th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (61 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Social Work ($53,130) | |||||
| 27 | Roberts Wesleyan University · Rochester, NY | $44,863 | $23,130 | $22,922 | 70.6% |
| A private nonprofit university in Rochester, Roberts Wesleyan University lists an average net price of $23,130 and median earnings of $44,863 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Social Work (26 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Social Work graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Social Work earnings cohort in New York appear. The figure reflects federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after graduating. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost of attendance, or the characteristics of the students a program enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 24 schools with a published figure. CUNY Hunter College leads the list at $70,273, and the gap to second-ranked Iona University is $3,856.
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