Best MSW Programs in California

Social work master’s graduates in California earn a weighted average salary of $68,690 3 years after graduation, placing them in the top 5% nationally.

Cost of living is not considered when comparing states.

Our social work graduate rankings cover 19 of the 24 programs available in California, accounting for 79% of total student graduates. We only include schools with sufficient earnings and/or debt data.

Interested in how we rank schools? Review our ranking methodology.

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Ranking methodology

19 Results

#1 in California | #1 in Social Work nationally

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

Economic score 0.27

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $76,789

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $23,688

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#2 in California | #2 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.30

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $65,727

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $18,968

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#3 in California | #7 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.33

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $70,508

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $23,688

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#4 in California | #8 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.33

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $72,624

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $25,500

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#5 in California | #9 in Social Work nationally

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

Economic score 0.34

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $65,641

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.3

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $22,395

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#6 in California | #11 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.37

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $74,287

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $29,958

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#7 in California | #15 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.39

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $73,124

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $30,414

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#8 in California | #16 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.39

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $78,282

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $35,394

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#9 in California | #21 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.42

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $73,856

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $33,556

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#10 in California | #23 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.43

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $72,571

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $32,228

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#11 in California | #25 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.43

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $70,391

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.4

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $31,100

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#12 in California | #29 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.47

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $72,268

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $35,500

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#13 in California | #31 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.47

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $75,070

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $38,800

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#14 in California | #39 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.51

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $63,161

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $29,654

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#15 in California | #50 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.54

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $68,797

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.5

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $37,400

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#16 in California | #73 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.59

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $77,415

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $53,583

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#17 in California | #147 in Social Work nationally

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California

Economic score 0.78

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $64,414

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.8

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $48,971

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#18 in California | #150 in Social Work nationally
Economic score 0.79

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $59,653

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 0.7

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $41,000

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

#19 in California | #239 in Social Work nationally

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

Economic score 1.88

The Economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.

Earnings $64,432

Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.

Debt to earnings 2.0

The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.

Debt $125,849

The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.

How long does it take to pay down debt in social work in California?

Years

1.2 years

The average debt accrued from a master's degree in social work is covered by average graduate earnings in 1.2 years.

How much do graduates with a master's degree in social work earn in California?

Salary

$68,690

The median master's degree in social work graduate earns $68,690 4 years after graduating.

How much does a master's degree in social work cost in California?

Net cost

$16,581

The average annual cost of a master's degree in social work is $16,581. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.

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