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Best Social Work Schools in Virginia

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2023 Best Social Work Schools in Virginia

9 Colleges
$36,341 Avg Salary
$29,240 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Social Work School for You

Social Work is the #34 most popular major in Virginia with 1,010 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Social Work Schools in Virginia ranking. This report analyzed 9 schools in Virginia to see which ones offered the best programs for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Social Work Schools in Virginia

The following schools top our list of the Best Social Work Colleges.

Top Virginia Schools in Social Work

#1

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA

Our analysis found James Madison University to be the best school for social work students who want to pursue a degree in Virginia. JMU is a fairly large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg.

On average, social work graduates from JMU take out $19,500 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $215.

Full Social Work at James Madison University Report

#2

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA

Out of the 9 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Christopher Newport University landed the # 2 spot on the list. Located in the midsize city of Newport News, CNU is a public school with a small student population.

While working on their degree, social work majors at CNU accumulate an average of around $26,247 in student debt.

Read full report on Social Work at Christopher Newport University

#3

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend George Mason University. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Social Work Schools in Virginia list. Located in the large suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, social work majors at GMU accumulate an average of around $23,000 in student debt.

Read full report on Social Work at George Mason University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Commonwealth University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Social Work Schools in Virginia list. Located in the midsize city of Richmond, VCU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, social work majors at VCU accumulate an average of around $24,497 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $125.

Full Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University Report

#5

Radford University

Radford, VA

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Radford University is a great place for social work students. Radford is a medium-sized public school located in the small suburb of Radford.

On average, social work graduates from Radford take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read More…

#6

Mary Baldwin University

Staunton, VA

Mary Baldwin University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Social Work Schools in Virginia list. Located in the city of Staunton, Mary Baldwin is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that social work majors at Mary Baldwin take out is $34,911.

Read More…

#7

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

With a ranking of #7, Liberty University did quite well on this year’s best schools for social work students. Located in the small city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

On average, social work graduates from Liberty University take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $369, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Social Work at Liberty University Report

#8

Virginia State University

Petersburg, VA

Virginia State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for social work students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State is a public college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, social work majors at Virginia State accumulate an average of around $31,000 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $143.

Full Social Work at Virginia State University Report

Norfolk State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for social work students. It came in at #9 on the list. Norfolk State is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize city of Norfolk.

Social Work majors at Norfolk State take out an average of $44,560 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $144, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Social Work at Norfolk State University

Best Social Work Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Social Work Schools in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Georgia 753
North Carolina 1,757
Florida 1,569
Tennessee 1,237
Kentucky 1,510
South Carolina 383
Louisiana 859
Arkansas 405
Alabama 1,173
Mississippi 595
West Virginia 316

Social Work is one of 5 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Public Administration 16,905
Human Services 13,238
Public Policy 6,430
Community Organization & Advocacy 3,096
Other Public Administration 588

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 9 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Army Medicine.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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