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Best Value Social Work Schools in the Southeast Region

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2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Southeast Region

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

112 Colleges
$16,330 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$34,366 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Social Work School for You

Social Work is the #13 most popular major in the country with 58,326 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Social Work Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This report analyzed 112 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for social work students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Southeast Region

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

Top 15% Best Social Work Schools

$7,495 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named University of North Carolina at Pembroke the best value school in the Southeast Region for social work students. UNC Pembroke is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke.

UNC Pembroke undergraduate students pay an average of $7,495 in tuition and fees each year. On average, social work graduates from UNC Pembroke take out $27,394 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Social Work at University of North Carolina at Pembroke

#2

Thomas University

Thomasville, GA
$11,080 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at Thomas University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best social work schools in the Southeast Region . Located in the distant town of Thomasville, TU is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at TU are $11,080 per year. On average, social work graduates from TU take out $33,917 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Social Work at Thomas University

$8,367 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at Western Carolina University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best social work schools in the Southeast Region . Located in the distant town of Cullowhee, WCU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

WCU undergraduate students pay an average of $8,367 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, social work majors at WCU accumulate an average of around $24,618 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $127, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Social Work at Western Carolina University

#4

Union University

Jackson, TN
$16,520 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Union University is a great value for social work students. Located in the city of Jackson, Union is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Union are $16,520 per year. Social Work majors at Union take out an average of $29,166 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Social Work at Union University

#5

Delta State University

Cleveland, MS
$8,360 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Delta State University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the remote town of Cleveland, Delta State University is a public college with a small student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Delta State University are $8,360 per year. The average amount in student loans that social work majors at Delta State University take out is $26,500.

Read full report on Social Work at Delta State University

$12,698 Average Tuition & Fees

Arkansas State University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Southeast Region list. A-State is a large public school located in the city of Jonesboro.

A-State undergraduate students pay an average of $12,698 in tuition and fees each year. Social Work majors at A-State take out an average of $29,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#7

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, TN
$23,210 Average Tuition & Fees

Southern Adventist University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value social work programs. Located in the large suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southern Adventist are $23,210 a year. After completing their degree, social work graduates from Southern Adventist carry an average student debtload of $27,000.

Read full report on Social Work at Southern Adventist University

#8

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN
$14,088 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Memphis landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value social work programs. UofM is a very large public school located in the large city of Memphis.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UofM are $14,088 per year. After completing their degree, social work graduates from UofM carry an average student debtload of $34,500. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $110.

Read More…

#8

Henderson State University

Arkadelphia, AR
$9,768 Average Tuition & Fees

Henderson State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the distant town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Henderson State University are $9,768 a year. While working on their degree, social work majors at Henderson State University accumulate an average of around $25,017 in student debt.

Read full report on Social Work at Henderson State University

#10

Concord University

Athens, WV
$18,440 Average Tuition & Fees

Concord University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for social work students. It came in at #10 on the list. Concord University is a small public school located in the town of Athens.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Concord University are $18,440 a year. On average, social work graduates from Concord University take out $20,625 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Social Work at Concord University Report

$15,952 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #11, The University of Tennessee - Martin did quite well on this year’s best value schools for social work students. UT Martin is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Martin.

UT Martin undergraduate students pay an average of $15,952 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that social work majors at UT Martin take out is $24,410.

Full Social Work at The University of Tennessee - Martin Report

$11,204 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #11, University of Southern Mississippi did quite well on this year’s best value schools for social work students. Southern Miss is a large public school located in the small city of Hattiesburg.

Southern Miss undergraduate students pay an average of $11,204 in tuition and fees each year. Social Work majors at Southern Miss take out an average of $31,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Social Work at University of Southern Mississippi Report

#13

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville, KY
$25,400 Average Tuition & Fees

Campbellsville University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for social work students. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the distant town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Campbellsville University are $25,400 per year. Social Work majors at Campbellsville University take out an average of $27,664 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Social Work at Campbellsville University

$20,220 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #14, University of North Alabama did quite well on this year’s best value schools for social work students. Located in the small city of Florence, UNA is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

UNA undergraduate students pay an average of $20,220 in tuition and fees each year. Social Work majors at UNA take out an average of $31,061 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#15

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL
$17,324 Average Tuition & Fees

Florida Atlantic University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Boca Raton, FAU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at FAU are $17,324 per year. After completing their degree, social work graduates from FAU carry an average student debtload of $21,375.

Read More…

#16

Spalding University

Louisville, KY
$26,500 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #16, Spalding University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for social work students. Spalding is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Louisville.

Spalding undergraduate students pay an average of $26,500 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that social work majors at Spalding take out is $32,200.

Read full report on Social Work at Spalding University

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great value schools for Social Work students in the Southeast Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Social Work Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
17 Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WV
18 Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY
19 University of South Alabama Mobile, AL
20 Murray State University Murray, KY
21 Augusta University Augusta, GA
22 Jackson State University Jackson, MS

Best Social Work Colleges by State

Explore the best social work colleges for a specific state in the Southeast region.

State Degrees Awarded
Georgia 753
Virginia 1,010
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

One of 5 majors within the area of study, social work has other similar majors worth exploring.

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 25 schools only.

  • 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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