Compare 77 Social Work. programs in the Northeast. Average earnings: $47,162.
Social Work programs produce graduates earning between $51,119 and $65,182—a $14K spread that demonstrates program-level variation matters beyond institutional prestige. Across 77 ranked programs in the Northeast, outcomes track program quality rather than school reputation, with surprising leaders emerging from the data.
Molloy College leads with Social Work graduates earning $65,182, followed closely by New York University at $64,289. The average across all Northeast programs sits at $47,162, yet these top performers show how specific programs can significantly outpace regional averages regardless of overall institutional rankings.
Debt burden reveals the real value story. CUNY York College graduates borrow just $11,000 and face a 4.2% payment burden, earning 'Excellent' affordability status. Even top-earning Molloy College maintains an 8.7% student burden in the 'Good' category, proving strong outcomes don't require crushing debt.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Molloy CollegePrivate | $65,182 | 28 | $27,000 | Good | $39,248 | Challenging |
| #2 | New York UniversityPrivate | $64,289 | 40 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | High |
| #3 | Cuny York CollegePublic | $58,778 | 79 | $11,000 | Excellent | $11,018 | Good |
| #4 | Simmons UniversityPrivate | $58,336 | 18 | $24,840 | Good | $23,772 | Challenging |
| #5 | $58,038 | 72 | $10,988 | Excellent | $10,068 | Good | |
| #6 | Stony Brook UniversityPublic | $57,000 | 58 | $18,228 | Excellent | $21,400 | Manageable |
| #7 | $56,620 | 33 | $14,350 | Excellent | $15,568 | Manageable | |
| #8 | Adelphi UniversityPrivate | $55,710 | 43 | $25,000 | Good | $48,005 | High |
| #9 | Monmouth UniversityPrivate | $55,265 | 40 | $27,000 | Good | $49,390 | High |
| #10 | Long Island UniversityPrivate | $54,857 | 16 | $23,577 | Good | $36,515 | High |
| #11 | Marist CollegePrivate | $54,749 | 20 | $25,000 | Good | $51,958 | High |
| #12 | University At AlbanyPublic | $54,302 | 26 | $19,500 | Good | $22,398 | Challenging |
| #13 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $53,811 | 31 | $26,000 | Good | $39,841 | High |
| #14 | Iona UniversityPrivate | $53,702 | 17 | $25,999 | Good | $43,691 | High |
| #15 | University Of Saint JosephPrivate | $52,844 | 24 | $27,000 | Manageable | $25,425 | High |
| #16 | $52,763 | 56 | $21,000 | Good | $27,655 | Challenging | |
| #17 | Mercy UniversityPrivate | $52,184 | 45 | $19,637 | Good | $20,710 | Challenging |
| #18 | Elizabethtown CollegePrivate | $51,614 | 10 | $27,000 | Manageable | $51,299 | High |
| #19 | Siena CollegePrivate | $51,476 | 15 | $26,561 | Manageable | $40,800 | High |
| #20 | Providence CollegePrivate | $51,119 | 15 | $27,000 | Manageable | $46,300 | High |
| #21 | $51,042 | 54 | $22,300 | Good | $19,642 | Challenging | |
| #22 | Cuny Lehman CollegePublic | $50,858 | 136 | $10,950 | Excellent | $11,955 | Good |
| #23 | Centenary UniversityPrivate | $50,631 | 18 | $23,163 | Good | $22,725 | Challenging |
| #24 | Cabrini UniversityPrivate | $50,450 | 8 | $26,000 | Manageable | $33,000 | High |
| #25 | $50,415 | 66 | $22,250 | Good | $23,770 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
