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2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California

25 Ranked Colleges
3,011 Degrees Awarded
$57,819 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2021-2022, 58,923 people earned their degree in social work, making the major the 13th most popular in the United States. 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.

Across California, there were 4,583 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $49,021 and $33,473 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 3,011 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $63,735 and $51,649 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California” ranking analyzed 25 colleges that offered 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.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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The social work school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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 Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree social work students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in California

1
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

Out of the 25 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 664 diplomas to qualified masters’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%. 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read more about Social Work at USC

2
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Baptist University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California list. California Baptist University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 126 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read full report on Social Work at Cal Baptist

3
Azusa Pacific crest
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Azusa Pacific University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California list. Azusa Pacific University is a medium-sized school located in Azusa, California that handed out 84 masters’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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Social Work at Azusa Pacific

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Stanislaus. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California. This fairly large school is located in Turlock, California, and it awarded 73 masters’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%.

Read full report on Social Work at Stan State

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Bakersfield. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California list. CSUB is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 75 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at California State University - Bakersfield

6
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Arcata, California. It awarded 52 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Humboldt State University Social Work Report

7
Brandman crest
Brandman University
Irvine, California

With a ranking of #7, Brandman University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California list. Brandman is located in Irvine, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 163 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Brandman Social Work Report

8

California State University - San Bernardino came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 130 masters’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 CSUSB

9

California State University - Long Beach ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 273 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2021-2022.

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%. 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 California State University - Long Beach Social Work Report

10

California State University - Chico landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking. California State University - Chico is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 43 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 California State University - Chico

11

California State University - Monterey Bay ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Seaside, California, and it awarded 42 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at California State University - Monterey Bay

12

California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking. Located in Carson, California, this fairly large public school awarded 98 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2021-2022.

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 more about Social Work at California State University - Dominguez Hills

13
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

San Jose State University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California list. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 168 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read full report on Social Work at San Jose State University

14

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 140 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Cal State LA Social Work Report

15

California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking, coming in at #15. This fairly large school is located in Hayward, California, and it awarded 61 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

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 Cal State East Bay Social Work Report

16

California State University - San Marcos landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking. California State University - San Marcos is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 89 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at California State University - San Marcos

17

California State University - Northridge ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California list. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 136 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at CSUN

18

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking, coming in at #18. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 94 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Sac State

19
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 107 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, 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 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at SDSU

20

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking, coming in at #20. Cal State Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 108 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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 California State University - Fullerton Social Work Report

21

With a ranking of #21, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California list. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 44 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%.

Full California State University - Fresno Social Work Report

22

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 109 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Social Work Report

23

University of California - Berkeley landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school awarded 89 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UC Berkeley Social Work Report

24
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking. San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 35 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Social Work at SFSU

25
Northcentral University crest
Northcentral University
San Diego, California

Northcentral University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 8 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 1 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Social Work at Northcentral University

Notes and References

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