Compare 12 Social Work. programs in Virginia. Average earnings: $41,172.
The highest-earning Social Work program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $27K earnings gap across 12 programs in Virginia, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
George Mason University's Social Work program leads with graduates earning $50,549, well above the state average of $41,172. Christopher Newport University follows at $50,286, while James Madison rounds out the top three at $48,309—proving regional publics dominate this field regardless of overall school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. George Mason graduates borrow $19,500 and face just a 9.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, graduates can pay off their entire student debt with about five months of salary.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $50,549 | 58 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | Challenging |
| #2 | $50,286 | 17 | $25,000 | Manageable | $44,122 | High | |
| #3 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $48,309 | 41 | $20,093 | Good | $37,285 | High |
| #4 | $45,039 | 114 | $21,500 | Manageable | $23,585 | High | |
| #5 | Radford UniversityPublic | $43,501 | 38 | $24,000 | Manageable | $22,158 | High |
| #6 | $42,801 | 28 | $26,500 | Manageable | $22,181 | High | |
| #7 | Longwood UniversityPublic | $41,580 | 26 | $25,000 | Challenging | $36,395 | High |
| #8 | Mary Baldwin UniversityPrivate | $41,155 | 22 | $26,586 | Challenging | $16,376 | High |
| #9 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $38,828 | 154 | $24,500 | Challenging | $16,398 | High |
| #10 | Eastern Mennonite UniversityPrivate | $33,993 | 15 | $24,813 | High | $22,187 | High |
| #11 | Virginia Union UniversityPrivate | $33,993 | 11 | $29,000 | High | $31,153 | High |
| #12 | Ferrum CollegePrivate | $24,035 | 10 | $27,000 | High | $35,650 | High |
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 →
