by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 801 U.S. colleges awarded 58,123 degrees and certificates in Social Work. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 64% of graduates. College Factual ranks 570 schools in its 2027 Best Social Work Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $49,742 one year after completing, rising to $60,555 after four years.
Social Work is a major that allows you to work with and respond to people in need. This can be a very difficult but fulfilling job as you have the opportunity to help people with many issues and problems. Your clients will include those who suffer from substance abuse, racial inequalities, poverty, homelessness, or many other problems. You should be an open and understanding person when encountering diverse people and situations.
Students take a variety of classes focused on the subject of human behavior and social issues in families and groups as well as individuals. Examples of the classes you will take are alcohol and drug addiction, behavior and social environment, child welfare, gender issues, human diversity, and social welfare policy. Students sometimes have the opportunity to choose a concentration in Youth Services, which focuses more on helping children and adolescents.
Studying Social Work covers Social Work.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, social work is a popular field of study, with 58,123 degrees awarded annually. 801 colleges award social work degrees, an average of 73 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,740.
By level, the 58,123 awards include 144 certificates, 1,976 associate degrees, 17,992 bachelor’s degrees, 36,935 master’s degrees and 1,060 doctorates.
Women earned 87% of social work degrees and certificates in the latest year (50,610 of 58,123). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (29,270) and Hispanic or Latino (11,682), and international students earned 749.
College Factual ranks 570 schools in its 2027 Best Social Work Schools ranking, including 60 for associate degrees, 421 for bachelor’s degrees, 328 for master’s degrees and 16 for doctorates. It also ranks social work schools within 51 states. In all, 801 colleges offer social work programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Social Work Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common social work credential is the master’s degree: 36,935 of the 58,123 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to social work call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Therapy and Counseling, Psychology and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
The most successful students in the field of social work are outgoing and confident. This field is very hands-on and involves constant people-interaction. Many of the people you work with are in stressful situations and need an empathetic person to help them. Sometimes the best way to help is simply to provide a listening and compassionate ear.
Organizational skills will help you manage classes in a variety of subjects. Practice time management in college in order to help you in a career managing multiple clients and completing paperwork. You will learn many theories and approaches to helping people and have the opportunity to apply those theories to come up with practical solutions to problems.
Many colleges have the opportunity for students to complete an internship or participate in field work. This will give you invaluable experience for your career as a social worker.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a social work degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 144 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,976 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 17,992 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 36,935 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,060 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to social work, at 39.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 39.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 27.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 21.2% |
| First professional degree | 3.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Social Work, with an average median salary of $73,287; the strongest outlook belongs to Social and Community Service Managers, at 13.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Case Manager, Social Worker, Field Education Coordinator and Professor.
There are several different fields you can choose from. Those who work in family, school, and child social work often help place children in foster care and investigate child abuse cases. Healthcare social work is another quickly growing field which involves working with aging populations. You can also choose to work in mental health and substance abuse helping clients get treatment instead of going to jail.
The occupation related to social work with the most projected jobs is Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary, at 839,680.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 839,680 | 7.7% |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 253,503 | 5.8% |
| Healthcare Social Workers | 251,555 | 12.1% |
| Counselors, All Other | 229,390 | 4.5% |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | 229,049 | -3.8% |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 206,409 | 1.0% |
| Social and Community Service Managers | 181,916 | 13.3% |
| Social Workers, All Other | 142,086 | 4.8% |
Social Work graduates earn a median $49,742 one year after completing their program, $60,555 after four years and $57,938 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,742 |
| 4 years | $60,555 |
| 5 years | $57,938 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to social work, with a median salary of $156,089.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Managers | $156,089 |
| Counselors, All Other | $81,766 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $78,044 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $74,325 |
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | $65,510 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $62,827 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $58,560 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $41,658 |
Social Work includes 4 concentrations that together award 58,123 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Social Work (57,290), Social Work, Other (570) and Youth Services/Administration (232). It has 5 similar majors in the Public & Social Service field, which together award 35,917 degrees a year; the largest are Public Administration (13,879), PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS (12,294) and Public Policy Analysis (6,226). Browse all Public & Social Service majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 57,290 |
| Social Work, Other | 570 |
| Youth Services/Administration | 232 |
| Forensic Social Work | 31 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | 13,879 |
| PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS | 12,294 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 6,226 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | 3,027 |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | 491 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
