Best Colleges for Social Work & Public Service

Social work and public service majors prepare students to make a positive impact on communities through counseling, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. These colleges offer programs accredited by CSWE with robust field placement opportunities. Rankings weigh academic reputation, graduation rates, program popularity, and starting salaries in the social services sector.

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54 schools ranked in this list.

RankSchoolTuitionAcceptance
#1Princeton University Princeton, NJ, 08544$65,210 5%
#2Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD, 21218$67,170 6%
#3Elmira College Elmira, NY, 14901$39,760 77%
#4Dordt University Sioux Center, IA, 51250$38,050 72%
#5University of the Ozarks Clarksville, AR, 72830$26,700 60%
#6Agnes Scott College Decatur, GA, 30030$52,552 62%
#7College of Charleston Charleston, SC, 29424-60%
#8Brandeis University Waltham, MA, 02454$70,957 41%
#9Goshen College Goshen, IN, 46526$40,060 84%
#10University of South Carolina--Beaufort Bluffton, SC, 29909-74%
#11University of Hawaii--West Oahu Kapolei, HI, 96707-95%
#12Lees-McRae College Banner Elk, NC, 28604$35,390 77%
#13CUNY--John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY, 10019-57%
#14Loras College Dubuque, IA, 52001$41,418 100%
#15Winona State University Winona, MN, 55987-75%
#16Bennington College Bennington, VT, 05201$68,746 45%
#17Fresno Pacific University Fresno, CA, 93727$37,760 64%
#18Alverno College Milwaukee, WI, 53234$35,112 86%
#19Hampton University Hampton, VA, 23668$31,512 62%
#20Trinity College Hartford, CT, 06106$73,590 29%
#21Barton College Wilson, NC, 27893$39,050 94%
#22Fort Lewis College Durango, CO, 81301-92%
#23Beacon College Leesburg, FL, 34748-43%
#24University of North Carolina--Asheville Asheville, NC, 28804-92%
#25Mississippi University for Women Columbus, MS, 39701-90%
#26Simmons University Boston, MA, 02115$48,240 70%
#27Lincoln University (PA) Lincoln University, PA, 19352-66%
#28Morehead State University Morehead, KY, 40351-77%
#29Ursuline College Pepper Pike, OH, 44124$39,780 75%
#30University of Baltimore Baltimore, MD, 21201-79%
#31Rhode Island College Providence, RI, 02908-92%
#32Lindsey Wilson University Columbia, KY, 42728$28,392 -
#33Defiance College Defiance, OH, 43512$29,320 48%
#34Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA, 17551-86%
#35Minot State University Minot, ND, 58707-65%
#36Coppin State University Baltimore, MD, 21216-46%
#37Indiana University Northwest Gary, IN, 46408-73%
#38Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA, 52142$20,000 96%
#39Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio, TX, 78207$32,138 87%
#40University of Nevada--Reno Reno, NV, 89557-74%
#41Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC, 28723-82%
#42Washburn University Topeka, KS, 66621-100%
#43Elms College Chicopee, MA, 01013$44,625 85%
#44Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA, 23504-88%
#45Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI, 48710-72%
#46Clayton State University Morrow, GA, 30260-68%
#47Concord University Athens, WV, 24712-93%
#48University of St. Francis Joliet, IL, 60435$38,900 65%
#49Baker University Baldwin City, KS, 66006$35,900 94%
#50Gwynedd Mercy University Gwynedd Valley, PA, 19437$41,960 90%
#51Mercy College of Health Sciences Des Moines, IA, 50309-100%
#52Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL, 60625-74%
#53Wayland Baptist University Plainview, TX, 79072$23,902 56%
#54Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL, 33461--