Best Colleges for Social Work

One of the “helping professions” that allows undergraduate degree holders an opportunity to directly impact the lives of human beings in need, social work is an excellent major to pursue for young people committed to social justice and helping their fellow man. While not a high-paying profession, there is plenty of opportunity in this field in the coming years—the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 12% job growth through 2024. Commonly entered jobs for newly-minted graduates include rehabilitation counselor, probation officer, behavioral management aide, and human services specialist. Many BSW degree holders go on to pursue master’s in social work (MSW) degrees and will often enter such programs in “advanced standing,” only needing to complete half as many credits as those new to the discipline. The institutions that grace our Best Colleges for Social Work list do an exceptional job preparing students for this challenging but highly-rewarding career.

Click the links below for more information about each college’s social work program. Click here to read our methodology.

Arizona State University

Colorado State University

Florida State University

Fordham University

Indiana University

James Madison University

Loyola University Chicago

Michigan State University

New York University

Ohio State University

Rutgers University

Syracuse University

University of California, Berkeley

University of Connecticut

University of Georgia

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

University of Pittsburgh

University of Texas at Austin

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Virginia Commonwealth University