2023 Best Value Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in Pennsylvania
22
Ranked Colleges
2,266
Degrees Awarded
$17,000
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.
Social Work is the 13th most popular major in the country with 58,326 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, social work graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $37,651 and had an average of $26,679 in loans still to pay off.
Across Pennsylvania, there were 2,266 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,199 and $27,340 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in Pennsylvania
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Pennsylvania is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 180 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
UPenn also made our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $1,938 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Pennsylvania.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UPenn Social Work Report
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Bryn Mawr College landed the #2 spot on the list. Bryn Mawr is a small school located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania that handed out 66 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
Bryn Mawr not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bryn Mawr College is $9,907 for pennsylvania 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 87%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Bryn Mawr College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, this small public school handed out 188 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
Edinboro not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is $13,001 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Edinboro Social Work Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k. Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.
SRU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for SRU is $15,507 for pennsylvania social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Social Work Report
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 246 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pitt, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Pitt is $17,691 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Social Work at University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus
West Chester University of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. WCUPA is a fairly large public school situated in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It awarded 142 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
WCUPA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend WCUPA is $16,325 for pennsylvania social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Social Work at WCUPA
California University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. California, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 59 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Cal U has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal U is $16,063 for pennsylvania social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full California University of Pennsylvania Social Work Report
With a ranking of #8, Temple University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Temple is a large school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 169 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
Temple also made our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Temple University is $19,355 for pennsylvania social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Temple University Social Work Report
Millersville University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. This medium-sized school is located in Millersville, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 136 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
Millersville also took the #6 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $18,798 for pennsylvania social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Millersville.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Millersville Social Work Report
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school situated in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. It awarded 65 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ship, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is $19,488 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%.
Full Ship Social Work Report
With a ranking of #11, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 57 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
Bloomsburg not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $16,956 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.
Full Bloomsburg Social Work Report
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Kutztown University is a public institution located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 90 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Kutztown University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is $19,255 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Kutztown University Social Work Report
Lock Haven University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. LHU is a small school located in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania that handed out 24 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
LHU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for LHU is $17,898 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Social Work at Lock Haven University
Marywood University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. Marywood is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It awarded 82 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
Marywood did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $18,171 for pennsylvania social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Marywood University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Marywood
Carlow University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our pennsylvania social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Carlow has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Carlow is $16,143 for pennsylvania social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Carlow University Social Work Report
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is a small school located in Mansfield, Pennsylvania that handed out 19 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
Mansfield University also took the #22 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $8,868 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.
Read more about Social Work at Mansfield University
Lancaster Bible College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Lancaster, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social work degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
Lancaster Bible College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Lancaster Bible College is $13,887 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Social Work at Lancaster Bible College
Eastern University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k list. EU is a small school located in Saint Davids, Pennsylvania that handed out 17 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
EU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern University is $18,544 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Social Work at Eastern University
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. East Stroudsburg University is a public institution located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 33 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
East Stroudsburg University also took the #21 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is $17,744 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full East Stroudsburg University Social Work Report
Cairn University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Langhorne, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social work degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.
Cairn also made our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for Cairn is $23,260 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Cairn University Social Work Report
Alvernia University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Reading, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social work degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Alvernia, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Alvernia University is $23,745 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Social Work at Alvernia University
Widener University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Widener is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chester, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 282 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Widener, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $31,220 for Pennsylvania Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Widener.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 full report on Social Work at Widener University
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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
- *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
