2026 Best Social Work Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Social Work associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 864 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Social Work Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Camden County College tops our 2026 ranking of the best Social Work associate's degree schools in the United States. Set in Blackwood, NJ, Camden County College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,320 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,416. Camden County College Social Work students take on a median of $9,219 in debt. Read the full report on Camden County College
Out of the 864 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Bristol Community College landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Fall River, MA. In-state tuition and fees average $5,832, with out-of-state students paying around $10,776. Graduates carry a median of $6,433 in student loans. Get the full Bristol Community College report
A rank of #3 makes Austin Community College District one of the top choices in the United States. Austin Community College District is a public school based in Austin, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Austin Community College District Social Work students take on a median of $17,922 in debt. See the full Austin Community College District profile
The strong Social Work programs at The University Of Texas At Brownsville earned it the #4 place in the United States. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a public school based in Brownsville, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $3,148, while out-of-state students pay about $4,948. Typical Social Work student debt is $10,550. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Brownsville
Out of the 864 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Capital Community College landed the #5 spot. Capital Community College is a public school based in New Britain, CT. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. More on Capital Community College
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Harrisburg, PA. In-state tuition and fees average $6,975, with out-of-state students paying around $12,472. The median Social Work program debt is $20,867. Read more about Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg
Ferris State University placed #7 among Social Work schools in the United States. Ferris State University is a public school based in Big Rapids, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete their Social Work program here. Read the full report on Ferris State University
Passaic County Community College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Paterson, NJ, Passaic County Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,300, while out-of-state students pay about $10,560. The median Social Work program debt is $9,581. See the full Passaic County Community College profile
Tyler Junior College landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Tyler, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $4,536. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete their Social Work program here. See the full Tyler Junior College profile
Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. This public school is set in Minneapolis, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,161. Minneapolis Community And Technical College Social Work students take on a median of $24,036 in debt. More on Minneapolis Community And Technical College
Southern Adventist University placed #12 among Social Work schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Collegedale, TN. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $27,300. Typical Social Work student debt is $24,575. More on Southern Adventist University
San Juan College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. Based in Farmington, NM, San Juan College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,910, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. Graduates carry a median of $16,150 in student loans. Read the full report on San Juan College
Stark State College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Stark State College is a public school based in North Canton, OH. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Stark State College Social Work students take on a median of $25,177 in debt. Read more about Stark State College
San Antonio College placed #15 among Social Work schools in the United States. This public school is set in San Antonio, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $11,839 to complete their Social Work program here. More on San Antonio College
Vincennes University placed #16 among Social Work schools in the United States. Located in Vincennes, IN, Vincennes University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 3%. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Vincennes University Social Work students take on a median of $17,500 in debt. Read more about Vincennes University
Bethel University Minnesota did well this year, earning the #16 position. More on Bethel University Minnesota
Lesley University placed #17 among Social Work schools in the United States. Get the full Lesley University report
Pennsylvania Western University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Get the full Pennsylvania Western University report
University Of North Texas At Dallas ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. Get the full University Of North Texas At Dallas report
Saint Anselm College placed #20 among Social Work schools in the United States. Get the full Saint Anselm College report
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh report
Henry Ford Community College landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. See the full Henry Ford Community College profile
Washington University In St Louis came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Washington University In St Louis
Georgia State University placed #24 among Social Work schools in the United States. See the full Georgia State University profile
Southwestern Michigan College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. Get the full Southwestern Michigan College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best Social Work Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor report
Valdosta State University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. Read more about Valdosta State University
Austin Peay State University came in at #28 in this year's ranking. See the full Austin Peay State University profile
Nazareth College
Nazareth College placed #29 among Social Work schools in the United States. See the full Nazareth College profile
The University Of Texas At Arlington placed #31 among Social Work schools in the United States. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Arlington
University Of Northern Iowa ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. Read the full report on University Of Northern Iowa
Central Connecticut State University landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Central Connecticut State University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa did well this year, earning the #34 position. More on University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Washington Adventist University landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. More on Washington Adventist University
Clark State Community College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. More on Clark State Community College
Edmonds Community College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. See the full Edmonds Community College profile
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. Read the full report on Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Aguadilla
Massachusetts Bay Community College placed #40 among Social Work schools in the United States. Read more about Massachusetts Bay Community College
Purdue University Global placed #41 among Social Work schools in the United States. More on Purdue University Global
William Paterson University Of New Jersey came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Get the full William Paterson University Of New Jersey report
Augusta University came in at #43 in this year's ranking. More on Augusta University
Butler County Community College landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. See the full Butler County Community College profile
Southern State Community College placed #45 among Social Work schools in the United States. Read the full report on Southern State Community College
University Of Kansas placed #46 among Social Work schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Kansas
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. See the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities profile
Jarvis Christian College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. Read the full report on Jarvis Christian College
Saint Marys College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Social Work schools. See the full Saint Marys College profile
West Virginia University placed #50 among Social Work schools in the United States. Get the full West Virginia University report
Related Social Work Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Social Work Schools (All Levels)
- Best Social Work Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Social Work Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Social Work Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Social Work Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 864 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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