Best Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has 19 colleges offering Social Work programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 648 recent graduates. Graduates earn $32,647 on average within two years, roughly in line with the national average of $31,424.

Schools in PA

$32,647

PA Avg. Earnings

$31,424

National Avg.

482

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Social Work in Pennsylvania

Public Schools (10)

$31,423

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (9)

$34,176

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $2,753 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Social Work Schools in Pennsylvania, Ranked by Earnings

Widener University

Chester, PA · Private

$34,348

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 84.0%

Alvernia University

Reading, PA · Private

$35,060

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $36,850

Graduates: 24

Acceptance: 62.3%

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, PA · Public

$30,409

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,725

Graduates: 41

Acceptance: 49.7%

La Salle University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$37,568

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 86.2%

Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown, PA · Private

$32,382

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 76.8%

Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public

$35,157

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $35,540

Graduates: 91

Acceptance: 82.9%

Messiah University

Mechanicsburg, PA · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 78.5%

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg, PA · Public

$28,960

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $28,477

Graduates: 21

Acceptance: 92.9%

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg, PA · Public

$33,565

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,527

Graduates: 48

Acceptance: 85.5%

#10

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville, PA · Public

$30,771

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,864

Graduates: 101

Acceptance: 89.4%

#11

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg, PA · Public

$33,565

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $33,938

Graduates: 58

Acceptance: 94.8%

#12

Carlow University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

$34,847

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,117

Graduates: 18

Acceptance: 87.1%

#13

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, PA · Public

$30,409

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,330

Graduates: 82

Acceptance: 94.8%

#14

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, PA · Public

$30,771

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,446

Graduates: 61

Acceptance: 74.6%

#15

Eastern University

Saint Davids, PA · Private

$32,711

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,258

Graduates: 21

Acceptance: 93.6%

#16

Cairn University-Langhorne

Langhorne, PA · Private

$32,925

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,714

Graduates: 20

Acceptance: 83.6%

#17

Pennsylvania Western University

California, PA · Public

$28,236

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,791

Graduates: 41

Acceptance: 93.7%

#18

Cedar Crest College

Allentown, PA · Private

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, PA · Public

$32,391

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,420

Graduates: 21

Acceptance: 79.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Social Work in Pennsylvania?

Widener University ranks #1 for Social Work in Pennsylvania with median graduate earnings of $34,348 within two years of graduation. There are 19 schools offering Social Work programs in the state.

How much do Social Work graduates earn in Pennsylvania?

Social Work graduates in Pennsylvania earn an average of $32,647 within two years of graduation. This is 4% above the national average of $31,424 for this major.

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

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is the most selective Social Work program in Pennsylvania with an acceptance rate of 49.7%. The average acceptance rate across Social Work programs in the state is 83.6%.

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

In Pennsylvania, private Social Work programs produce average earnings of $34,176 vs $31,423 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 10 public and 9 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in Pennsylvania

Computer Science $73,789 Chemical Engineering $71,780 Business/Managerial Economics $71,719 Computer Engineering $71,107 Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management $67,419 Architectural Engineering $66,081 Computer and Information Sciences, General $64,679 Biomedical/Medical Engineering $64,105

All colleges in Pennsylvania →

Social Work in Other States

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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.