Best Online Social Work Degree

Social work is a dynamic profession focused on promoting social justice, individual and community wellbeing, and advocating for the rights and needs of vulnerable populations. A bachelor’s in social work (BSW) allows you to pursue direct services basic care roles in non-clinical settings like schools, nonprofit organizations, correctional facilities, and government agencies. Earning your social work degree online is a great option if you need flexible learning, but you may need to complete practical components like field experience in person. Worried about the quality of an online education? Three years after finishing college, graduates from online BSW programs earn an average of $35,589 – just $1,233 less than on-campus graduates. Here, we rank the best accredited online colleges for social work to help you find high-quality programs. For more on how we rank schools, check out our methodology.

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20 of 52

#1 in Social Work

Simmons University

Boston, Massachusetts

Economic score 4.25

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 $21,661

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $58,336

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 81%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#2 in Social Work
Economic score 4.95

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 $10,658

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $46,279

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 49%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#3 in Social Work

Adelphi University

Garden City, New York

Economic score 5.31

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 $26,501

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $55,710

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 74%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#4 in Social Work
Economic score 5.79

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 $11,695

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $45,877

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 47%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#5 in Social Work

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

Economic score 5.79

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 $9,422

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $47,108

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 74%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#6 in Social Work
Economic score 6.08

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 $16,711

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $46,872

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 43%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#7 in Social Work
Economic score 6.19

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 $19,237

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $48,423

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 45%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#8 in Social Work
Economic score 6.34

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 $12,544

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $47,219

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 50%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#9 in Social Work
Economic score 6.48

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 $8,529

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $46,261

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 46%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#10 in Social Work

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Economic score 6.64

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 $17,681

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $49,870

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#11 in Social Work
Economic score 7.58

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 $16,281

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $47,055

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 60%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#12 in Social Work

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

Economic score 7.78

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 $16,075

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $48,772

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 55%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#13 in Social Work
Economic score 7.86

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 $9,203

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $40,510

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 77%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#14 in Social Work

SUNY College at Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, New York

Economic score 8.55

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 $16,598

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $46,466

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#15 in Social Work

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Economic score 8.65

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 $20,888

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $46,391

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 73%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#16 in Social Work

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Economic score 8.68

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 $19,884

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $46,946

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#17 in Social Work

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Economic score 8.94

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 $14,840

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $44,094

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#18 in Social Work
Economic score 9.22

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 $15,602

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $50,031

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 42%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#19 in Social Work

Brescia University

Owensboro, Kentucky

Economic score 10.03

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 $16,787

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $43,165

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 51%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#20 in Social Work

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

Economic score 10.19

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 $20,426

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $46,843

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Graduation rate 73%

Graduation rates below average for online schools nationally (48%) are show in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (34%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

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How long does it take me to repay an online bachelor's degree in social work?

Years

17.5 years

The cost of the average online bachelor's degree in social work is covered by the new earnings of graduates in 17.5 years.

How much do graduates with an online bachelor's degree in social work earn?

Salary

$42,049

The median online bachelor's degree in social work graduate earns $42,049 4 years after graduating.

How much does an online bachelor's degree in social work cost?

Net cost

$18,086

The average annual cost of an online bachelor's degree in social work is $18,086. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.

How do online earnings compare to campus earnings?

Earning difference

- $1,449

The median earnings for an online bachelor's degree in social work is $42,049, while the median earnings for a campus-based bachelor's degree in social work is $43,498.