by our College Data Analytics TeamSocial Work was the 9th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 57,401 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 1.1% increase in social work degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 56,762.
Our 2023 Best Social Work Schools ranking analyzes 442 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for social work students. Explore this or one of our many other custom social work rankings further below.
A major in social work prepares you for careers in which giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is crucial. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most social work degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific social work careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different social work degree levels. Social Work programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest social work degree you can get. Different social work degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to social work, with approximately 41.1% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for social work workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 39.3% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 36.1% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 8.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 7.2% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.4% |
Most workers in social work have at least a master's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in social work have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which social work career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your social work degree? Social Work careers are expected to grow 15.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to social work.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 362,600 | 14.2% |
| Healthcare Social Workers | 212,000 | 20.1% |
| Social and Community Service Managers | 173,800 | 18.0% |
| Substance Abuse Social Workers | 147,900 | 19.4% |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | 96,500 | 5.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for social work graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for social work graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers social work grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Social Work Professors | $77,520 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $71,670 |
| Social Workers | $62,660 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $58,790 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $58,470 |
With over 1,334 different social work degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased social work school rankings to help you with this.
Social Work is one of 2 different types of Social Work programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Child Advocacy & Policy | 485 |
| Other Social Work | 440 |
Image Credit: By Army Medicine under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
