What are the Best Social Work Degrees?
Our College Choice rankings, which will help you find the best social work degree, are made from a few different sources. Our first consideration was data taken from a nationwide survey published by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA where students evaluated academic reputation as well as school costs and post-graduate achievements on the job market.
Next, these pieces of data were then weighted with data from other public sources, including U.S. News & World Report, the National Center for Education Statistics, and PayScale.com. Happy hunting!
If you're interested in working to better the quality of life for families or individuals, then you should consider becoming a social worker.
As a social worker you'll get to work in an engaging interpersonal environment advocating for people in social systems, therapy settings, and other areas where folks are in need of representation so they can receive much-needed care and support.
Featured Bachelor's Degrees in Social Work
Check Out the Top Bachelor's Degrees in Social Work
See our rankings methodology page.
What kind of social work degree should you get?
Social workers divide their time between counseling, research, education, and policy making as they work to secure provisions for people from all different walks of life.
At College Choice, we're committed to providing you with up-to-date, easy-to-understand information concerning Social Work education. Below, you will find our rankings for the best Bachelor's in Social Work, complete with information about tuition, scholarships, and other necessary facts to help you make an informed decision about your future career. And if you're thinking online, we've got you covered there too with our Best Online BSW Degrees.
How much money will you make with a degree in Social Work?
While becoming a social worker isn't easy, it can be an incredibly rewarding job. Social workers often feel a sense of professional satisfaction while they help people manage extenuating life circumstances.
As well, earning a degree in social work will grant you access to a growing profession: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that social work professionals earn an average of $63,530 with a Bachelor's degree, and that the profession on the whole will experience a faster than average growth rate at 10% between the years 2014 and 2024.
What can you do with a degree in Social Work?
Social workers enjoy stable jobs and satisfying professional activities as they help people understand their rights, provide diagnoses for people experiencing mental, behavioral, and social instability, and manage cases to assist people in accessing charitable and healthcare benefits.
Social workers often exist in nonprofit organizations, private for-profit companies, and government agencies to provide care and support for people stuck in cycles of exploitation, like substance or physical abuse, as well as work with couples and families to provide therapy services.
What are the requirements for a degree in Social Work?
While completing a Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW), students will fulfill the qualifications of licensing through hours of onsite practicum work.
The practicum offers hands-on, guided training with clients in need of special services, all under the watchful care of experienced professionals. During this time, you will become familiar with real-world procedures and practices within the profession.
It should be noted that each state has different licensing requirements, but all states require a degree and practicum experience before you can begin a career as a social worker. The Social Work License Map can help you understand the specific requirements for your state and give you the opportunity to plan your career path.
