Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Schools are assigned a value from 1-100, where 100 is best for students from households earning up to $30,000. This value is multiplied by the percentage of the school’s student body that received a Pell Grant, to calculate the economic mobility score. A higher score is better. Read the full explanation
The percentage of a school’s student body that has received a Pell Grant.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
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EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) provides a pathway to entry-level, nonclinical roles in the field and graduate studies. Discover the best bachelor’s in social work programs in the country by value for money.
Is a bachelor’s degree in social work worth it?
While there are much higher paying degrees out there, if you’d like to start a career right away in social work, pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is worth it.
In general, a bachelor’s in social work makes sense if you’d like to access entry-level nonclinical roles related to social work or to prepare for graduate studies. Licensed clinical social workers, though, typically need a master’s in social work (MSW).
From an economic standpoint, bachelor’s degree holders in social work earn an average of $43,500 per year compared to the national average of $51,088 for all bachelor’s degree holders, according to data from IPEDS and College Scorecard. Similarly, in terms of economic value (i.e., how well the degree “pays for itself” later with average earnings of program graduates), the Bachelor of Social Work degree is in the bottom 40% of all degrees according to our economic score calculation.
See how the average cost of and future earnings from a BSW degree program compares to similar programs (e.g., sociology, psychology, or public health) below.
Click on a degree card to reveal more information.
EarningsPluscompares student earnings after college against a benchmark that Degreechoices adjusts based on each school’s unique mix of academic programs and the in-state/out-of-state composition of the student body.
-$13,814
PAYBACK
Payback measures how long it takes the average student to pay back the total cost of attending college with marginal earnings. Marginal earnings are the difference between what the average student would have earned before attending college and what they earn afterwards.
14.7
ECONOMIC SCORE
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programs ranked in this article fall under the category of “Social Work,” or CIP code 44.07 in the Department of Education’s higher education program classification system.
We assessed 329 bachelor’s degree programs in social work to find the top 20 that provide the best value for money.
Degree programs demonstrate good value when they offer a favorable ratio of degree net cost to future earnings. Program graduates earn enough 4 years after graduation on average to offset the initial cost of the degree. To calculate the value of a degree, we use government-sourced data only, namely from the Department of Education’s IPEDS and College Scorecard.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$2,457
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$47,214
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate69%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The 2nd best Bachelor of Social Work program in value comes from Texas A&M University-Central Texas, a large public university in Kileen, Texas, about an hour’s drive from Austin.
Its accredited Bachelor of Social Work program allows graduates access to entry-level social work positions in social welfare, education, healthcare, and more, as well as to graduate programs.
The program schedule includes classes like Biological Foundations of Social Work Practice, Social Work and Mental Health, and Methods and Skills of Interviewing. Field placements and practice courses, in Macro Interventions and Families and Groups, are also core to the curriculum.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$4,034
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$50,858
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate64%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
CUNY Lehman College, a public university in New York’s Bronx borough and member the City University of New York network, is home to the country’s best bachelor’s in social work degree program by value for money.
Lehman College’s 55-credit Bachelor of Social Work degree program prepares graduates for general entry-level social work. As it's fully accredited, it also serves as a steppingstone to graduate programs.
Required courses in the program explore topics like Social Welfare Institutions, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, and Social Welfare Policy, among others, and include a mandatory fieldwork component.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,721
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$59,826
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate83%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The next best-value social work bachelor’s program in the country comes from another CSU school, California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), located a stone’s throw away from the Cal State LA campus.
The 2-year Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program at California State University, Long Beach offers a flexible delivery model of daytime or evening courses. Its fieldwork component requires students to earn 80 hours of practicum at a community agency during their junior year, followed by 450 hours of fieldwork and 16 hours per week in an assigned field agency their senior year.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$5,385
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$50,567
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate71%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The country’s 3rd best social work bachelor’s program is at California State University, Los Angeles (CSU LA), an affordable Los Angeles-based public university and member of the California State University system.
CSU LA’s School of Social Work offers an accredited Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) degree program for students interested in accessing entry-level social work jobs (i.e., in school, mental health, or geriatric-related care) or going to graduate school in social work and similar fields.
Beyond standard coursework, this 2-year program involves a mandatory internship in a social service agency totaling 420 hours, or about 2 days a week.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,215
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$54,364
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate73%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Landing at 6th best-value bachelor’s in social work is yet another program from a California State University-system school, this time in San Bernardino, a city east of Los Angeles.
California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) offers a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program that prepares students for entry-level social work practice in diverse settings. After completing lower-division requirements, students spend their junior year taking courses in human behavior, social welfare policy, and social research, and their senior year alternating between practice courses and their field practicum commitments.
The statewide Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Project provides financial support, training, and specialized placements to undergraduate and graduate students planning to work with children and families.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$15,198
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$63,320
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate62%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), a large public university in Reno, Nevada, and the state’s flagship university, offers a good social work undergraduate program for the value.
The Bachelor of Social Work program at the University of Nevada, Reno features a liberal arts curriculum paired with coursework in the social and behavioral sciences. Students can complete the program in one full-time year or two part-time years.
Fieldwork placements comprise over 300 nonprofit agencies, governmental organizations, and private companies, in focus areas ranging from homelessness to child welfare, addictive behaviors, and criminal justice.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$6,450
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$44,546
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate84%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Florida State University is a large public university in Tallahassee, Florida, and home to a good-value social work bachelor’s program.
Offered at both the Tallahassee and Panama City Campus, Florida State’s Bachelor of Social Work program equips graduates with the knowledge and hands-on experience needed for entry-level social work practice. Coursework involves focus areas ranging from Children and Families to Military Social Work, Advocacy and Social Justice, and Gerontology.
Graduates of the program have advanced-standing entry to an accelerated (1-year) MSW degree.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$17,371
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$60,405
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate94%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The country’s 8th best-value social work bachelor’s program is from the renowned University of California, Berkeley, a highly selective public university in the San Francisco Bay Area.
UC Berkeley’s popular Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare departs from a traditional BSW degree by taking a liberal arts approach to the curriculum. Students of this program will graduate with an understanding of American social welfare institutions and policies from a social science perspective, as well as basic methods in social work.
This program is a good fit for those who are interested in a liberal arts-focused, social work-related degree and may plan to pursue social work or a related field at the graduate level.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$12,912
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$56,474
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate68%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
San Francisco State University, or SF State, is a public university in San Francisco and designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
SF State’s 2-year, full-time Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program is cohort based, with the same group of students attending the program from start to finish. The curriculum explores contemporary topics in social work, from Human Development and the Social Services to Urban Community Organizing and Citizen Action, and involves a field experience component.
The degree program is open to juniors who have completed their lower-division requirements.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,852
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$46,756
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate69%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of North Florida (UNF) is a midsized public university in Jacksonville, in Northeastern Florida. It is home to the 7th best social work bachelor’s program for value for money.
UNF’s Bachelor of Social Work degree program equips students with the skills and values needed to be effective social workers across various settings. Its curriculum includes a “Social Work Diversity Requirement” that comprises courses like “Peoples & Cultures of the World” and “Race & Cultural Minorities.” Field education and seminars are also included in the major requirements.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$14,370
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$58,152
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate76%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$17,232
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$57,000
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate77%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Stony Brook University is a public university on Long Island, New York and a member of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. The school offers one of the best-value social work bachelor’s programs in the country.
The 1st year of the 2-year curriculum covers courses like social work practice, political economy, and research in social work, and the 2nd year combines social work practice courses and electives. Field experiences, with sites in between Long Island to New York City, involve a biweekly internship at a social service organization.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$7,564
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$52,334
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate59%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Heritage University, a small private college on the Yakama Indian Reservation in Toppenish, Washington, rounds out our list with the 5 best bachelor’s in social work. At Heritage, first-generation students make up more than half of the student population.
Heritage University’s Bachelor of Social Work program at its Social Work Department is locally minded, emphasizing the needs of multicultural and rural groups in the Pacific Northwest in its curriculum. With these values, graduates are well prepared for generalist entry-level social work in the region.
The upper-level electives offered speak to unique topics like Survey of Human Services with Indigenous People and Spirituality in Social Work Practice.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$27,519
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$65,182
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate77%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$8,418
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$45,931
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate51%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Closing out our top 20 list of best social work bachelor’s programs is Shepherd University, a midsized public liberal arts college based in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
Shepherd University’s Bachelor of Social Work program is a social justice-informed program that prepares students to enter the social work profession. Its 120-hour sequenced curriculum comprises a mix of core courses in social work and related areas, field experience, and electives. The field experience component involves 20 hours per week at a community agency and a 2-hour weekly seminar.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$11,779
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$55,652
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate56%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is a large public university in Paradise, Nevada, a few miles from Las Vegas.
The Bachelor of Social Work program at UNLV prepares students for careers in social work. The program’s learning outcomes target areas like ethics and professionalism, diversity, human rights and justice, practice-informed research (and vice versa), and the ability to assess, evaluate, and intervene with individuals, groups, and communities.
The program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$32,462
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$64,289
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate88%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$6,319
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$43,024
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate51%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$17,051
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$54,302
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate68%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
Cost$10,928
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Earnings$48,113
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rate60%
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Texas Woman’s University (TWU), a public coed university in Denton, Texas, is home to one of the best bachelor’s in social work degree program for the value.
TWU’s Bachelor of Social Work program is a professional degree program for future social workers that takes a generalist approach to the curriculum. Diversity, social and economic justice, and other core values of the profession are foundational to the program. Students have plenty of choice for their fieldwork placements in social service agencies in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and its rural surroundings.
With a bachelor’s degree in social work, you can access entry-level (nonclinical) positions like case managers, probation officers, and community managers. BSW degree holders can apply their generalist social work skills in a wide range of settings, from public and private agencies to mental health clinics, hospitals, senior centers, and correctional facilities.
To be a full-fledged social worker, you’ll need to get licensed. Social work licensure requirements vary by state; some jurisdictions only require a bachelor’s degree in social work, while many require a master’s degree.
Below are the kinds of jobs you can get with a bachelor’s in social work and their median salaries, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
According to earnings data from IPEDS and College Scorecard, graduates of on-campus social work bachelor's programs earn an average of $43,500 per year, while online BSW graduates make a slightly lower $42,049.
With a minimal difference in pay between on-campus and online BSW graduates, attending an online program can be a smart choice for busy learners. That said, note that online BSW programs are only partially remote to account for extensive in-person field experience (internships).
If you’re considering earning your social work degree remotely, check out the best online bachelor’s and master’s programs in social work below.
Can you be a social worker with just a bachelor’s degree?
Whether or not you can become a social worker with a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) depends on the licensure requirements of the state where you plan to work. In some states, earning a bachelor’s degree in social work is enough, while in many others, a master’s degree in social work (MSW) is needed.
Notably, several states distinguish between a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW), available to BSW holders, and Licensed Social Worker (LSW), available to MSW holders.
A master’s degree in social work (MSW) is the minimum requirement for practicing clinical social work. In other words, if you'd like to be a therapist, you’ll need a master’s degree.
How much do social workers make?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that social workers earn a median annual salary of $58,380.
Social work degree graduates experience slight differences in pay at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels, with the most significant pay jump from associate to bachelor’s degrees. Master of Social Work (MSW) degree holders earn just a little over 12% more than Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) holders.
Below are average salaries for social work degree holders across different levels of educational attainment. (Keep in mind these salaries are tied to social work degree holders, not social workers. Graduates don’t always work in roles that are relevant to their degree after graduation.)
Click on a degree card to reveal more information.
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