Best Social Work Schools in California

California has 19 colleges offering Social Work programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 1,303 recent graduates. Graduates in California earn $34,008 on average within two years — 8% above the national average of $31,424, making the state one of the stronger markets for this field.

Schools in CA

$34,008

CA Avg. Earnings

$31,424

National Avg.

482

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Social Work in California

Public Schools (14)

$34,152

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (5)

$32,996

avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools in California produce comparable or higher early earnings for Social Work graduates, often at lower cost — making them strong value options.

Social Work Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

La Sierra University

Riverside, CA · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 93.3%

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$40,492

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $37,690

Graduates: 31

Acceptance: 98.3%

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$41,007

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,501

Graduates: 18

Acceptance: 96.2%

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$33,993

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,587

Graduates: 65

Acceptance: 47.1%

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$39,585

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $42,882

Graduates: 127

Acceptance: 11.7%

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,828

Graduates: 39

Acceptance: 57.5%

Pacific Union College

Angwin, CA · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 42.5%

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$32,747

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,849

Graduates: 170

Acceptance: 91.9%

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$32,569

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,548

Graduates: 260

Acceptance: 93.6%

#10

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$28,236

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,892

Graduates: 57

Acceptance: 98.8%

#11

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$30,119

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,049

Graduates: 101

Acceptance: 93.7%

#12

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$32,332

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,581

Graduates: 114

Acceptance: 34.4%

#13

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$29,540

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,549

Graduates: 135

Acceptance: 96.4%

#14

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$33,382

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,688

Graduates: 112

Acceptance: 93.2%

#15

University of Massachusetts Global

Aliso Viejo, CA · Public

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$38,289

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $38,504

Graduates: 35

Acceptance: 80.2%

#17

Whittier College

Whittier, CA · Private

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, CA · Private

$32,711

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,310

Graduates: 39

Acceptance: 79.5%

#19

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$31,314

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 86.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Social Work in California?

La Sierra University ranks #1 for Social Work in California with median graduate earnings of N/A within two years of graduation. There are 19 schools offering Social Work programs in the state.

How much do Social Work graduates earn in California?

Social Work graduates in California earn an average of $34,008 within two years of graduation. This is 8% above the national average of $31,424 for this major.

What is the hardest Social Work school to get into in California?

University of California-Berkeley is the most selective Social Work program in California with an acceptance rate of 11.7%. The average acceptance rate across Social Work programs in the state is 76.7%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Social Work in California?

In California, private Social Work programs produce average earnings of $32,996 vs $34,152 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 14 public and 5 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in California

Construction Management $81,700 Construction Engineering $81,610 Construction Engineering Technologies $76,343 Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions $75,984 Computer Science $72,889 Computer Engineering $72,447 Dental Support Services and Allied Professions $71,074 Computer and Information Sciences, General $68,388

All colleges in California →

Social Work in Other States

Ohio New York Texas North Carolina Michigan Pennsylvania Indiana Illinois Puerto Rico Wisconsin Minnesota Tennessee View All →

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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.