2023 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work
88
Ranked Colleges
761
Degrees Awarded
$68,493
Avg Salary
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Social Work is the 13th most popular major in the country with 58,923 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , social work graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $37,585 and had an average of $29,565 in loans still to pay off.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 761 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,735 and $124,256 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major” ranking, we looked at 88 colleges that offer a degree in social work. That schools that top this list have a program in social work in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major” list to help you make the college decision.
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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major”.
Top 25 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work
Out of the 88 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Southern California is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 122 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at University of Southern California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Smith College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major. Smith College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Northampton, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Smith Social Work Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clark Atlanta University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major list. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 CAU
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Connecticut State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major list. Southern Connecticut State University is a medium-sized public school situated in New Haven, Connecticut. It awarded 13 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at SCSU
Out of the 88 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #5 spot on the list. University of St Thomas Minnesota is a medium-sized school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 12 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.
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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UST MN Social Work Report
Yeshiva University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major ranking. Yeshiva University is located in New York, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 12 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Yeshiva Social Work Report
With a ranking of #8, Aurora University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major list. Located in Aurora, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 Aurora University
Adelphi University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major ranking, coming in at #9. Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Garden City, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at Adelphi
Tulane University of Louisiana did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large school is located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and it awarded 58 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Tulane Social Work Report
Morgan State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major ranking, coming in at #12. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 2 students in 2021-2022.
Full Morgan State University Social Work Report
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major ranking. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized public school situated in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 5 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at Kutztown University
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major list. UT Knoxville is a large public school situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. It awarded 21 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Social Work at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Norfolk State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major ranking. Norfolk State University is a public institution located in Norfolk, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Read more about Social Work at Norfolk State University
University of Maryland - Baltimore landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major ranking. UMB is located in Baltimore, Maryland and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 doctorate’s social work degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Social Work at UMB
Bryn Mawr College ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major list. This small school is located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Bryn Mawr Social Work Report
With a ranking of #18, Boston College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major list. Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 4 degrees to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Full Boston College Social Work Report
Millersville University of Pennsylvania landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major ranking. Millersville is a medium-sized school located in Millersville, Pennsylvania that handed out 9 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Millersville University of Pennsylvania
University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major ranking, coming in at #20. This fairly large school is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at UPR Rio Piedras
University of Pennsylvania came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 25 degrees to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Social Work at UPenn
With a ranking of #22, Fordham University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major list. Fordham U is a fairly large school located in Bronx, New York that handed out 12 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 Fordham U Social Work Report
The Graduate Center, CUNY landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major ranking. The Graduate Center, CUNY is a medium-sized public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 5 doctorate’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% 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 The Graduate Center, CUNY Social Work Report
Jackson State University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major list. Jackson, Mississippi is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s social work degrees to 2 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 Jackson State
Case Western Reserve University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Social Work Major ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 6 degrees to qualified doctorate’s social work students in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at Case Western Reserve University
