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2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid

70 Ranked Colleges
640 Degrees Awarded
$28,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Doctorate For Those Getting Aid” 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.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 640 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 70 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social work. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality social work programs that also have a lower cost than 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 Doctorate For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree social work students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (With Aid)

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid list. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at UW Seattle

#2

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#23 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid. UNC Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill also made our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #23. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Chapel Hill are $30,248.

Read full report on Social Work at UNC Chapel Hill

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida International University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211.

Full FIU Social Work Report

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#21 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #21 spot in our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at UIUC

#6

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid list. UCLA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 4 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also made our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #16. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131.

Full UCLA Social Work Report

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid list. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at UC Berkeley

#15 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Austin landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree social work students with aid list, UT Austin has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Austin are $22,886, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at UT Austin

#9

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at U of U are $24,695, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full U of U Social Work Report

#10

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

With a ranking of #10, Florida State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Florida State Social Work Report

#4 in overall quality

Columbia University in the City of New York ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid list. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 13 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at Columbia University in the City of New York

University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid ranking. San Juan, is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras are $3,620.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras

With a ranking of #13, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013.

Full IUPUI Social Work Report

#14

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Capella University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid list. Capella University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 60 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Capella University are $14,767.

Read full report on Social Work at Capella University

#15

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UMN Twin Cities Social Work Report

#16

Portland State University

Portland, Oregon

With a ranking of #16, Portland State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid list. Portland, Oregon is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Portland State University are $23,784.

Full Portland State University Social Work Report

#17

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 4 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at Michigan State

#18

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 8 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Georgia are $27,476, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Georgia

#19

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Houston are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UH Social Work Report

#20

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

Washington University in St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WUSTL, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at WUSTL are $56,562.

Full WUSTL Social Work Report

#21

Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Brunswick, New Jersey

Rutgers University - New Brunswick came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Rutgers University - New Brunswick is a public institution located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The school has a large population, and it awarded 16 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rutgers New Brunswick, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Rutgers University - New Brunswick are $32,132.

Read more about Social Work at Rutgers New Brunswick

#22

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#25 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid ranking. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also made our “Best Social Work Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #25. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Mizzou Social Work Report

#24

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, New York

With a ranking of #24, Stony Brook University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid list. Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stony Brook University are $25,583.

Read more about Social Work at Stony Brook University

#25

University at Albany

Albany, New York

University at Albany did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Doctorate For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. UAlbany is located in Albany, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UAlbany are $25,225, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at University at Albany

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.

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