Best Social Work Programs in Kentucky (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 10 Social Work programs in Kentucky by the median earnings of Social Work graduates four years after completing. Brescia University leads the list with median earnings of $56,285 four years after completing.
Across the listed schools, the median figure is $47,738, with a range from $56,285 to $41,165.
Public institutions account for 7 of the 10 programs, alongside 3 private nonprofit schools. University of Louisville ranks 207th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. Northern Kentucky University reports the lowest average net price at $8,191.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brescia University · Owensboro, KY | $56,285 | $8,709 | $8,977 | 35.2% |
| Brescia University reports $56,285 in median earnings of Social Work graduates four years after completing and admits 35% of applicants. | |||||
| 2 | Campbellsville University · Campbellsville, KY | $55,942 | $19,341 | $17,880 | 79.7% |
| Campbellsville University ranks 2nd on this list, with median earnings of $55,942 for its Social Work graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | University of Louisville · Louisville, KY | $54,437 | $17,988 | $15,138 | 79.4% |
| A public university in Louisville, University of Louisville posts an average net price of $17,988 and an admission rate of 79%. | |||||
| 4 | University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY | $51,313 | $18,851 | $12,182 | 92.9% |
| University of Kentucky shows median federal debt of $22,500 among Social Work completers who borrowed, alongside earnings of $51,313 four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY | $48,771 | $10,990 | $7,087 | 93.9% |
| Western Kentucky University ranks 418th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $10,990. | |||||
| 6 | Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY | $46,705 | $11,040 | $8,591 | 77.6% |
| Eastern Kentucky University lists 78 graduates in the earnings cohort and median earnings of $46,705 four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Morehead State University · Morehead, KY | $45,201 | $9,793 | $7,150 | 77.2% |
| Morehead State University carries median federal debt of $23,250 among Social Work completers who borrowed and an average net price of $9,793. | |||||
| 8 | Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY | $44,914 | $8,191 | $2,603 | 67.7% |
| Northern Kentucky University admits 68% of applicants and reports an average net price of $2,603 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 9 | University of Pikeville · Pikeville, KY | $41,979 | $20,311 | $13,115 | Not reported |
| University of Pikeville shows median federal debt of $20,679 across all of the school's borrowers who completed, and its Social Work graduates earn a median of $41,979 four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | Murray State University · Murray, KY | $41,165 | $9,096 | $6,242 | 85.7% |
| Murray State University ranks 10th on this list, with 55 graduates in the earnings cohort and an admission rate of 86%. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Social Work graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in Kentucky appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing the program. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost of attendance, or the characteristics of the students who enroll, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 10 schools with a published figure. The spread from top to bottom is $15,120, with Brescia University at $56,285 and Campbellsville University just $343 behind at $55,942.
Job market context in Kentucky
Social Work graduates in Kentucky enter occupations such as Child, Family, and School Social Workers and Healthcare Social Workers. Across those occupations the median annual wage is $60,096, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $46,982. The state projects about 1,150 openings a year, or about 176 openings a year for every hundred graduates, which means more projected openings than graduates. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 4.2% higher. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing, not the occupation-wide wage figures shown here.
Related rankings
- Best Social Work Programs in the United States
- Best Social Work Programs in Texas
- Best Social Work Programs in Florida
- Best Social Work Programs in Indiana
- Public Administration Colleges in Kentucky