Compare 47 Social Work. programs in the West. Average earnings: $47,426.
Social Work programs produce graduates earning between $47,270 and $63,320—a $16K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 47 ranked programs in the West, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
University of Nevada-Reno's Social Work program leads with graduates earning $63,320, well above the $47,426 regional average. La Sierra University follows at $60,961, while UC Berkeley reaches $60,405. This variation proves that program-level factors drive outcomes more than overall school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UC Berkeley graduates borrow $13,000 and face just a 4.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. At Cal State Long Beach, families manage an 11.7% burden including parent loans—still in the 'Good' range for affordability.
Highest program earnings: $63,320
Strong outcomes ($63,320) with 85% acceptance
4.7% payment burden | Excellent
11.7% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $63,320 | 95 | $18,922 | Excellent | $26,150 | Manageable | |
| #2 | La Sierra UniversityPrivate | $60,961 | 17 | $27,000 | Good | $24,058 | Challenging |
| #3 | $60,405 | 90 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Manageable | |
| #4 | $59,826 | 69 | $14,289 | Excellent | $15,177 | Good | |
| #5 | $58,152 | 77 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $56,474 | 23 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Manageable | |
| #7 | $55,652 | 73 | $19,450 | Good | $20,906 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $54,364 | 52 | $14,715 | Excellent | $12,000 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $53,568 | 39 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Challenging | |
| #10 | Pacific Lutheran UniversityPrivate | $52,819 | 19 | $22,578 | Good | $25,000 | Challenging |
| #11 | Heritage UniversityPrivate | $52,334 | 59 | $14,573 | Excellent | $18,542 | Manageable |
| #12 | $51,751 | 29 | $18,500 | Good | $30,988 | High | |
| #13 | Whittier CollegePrivate | $50,846 | 9 | $24,937 | Manageable | $36,148 | High |
| #14 | $50,567 | 224 | $13,000 | Excellent | $12,526 | Manageable | |
| #15 | $50,432 | 244 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Manageable | |
| #16 | Saint Martin's UniversityPrivate | $50,204 | 12 | $22,500 | Good | $22,678 | Challenging |
| #17 | Azusa Pacific UniversityPrivate | $50,143 | 48 | $23,219 | Good | $26,000 | High |
| #18 | $50,031 | 81 | $21,500 | Good | $13,743 | Challenging | |
| #19 | $47,507 | 52 | $18,000 | Good | $18,257 | Challenging | |
| #20 | $47,270 | 74 | $16,552 | Good | $17,585 | Challenging | |
| #21 | Utah Valley UniversityPublic | $47,214 | 44 | $14,750 | Good | $9,582 | Manageable |
| #22 | University Of UtahPublic | $47,108 | 123 | $19,000 | Good | $18,886 | Challenging |
| #23 | $47,055 | 118 | $20,500 | Good | $18,859 | Challenging | |
| #24 | $46,921 | 18 | $20,210 | Good | $15,360 | Challenging | |
| #25 | $46,662 | 64 | $19,500 | Good | $17,148 | 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 →
