Master’s Degrees in Social Work
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Education Levels of Social Work Majors
In 2020-2021, 32,218 earned their master's degree in social work. This earns it the #3 spot on the list of the most popular master's degree programs in the nation.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in social work at each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 32,218 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 22,221 |
| Associate Degree | 1,721 |
| Graduate Certificate | 733 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 680 |
| Basic Certificate | 606 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 147 |
Earnings of Social Work Majors With Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in social work is $44,064. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $40,909 to a high of $47,729.
Student Debt
The data on debt ranges for social work majors who have their master's degree is not available.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in social work. About 87.6% of graduates with this degree are female.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 3,992 |
| Women | 28,226 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of social work master’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 1,069 |
| Black or African American | 5,839 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5,585 |
| White | 16,795 |
| International Students | 449 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 2,481 |
Most Popular Social Work Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 322 colleges that offer a master’s degree in social work. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
The most popular school in the United States for social work students seekinga master's degree is Fordham University. Roughly 16,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,730 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $23,112 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 1,036 master's degrees were handed out to social work majors at Fordham U. Of these students, 90% were women and 55% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 2nd most popular school in the country for social work majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Southern California. Roughly 46,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,446 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $60,446 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 888 master's degrees were handed out to social work majors at USC. Around 64% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 85% were women.
Walden University is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social work. Roughly 49,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,064 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,651 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 856 people received their master's degree in social work from Walden University. About 85% of this group were women, and 60% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 4th most popular school in the country for social work majors who are seeking their master's degree is Rutgers University - New Brunswick. Roughly 50,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,536 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,180 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 705 master's degrees were handed out to social work majors at Rutgers New Brunswick. Of these students, 87% were women and 48% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The University of Texas at Arlington is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social work. Each year, around 48,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,206 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,015 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 679 people received their master's degree in social work from UT Arlington. Around 58% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 91% were women.
The 6th most popular school in the country for social work majors who are seeking their master's degree is Hunter College. Roughly 24,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,090 per year. The social work program at Hunter College awarded 622 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 84% were women and 63% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Simmons University is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social work. Each year, around 6,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $41,872 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $21,384 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 551 people received their master's degree in social work from Simmons. About 87% of this group were women, and 34% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 8th most popular school in the country for social work majors who are seeking their master's degree is New York University. Roughly 52,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $53,770 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $35,982 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 501 master's degrees were handed out to social work majors at NYU. Of these students, 87% were women and 40% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Denver comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social work. Each year, around 13,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $53,640 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $53,640 per year. The social work program at University of Denver awarded 500 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 91% were women and 32% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 10th most popular school in the country for social work majors who are seeking their master's degree is Columbia University in the City of New York. Each year, around 30,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $59,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $50,496 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 487 people received their master's degree in social work from Columbia. Of these students, 88% were women and 48% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Aurora University is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social work. Each year, around 6,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $26,400 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,100 per year. The social work program at Aurora University awarded 478 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 33% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 90% were women.
University of Maryland - Baltimore comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social work. Each year, around 7,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,446 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,140 per year. The social work program at University of Maryland - Baltimore awarded 411 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 90% were women and 49% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in social work. Roughly 29,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,883 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,228 per year. The social work program at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis awarded 407 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 92% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 14th most popular school in the country for social work majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Roughly 47,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,865 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $24,902 per year. The social work program at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor awarded 384 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 86% of this group were women, and 31% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 15th most popular school in the country for social work majors who are seeking their master's degree is Ohio State University - Main Campus. Each year, around 61,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,018 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,560 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 356 people received their master's degree in social work from Ohio State. Of these students, 88% were women and 19% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social work. Roughly 34,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,038 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,132 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 327 master's degrees were handed out to social work majors at Louisiana State University. Of these students, 88% were women and 40% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Wayne State University is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social work. Roughly 26,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,532 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,920 per year. The social work program at Wayne State University awarded 326 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 40% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 90% were women.
Boston University is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social work. Each year, around 32,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $58,560 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $58,560 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 315 master's degrees were handed out to social work majors at Boston U. Of these students, 90% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 19th most popular school in the country for social work majors who are seeking their master's degree is Our Lady of the Lake University. Each year, around 2,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $29,038 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $16,650 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 309 master's degrees were handed out to social work majors at OLLU. About 92% of this group were women, and 67% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Arizona State University - Skysong is the 20th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in social work. Roughly 53,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,710 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,774 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 292 master's degrees were handed out to social work majors at ASU - Skysong. Around 36% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 88% were women.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to social work that offer master’s degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | 12,290 |
| Public Policy | 3,153 |
| Human Services | 1,153 |
| Community Organization & Advocacy | 633 |
| Other Public Administration | 213 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By Army Medicine under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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