Best Universities for Social Work in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Social Work. A graph of 363K citations received by 26.1K academic papers made by 183 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Social Work

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

2. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Social Work

#1 in Canada

#2 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

3. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Social Work

#2 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

4. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Social Work

#3 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

5. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Social Work

#4 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

6. CUNY Hunter College

United States | New York State

For Social Work

#5 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,325
Enrollment: 22,970

7. Virginia Commonwealth University

United States | Virginia

For Social Work

#6 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

8. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Social Work

#7 in the United States

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

9. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Social Work

#8 in the United States

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

10. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Social Work

#9 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

11. University of Maryland, Baltimore

United States | Maryland

For Social Work

#10 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

12. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Social Work

#11 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

13. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Social Work

#12 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

14. New York University

United States | New York State

For Social Work

#13 in the United States

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

15. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Social Work

#14 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

16. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Social Work

#15 in the United States

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

17. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Social Work

#2 in Canada

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

18. SUNY at Albany

United States | New York State

For Social Work

#16 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

19. Fordham University

United States | New York State

For Social Work

#17 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $43,943

20. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Social Work

#18 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

21. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Social Work

#19 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

22. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Social Work

#20 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

23. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Social Work

#21 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

24. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Social Work

#22 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

25. University of Denver

United States | Colorado

For Social Work

#23 in the United States

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,423

26. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Social Work

#24 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

27. Yeshiva University

United States | New York State

For Social Work

#25 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $35,912

28. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Social Work

#26 in the United States

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

29. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Social Work

#27 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

30. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Social Work

#28 in the United States

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

31. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Social Work

#29 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

32. Boston College

United States | Massachusetts

For Social Work

#30 in the United States

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1488
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,559

33. University of Texas at Arlington

United States | Texas

For Social Work

#31 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 93%

34. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Social Work

#32 in the United States

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

35. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Social Work

#3 in Canada

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

36. Smith College

United States | Massachusetts

For Social Work

#33 in the United States

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $30,790

37. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Social Work

#34 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

38. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Social Work

#35 in the United States

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

39. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Social Work

#36 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

40. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Social Work

#37 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

41. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Social Work

#38 in the United States

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

42. Catholic University of America

United States | District of Columbia

For Social Work

#39 in the United States

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Net Price: $36,031
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $34,449

43. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Social Work

#40 in the United States

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

44. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Social Work

#41 in the United States

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

45. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Social Work

#42 in the United States

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

46. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Social Work

#43 in the United States

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

47. Loyola University Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Social Work

#44 in the United States

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,511

48. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Social Work

#45 in the United States

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

49. University of Alabama

United States | Alabama

For Social Work

#46 in the United States

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

50. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Social Work

#47 in the United States

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

51. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Social Work

#48 in the United States

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

52. Adelphi University

United States | New York State

For Social Work

#49 in the United States

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $26,953

53. Rhode Island College

United States | Rhode Island

For Social Work

#50 in the United States

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 990
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $7,537

54. Portland State University

United States | Oregon

For Social Work

#51 in the United States

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,750
Enrollment: 21,609

55. Saint Louis University

United States | Missouri

For Social Work

#52 in the United States

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $29,651

56. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Social Work

#53 in the United States

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

57. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Social Work

#4 in Canada

#94 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

58. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Social Work

#54 in the United States

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

59. Bryn Mawr College

United States | Pennsylvania

For Social Work

#55 in the United States

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1388
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,072

60. San Diego State University

United States | California

For Social Work

#56 in the United States

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $9,934
Enrollment: 37,402

61. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

United States | Indiana

For Social Work

#57 in the United States

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

62. University of Maryland - Baltimore County

United States | Maryland

For Social Work

#58 in the United States

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 94%

63. University of Louisville

United States | Kentucky

For Social Work

#59 in the United States

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

64. Indiana University - Bloomington

United States | Indiana

For Social Work

#60 in the United States

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

65. University of Hartford

United States | Connecticut

For Social Work

#61 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $31,687

66. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Social Work

#62 in the United States

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

67. Florida International University

United States | Florida

For Social Work

#63 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

68. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Social Work

#64 in the United States

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

69. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Social Work

#5 in Canada

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

70. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Social Work

#65 in the United States

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

71. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Social Work

#66 in the United States

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

72. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Social Work

#67 in the United States

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

73. Brigham Young University - Provo

United States | Utah

For Social Work

#68 in the United States

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

74. Wilfrid Laurier University

Canada | Ontario

For Social Work

#6 in Canada

#137 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1911

75. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Social Work

#69 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

76. Syracuse University

United States | New York State

For Social Work

#70 in the United States

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

77. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

United States | Wisconsin

For Social Work

#71 in the United States

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $5,963

78. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Social Work

#72 in the United States

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

79. Howard University

United States | District of Columbia

For Social Work

#73 in the United States

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $28,279

80. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

United States | New York State

For Social Work

#74 in the United States

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,253
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1963

81. Florida Atlantic University

United States | Florida

For Social Work

#75 in the United States

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

82. Simmons University

United States | Massachusetts

For Social Work

#76 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $24,423

83. Binghamton University

United States | New York State

For Social Work

#77 in the United States

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 80%

84. Western Michigan University

United States | Michigan

For Social Work

#78 in the United States

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

85. East Carolina University

United States | North Carolina

For Social Work

#79 in the United States

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,020
Enrollment: 27,151

86. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Social Work

#80 in the United States

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

87. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Social Work

#81 in the United States

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

88. University of Nevada - Las Vegas

United States | Nevada

For Social Work

#82 in the United States

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 96%

89. California State University - Long Beach

United States | California

For Social Work

#83 in the United States

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,478
Enrollment: 38,973

90. York University

Canada | Ontario

For Social Work

#7 in Canada

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 53,000
Founded: 1959

91. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

United States | North Carolina

For Social Work

#84 in the United States

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 75%

92. California University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Social Work

#85 in the United States

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,250
Enrollment: 6,885

93. Georgia State University

United States | Georgia

For Social Work

#86 in the United States

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

94. Washington State University

United States | Washington

For Social Work

#87 in the United States

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

95. Baylor University

United States | Texas

For Social Work

#88 in the United States

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $45,988

96. Tulane University of Louisiana

United States | Louisiana

For Social Work

#89 in the United States

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

97. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Social Work

#8 in Canada

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

98. University of Windsor

Canada | Ontario

For Social Work

#9 in Canada

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 16,092
Founded: 1857

99. St Catherine University

United States | Minnesota

For Social Work

#90 in the United States

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1303
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $19,976

100. George Mason University

United States | Virginia

For Social Work

#91 in the United States

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

Psychology subfields in North America

Child Psychology977

Clinical Psychology827

Cognitive Science812

Education Majors1108

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution318

Neuroscience1151

Occupational Therapy295

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology315

Social Psychology1262

Special Education395