Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

34 Ranked Colleges
2,381 Degrees Awarded
$10,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 57,618 people earned their degree in social work, making the major the 12th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, social work graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,459 and had an average of $30,084 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southwest region, there were 6,090 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,551 and $25,822 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,381 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,896 and $23,899 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 34 colleges that offer a degree in social work. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social work programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the social work program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UT Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 121 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Rio Grande Valley, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Rio Grande Valley is $3,473 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Texas. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 64 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNT, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Texas is $9,082 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UNT Social Work Report

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Woman’s University landed the #3 spot on the list. Texas Woman’s University is a fairly large public school situated in Denton, Texas. It awarded 53 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

TWU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Woman’s University is $7,050 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full TWU Social Work Report

#4

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northeastern State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, this medium-sized public school handed out 41 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

NSU also took the #19 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NSU is $7,543 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Northeastern State University Social Work Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Austin, Texas, this large public school awarded 68 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Austin, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Austin is $13,575 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at UT Austin

#6

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 111 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Texas State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. It costs about $12,292 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas State University.

Full Texas State Social Work Report

#7

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas

MSU Texas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Wichita Falls, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

MSU Texas not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Texas is $8,554 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at MSU Texas

#8

Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas

Angelo State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Angelo State University is located in San Angelo, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 39 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Angelo State, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Angelo State University is $11,516 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Angelo State University Social Work Report

#9

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Texas Tech University is a large school located in Lubbock, Texas that handed out 20 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech University is $13,326 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Texas Tech University Social Work Report

#10

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

Lamar University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Beaumont, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 47 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Lamar University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lamar University is $10,631 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Lamar University Social Work Report

#11

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 148 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NAU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NAU is $9,799 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at NAU

Stephen F Austin State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Stephen F Austin State University is a fairly large public school situated in Nacogdoches, Texas. It awarded 72 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

SFASU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SFASU is $10,816 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at SFASU

The University of Texas at El Paso ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,427 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas at El Paso.

Read more about Social Work at The University of Texas at El Paso

New Mexico State University - Main Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Las Cruces, New Mexico that handed out 45 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend New Mexico State University - Main Campus is $7,006 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Social Work Report

The University of Texas at Arlington ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. The University of Texas at Arlington is a public institution located in Arlington, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 234 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $12,974 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas at Arlington.

Full UT Arlington Social Work Report

#15

Western New Mexico University

Silver City, New Mexico
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Western New Mexico University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Silver City, New Mexico, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Western New Mexico University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Western New Mexico University is $11,773 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at Western New Mexico University

#17

East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma

East Central University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Ada, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for East Central University is $8,259 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at East Central University

With a ranking of #18, Texas A&M University - Kingsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Texas A&M University - Kingsville is a medium-sized school located in Kingsville, Texas that handed out 30 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Kingsville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - Kingsville is $11,721 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at Texas A&M Kingsville

University of Houston - Clear Lake ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Houston - Clear Lake is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, UH Clear Lake has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston - Clear Lake is $7,941 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Houston - Clear Lake

Texas A&M University - Commerce landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Texas A&M Commerce is a public institution located in Commerce, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 54 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M University - Commerce is $10,580 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Texas A&M Commerce Social Work Report

#21

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

West Texas A&M University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. West Texas A&M University is a public institution located in Canyon, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 48 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

West Texas A&M University also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for West Texas A&M University is $10,146 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full West Texas A&M University Social Work Report

University of Houston - Downtown ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UH Downtown is located in Houston, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 56 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UH Downtown also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for UH Downtown is $6,131 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at UH Downtown

#23

Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View, Texas

Prairie View A & M University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Prairie View A & M University is a medium-sized public school situated in Prairie View, Texas. It awarded 47 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Prairie View A & M University is $13,098 for Southwest Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at PVAMU

#24

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas

Tarleton State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Tarleton State University is a fairly large public school situated in Stephenville, Texas. It awarded 84 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Tarleton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Tarleton State University is $17,132 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at Tarleton State University

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southwest Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Oklahoma is a large school located in Norman, Oklahoma that handed out 50 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Oklahoma also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #18. It costs about $17,285 for southwest region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Social Work at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

Featured Social Work Schools

Find Schools Near You