A degree in social work prepares students for a wide range of social work practices with individuals, families, and communities. Programs are often designed to train students to obtain a leadership role to challenge injustice and promote society's social, political, and environmental well-being. Several programs also offer concentrations in mental health, substance abuse, environment, etc.
Programs are available at all levels, from bachelor's to Ph.D. Graduates may find employment in government and non-government offices working for social welfare. One may also find a job in an educational institution as a faculty member. Top Social Work universities in the USA are listed below:
|
Rank (QS 2022) |
University |
|
32 |
University of California – Berkeley |
|
85 |
University of Washington- Seattle, Campus |
|
120 |
Ohio State University |
|
186 |
University of Minnesota |
|
216 |
Arizona State University |
|
431 |
Colorado State University |
|
541 - 550 |
University of Tennessee |
|
801 - 1000 |
Kansas State University |
|
1001 - 1200 |
The University of Texas at Arlington |
|
- |
West Texas A&M University |
|
- |
University of North Dakota |
Top Social Work University in the USA: Bachelor of Social Work
The course duration of a bachelor of social work degree in the USA is 3 to 5 years. The program is offered in both Arts and Science streams. The tuition fee for the program ranges from $11,000 to $48,000 per year.
|
University |
Programs |
|
University of California – Berkeley |
Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare |
|
University of Washington- Seattle, Campus |
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work |
|
Ohio State University |
Bachelor of Science in Social Work |
|
University of Minnesota |
Bachelor of Social Work |
|
Arizona State University |
Bachelor in Social Work |
|
Colorado State University |
Bachelor Of Social Work |
|
University of Tennessee |
Bachelor of Science in Social Work |
|
Kansas State University |
Bachelor of Arts/Science in Social Work |
|
The University of Texas at Arlington |
Bachelor Of Social Work |
|
West Texas A&M University |
Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare |
|
University of North Dakota |
Bachelor of Science in Social Work |
Entry Requirements:
Document Checklist:
- Completion of online application
- Transcripts of prior studies
- Essay or statement of purpose
- Letter or recommendations
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
- Proof of Fund
- Resume
Academic Requirement:
- Completion of grade 12 with a minimum average score of 2.5 to 3.0.
- Prerequisite courses generally include math and statistics with at least 2.0 to 2.5 in each course.
- Applicants who have taken university-level courses and obtained a GPA of 2.5 to 3.0 may apply as transfer students.
English Language Requirement:
- IELTS score of 6.0 to 7.0 overall with at least 6.0 to 6.5 in each band.
- TOEFL score of 75 to 90 overall
- PTE score of 53 to 58 overall.
Top Social Work University in the USA: Bachelor of Social Work (Tuition Fee)
|
University |
Tuition Fee Per Year |
|
University of California – Berkeley |
$47,768 |
|
University of Washington- Seattle, Campus |
$38,756 |
|
Ohio State University |
$35,000 |
|
University of Minnesota |
$19,148 |
|
Arizona State University |
$31,200 |
|
Colorado State University |
$29,000 |
|
University of Tennessee |
$31,664 |
|
Kansas State University |
$25,944 |
|
The University of Texas at Arlington |
$24,600 |
|
West Texas A&M University |
$11,941 |
|
University of North Dakota |
$18,755 |
Top Social Work University in the USA: Master of Social Work
Master in Social Work in the USA is a 1.5 to 2 years program. The tuition fee for the program ranges from $13,000 to $39,000 per year.
|
University |
Program |
|
University of California – Berkeley |
Masters of Social Welfare |
|
University of Washington- Seattle, Campus |
Master of Social Work |
|
Ohio State University |
Master of Social Work |
|
University of Minnesota |
Master of Social Work |
|
Arizona State University |
Master of Social Work |
|
Colorado State University |
Master of Social Work |
|
University of Tennessee |
Master of Social Work |
|
The University of Texas at Arlington |
Master of Social Work |
|
West Texas A&M University |
Master of Science in Social Work |
Document Checklist:
- Official Transcript
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
- Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of Recommendation
- Financial Affidavit
Academic Requirement:
- A 4 years bachelor’s degree with an average GPA of 3.0 in the final two years of the study.
Work Experience:
- Students are generally required to submit proof of experience demonstrating the volunteer work experience of the applicant.
English Language Requirement:
- An IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 overall, with at least 6.0 in each section.
- A TOEFL score of 80 to 92 overall.
- A DET score of 120 or more
Top Social Work University in the USA: Master of Social Work (Tuition Fee)
|
University |
Tuition Fee |
|
University of Washington- Seattle, Campus |
$38,756 |
|
Ohio State University |
$13,400 |
|
University of Minnesota |
$24,000 |
|
Arizona State University |
$23,544 |
|
Colorado State University |
$26,564 |
|
University of Tennessee |
$31,644 |
|
The University of Texas at Arlington |
$23,486 |
Top Social Work University in the USA: Ph.D. in Social Work
The doctoral program in social work is offered by the following universities in the USA. It is generally 4 to 5 years long. The tuition fee for the program ranges from $18,000 to $30,000 per year.
Students of a doctoral program are generally supported financially through grants, scholarships, and fellowships. A doctoral program prepares students for a high level of research projects and trains them to take a faculty position in an educational institution.
|
University |
Program |
|
University of California – Berkeley |
Ph.D. in Social Welfare |
|
University of Washington- Seattle, Campus |
Ph.D. in Social Welfare |
|
University of Minnesota |
Ph.D. in Social Work |
|
Arizona State University |
Social Work, PhD |
|
Colorado State University |
Ph.D. in Social Work |
|
University of Tennessee |
Ph.D. in Social Work |
|
The University of Texas at Arlington |
Ph.D. in Social Work |
Document Checklist:
- Online Application and Application Fee
- Official transcripts of all university-level coursework
- Statement of Purpose
- Letter of Recommendations
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
- GRE scores
Academic Requirement:
- A bachelor’s or a master’s degree from an accredited institution in social work or a closely related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall.
English Language Requirement:
- An IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 overall, with at least 6.0 to 6.5 in each band.
- A TOEFL score of 80 to 90 overall
- A PTE score of 58 overall
Top Social Work University in the USA: Scholarships
Scholarships offered by universities for social work students are listed below. Besides these scholarships, there are other financial aid opportunities, such as university-wide scholarships, research and teaching assistant positions, and external scholarships.
|
University |
Scholarships |
Amount |
|
University of California - Berkeley |
Al and Marguerite Johnson Fellowship |
|
|
Alvarez Endowed Fellowship |
$1500 |
|
|
University of Washington- Seattle, Campus |
AAUW International Fellowship |
$18,000 to $30,000 |
|
Ohio State University |
Ph.D. Special Scholarships (Travel grants, research grants, Seed grants, etc) |
$500 to $2500 |
|
Colorado State University |
Betty P. Broadhurst Scholarship in Social Work |
$3468 |
|
Vicky Buchan Scholarship, Ph.D. in Social Work |
$3594 |
|
|
Fornaro Family Scholars in Social Work Leadership |
$7772 |
|
|
The University of Texas at Arlington |
Social Work Opioid WorkForce Stipend |
$10,000 |
|
Carolyn c. And Santos h. Hernández scholarship endowment for the school of social work |
$1000 |
Top Social Work University in the USA: Job Scope
The salary range for a Social Worker is determined by education, location, experience, and the field of social work in which one works. Graduates of a social work program may find employment as case managers, counselors, policy analysts etc in government and non-government offices.
The average salary of a social worker with a bachelor's degree in the USA is $52,000 annually.
|
Role |
Range of Salary |
Average Salary |
|
Mental Health Therapist |
$37,000 - $66,000 |
$47,731 |
|
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) |
$43,000 - $78,000 |
$57,896 |
|
Medical Social Worker |
$43,000 - $72,000 |
$55,734 |
|
Social Services Director |
$43,000 - $78,000 |
$57,346 |
|
Social Worker |
$35,000 - $65,000 |
$47,423 |
|
Social Worker (MSW) |
$36,000 - $67,000 |
$48,733 |
|
Clinical Social Worker |
$41,000 - $72,000 |
$54,291 |
|
Substance Abuse Counselor |
$32,000 - $52,000 |
$39,851 |
|
Care Coordinator |
$35,000 - $70,000 |
$49,666 |
|
School Counselor |
$34,000 - $68,000 |
$47,315 |
