2026 Best Value Social Work Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Social Work associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 864 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Social Work Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Our analysis found Camden County College to be the best-value Social Work school in the United States. Based in Blackwood, NJ, Camden County College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, with out-of-state students paying around $4,416. Graduates carry a median of $9,219 in student loans. Median earnings reach $41,212 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $9,219 median debt. Read more about Camden County College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Brownsville earned it the #2 place in the United States. Set in Brownsville, TX, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,148, compared with $4,948 for out-of-state students. The University Of Texas At Brownsville Social Work students take on a median of $10,550 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,900 ten years after entry. Set against $10,550 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full The University Of Texas At Brownsville report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tyler Junior College earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Tyler, TX, Tyler Junior College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. Tyler Junior College Social Work students take on a median of $12,000 in debt. Median earnings reach $38,140 ten years out. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Tyler Junior College
You'll get strong value at San Juan College, which ranked #4 this year. San Juan College is a public school based in Farmington, NM. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,910, with out-of-state students paying around $5,393. The median Social Work program debt is $16,150. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,513 ten years after entry. Set against $16,150 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about San Juan College
Out of the 864 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Minneapolis Community And Technical College landed the #5 spot. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a public school based in Minneapolis, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,161. Graduates carry a median of $24,036 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $40,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Minneapolis Community And Technical College profile
Bristol Community College placed #6 among the best-value Social Work schools in the United States. Bristol Community College is a public school based in Fall River, MA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,832, compared with $10,776 for out-of-state students. The median Social Work program debt is $6,433. Median earnings reach $38,663 ten years out. Set against $6,433 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Bristol Community College
Austin Community College District ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Work schools. This public school is set in Austin, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Typical Social Work student debt is $17,922. Austin Community College District alumni report median earnings of $43,177 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $17,922 median debt. Read more about Austin Community College District
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Located in Harrisburg, PA, Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,975, with out-of-state students paying around $12,472. Graduates carry a median of $20,867 in student loans. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg alumni report median earnings of $42,007 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,867 median debt. See the full Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg profile
Passaic County Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in Paterson, NJ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,300, while out-of-state students pay about $10,560. Passaic County Community College Social Work students take on a median of $9,581 in debt. Median earnings reach $36,972 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Passaic County Community College
Stark State College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Located in North Canton, OH, Stark State College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Typical Social Work student debt is $25,177. Median earnings reach $34,661 ten years out. Set against $25,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Stark State College report
Capital Community College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in New Britain, CT. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. The median Social Work program debt is $12,059. Median earnings reach $41,344 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Capital Community College report
Ferris State University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Based in Big Rapids, MI, Ferris State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,778. Ferris State University Social Work students take on a median of $25,750 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,735. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%. Get the full Ferris State University report
Southern Adventist University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Work schools. Southern Adventist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Collegedale, TN. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,300. The median Social Work program debt is $24,575. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,723 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,575 median debt. Southern Adventist University has an acceptance rate of 66%. Read more about Southern Adventist University
San Antonio College landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in San Antonio, TX, San Antonio College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,839 to complete their Social Work program here. San Antonio College alumni report median earnings of $39,711 a decade after entry. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about San Antonio College
Vincennes University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. This public school is set in Vincennes, IN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Vincennes University Social Work students take on a median of $17,500 in debt. Vincennes University alumni report median earnings of $41,110 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Read the full report on Vincennes University
Arizona State University came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Arizona State University report
Eastern Nazarene College offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. See the full Eastern Nazarene College profile
Montclair State University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Work schools. Get the full Montclair State University report
University Of Denver placed #19 among the best-value Social Work schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Denver
University Of Wyoming ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Work schools. Get the full University Of Wyoming report
Winthrop University offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. See the full Winthrop University profile
Avila University
Avila University placed #22 among the best-value Social Work schools in the United States. Read the full report on Avila University
Central Piedmont Community College placed #23 among the best-value Social Work schools in the United States. Read the full report on Central Piedmont Community College
Maryville University Of Saint Louis landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Maryville University Of Saint Louis
Merrimack College placed #25 among the best-value Social Work schools in the United States. Read the full report on Merrimack College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Social Work Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
University Of South Alabama landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of South Alabama report
Wilmington College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Work schools. More on Wilmington College
Youngstown State University placed #28 among the best-value Social Work schools in the United States. Get the full Youngstown State University report
Erikson Institute ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Work schools. Read the full report on Erikson Institute
La Sierra University offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. More on La Sierra University
Marian University Wisconsin ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Work schools. Get the full Marian University Wisconsin report
University Of North Dakota placed #32 among the best-value Social Work schools in the United States. Read more about University Of North Dakota
Whittier College
Whittier College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Work schools. Get the full Whittier College report
William Paterson University Of New Jersey placed #34 among the best-value Social Work schools in the United States. More on William Paterson University Of New Jersey
Xavier University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Work schools. See the full Xavier University profile
Concordia College At Moorhead landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Concordia College At Moorhead report
Madonna University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Work schools. Get the full Madonna University report
Mesa State College placed #38 among the best-value Social Work schools in the United States. Read more about Mesa State College
Park University
Park University ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Work schools. More on Park University
Seattle University came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Seattle University report
Owens Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read more about Owens Community College
Regis College
Regis College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Regis College
Washington State Community College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Social Work schools. More on Washington State Community College
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. See the full Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University profile
Gordon College
Gordon College came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. See the full Gordon College profile
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Fajardo landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Fajardo
Lewis Clark State College placed #47 among the best-value Social Work schools in the United States. Read more about Lewis Clark State College
Milligan College
Milligan College placed #48 among the best-value Social Work schools in the United States. Read the full report on Milligan College
Missouri Western State University landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Missouri Western State University
Saint Louis University Main Campus came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. See the full Saint Louis University Main Campus profile
Related Social Work Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Social Work Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Social Work Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Social Work Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Social Work Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Social Work Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Social Work Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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