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2022 Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Social Work in California

25 Colleges in California
3,294 Master's Degrees
$53,122 Avg Early-Career Salary
Social Work is of the hottest master's degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #3 most popular major in the country. This makes choosing the right school a hard decision.

College Factual reviewed 25 schools in California to determine which ones were the most popular for master's degree seekers in the field of social work. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 3,294 master's degrees in social work during the 2019-2020 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Other Rankings

Choosing a Great Social Work School for Your Master's Degree

Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Social Work in California The social work master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. We created our Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Social Work in California ranking to make it a little easier to choose the right one for you.

While being high in popularity does not always mean a school has a quality social work program, it is a sign that a large number of students choose the school. This may be due to it being a great value, it offering a stellar educational experience, or the subject is a major focus of the school.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Bachelor's Degrees in Social Work
Doctor's Degrees in Social Work
Overall Popularity in Social Work

This is not our only ranking, nor the only degree level we have ranked. In addition to this ranking, you may want to take at the rankings for different degree levels as called out above. You can also narrow your search by location by filtering for a certain area of the country. On top of that, you can visit our other rankings for social work.


 

The following list ranks the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in social work.

10 Most Well Attended Schools for Social Work Students Working on Their Master's

1
1,200 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

University of Southern California is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in social work. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Los Angeles. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #1 in quality for master's degrees in social work in California.

There were about 1,200 social work individuals who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent year we have data available.

Soon after graduation, social work master's recipients usually earn about $49,900 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in social work from University of Southern California

2
230 Annual Master's Degrees
#5 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at California State University - Long Beach if you wish to pursue a master's degree in social work. CSULB is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Long Beach. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #5 in quality for master's degrees in social work in California.

There were roughly 230 social work students who graduated with this degree at CSULB in the most recent year we have data available.

Master's recipients from the social work program at California State University - Long Beach earn $3,778 more than the average graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in social work from California State University - Long Beach

3
184 Annual Master's Degrees
#9 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Every student who is interested in a master's degree in social work has to check out California State University - Northridge. Located in the large city of Northridge, CSUN is a public university with a fairly large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #9 in quality for master's degrees in social work in California.

There were about 184 social work individuals who graduated with this degree at CSUN in the most recent data year.

Master's graduates who receive their degree from the social work program make an average of $53,800 in their early career salary.

More information about a master’s in social work from California State University - Northridge

4
174 Annual Master's Degrees
#7 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at California State University - Los Angeles if you want to pursue a master's degree in social work. Cal State LA is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Los Angeles. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #7 in quality for master's degrees in social work in California.

There were approximately 174 social work students who graduated with this degree at Cal State LA in the most recent data year.

Master's recipients from the social work degree program at California State University - Los Angeles get $3,478 above the standard college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in social work from California State University - Los Angeles

5
156 Annual Master's Degrees
#4 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

San Jose State is a very large public university located in the city of San Jose. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #4 in quality for master's degrees in social work in California.

There were roughly 156 social work students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State in the most recent year we have data available.

Social Work master's degree recipients from San Jose State University get an earnings boost of approximately $16,778 over the average earnings of social work graduates.

More information about a master’s in social work from San Jose State University

6
126 Annual Master's Degrees
#8 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

SDSU is a fairly large public university located in the large city of San Diego. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #8 in quality for master's degrees in social work in California.

There were roughly 126 social work individuals who graduated with this degree at SDSU in the most recent year we have data available.

Students who graduate with their master's from the social work program state that they receive average early career wages of $49,100.

More information about a master’s in social work from San Diego State University

7
103 Annual Master's Degrees
#20 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the city of San Bernardino, CSUSB is a public university with a fairly large student population.

There were about 103 social work students who graduated with this degree at CSUSB in the most recent year we have data available.

Students who graduate with their master's from the social work program state that they receive average early career wages of $54,700.

More information about a master’s in social work from California State University - San Bernardino

8
99 Annual Master's Degrees
#17 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

CSUDH is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Carson.

There were approximately 99 social work students who graduated with this degree at CSUDH in the most recent data year.

Those social work students who get their master's degree from California State University - Dominguez Hills receive $6,478 more than the standard social work grad.

More information about a master’s in social work from California State University - Dominguez Hills

9
93 Annual Master's Degrees
#12 Best Quality In CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Cal State Fullerton is a public university with a fairly large student population.

There were about 93 social work students who graduated with this degree at Cal State Fullerton in the most recent year we have data available.

Master's students who receive their degree from the social work program make an average of $52,900 for their early career.

More information about a master’s in social work from California State University - Fullerton

10
91 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Best Quality In CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type

UC Berkeley is a fairly large public university located in the city of Berkeley. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for master's degrees in social work in California.

There were roughly 91 social work students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in social work from University of California - Berkeley

Best Social Work Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular Social Work Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Washington 184 486
Oregon 151 303
Nevada 100 196
Hawaii 84 120
Alaska 53 33

View All Rankings >

Social Work is one of 5 different types of Public Administration & Social Service programs to choose from.

Social Work Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Social Work 3,290
Other Social Work 4

Related Major Annual Graduates
Public Administration 1,497
Public Policy 480
Human Services 55
Other Public Administration 21
Community Organization & Advocacy 4

Notes and References

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