# Most Affordable Online Master's in Social Work

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-06-12 | Schools: 50 | Category: Online Masters
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-online-masters-social-work

## Methodology

Most affordable online master's in Social Work ranked by net price and program quality

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

The search for an affordable online master's in social work has become increasingly important for many students looking to advance their careers without accumulating substantial debt. These programs not only offer flexibility but also aim to balance quality education with financial feasibility. With an average net price of just under $10,500 among some of the top schools, students are finding viable options to pursue their goals.

What sets the strongest programs apart in this list are their outcomes: earnings potential, graduation rates, and debt levels. For instance, the University of Florida-Online stands out with an impressive graduation rate of 81% and average earnings of $71,588. In comparison, other schools like Bryant & Stratton College-Online have lower earnings and graduation rates, spotlighting the variance in what these programs can deliver.

Take the University of Arkansas Grantham and Western Governors University as an example. While Arkansas has a lower graduation rate of 32% and higher debt of $21,956, Western Governors shows a better balance with a 48% graduation rate and a significantly lower debt of $11,116. This highlights the tradeoffs students will need to consider as they weigh their options.

## Key Findings

- The University of Florida-Online has the highest earnings at $71,588.
- Graduation rates vary widely, from 81% at the University of Florida-Online to just 21% at Bryant & Stratton College-Online.
- Western Governors University has the lowest debt at $11,116, compared to $21,956 at the University of Arkansas Grantham.
- The average graduation rate across these programs is only 36%, indicating room for improvement.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of Florida-Online](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-florida-online) | Gainesville, FL | 81% | $71,588 | $4,815 | $15,000 | 0.21x |
| 2 | [University of West Alabama](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-west-alabama) | Livingston, AL | 36% | $44,232 | $12,684 | $24,944 | 0.56x |
| 3 | [Bellevue University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bellevue-university) | Bellevue, NE | 39% | $61,289 | $17,550 | $20,000 | 0.33x |
| 4 | [Empire State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/empire-state-university) | Saratoga Springs, NY | 34% | $54,080 | $11,676 | $18,730 | 0.35x |
| 5 | [Pennsylvania State University-World Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-world-campus) | University Park, PA | 34% | $63,435 | $19,550 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 6 | [Ave Maria University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ave-maria-university) | Ave Maria, FL | 55% | $49,520 | $24,860 | $20,776 | 0.42x |
| 7 | [Southeastern Oklahoma State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeastern-oklahoma-state-university) | Durant, OK | 32% | $45,079 | $8,039 | $17,000 | 0.38x |
| 8 | [Belhaven University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/belhaven-university) | Jackson, MS | 50% | $46,440 | $15,676 | $26,333 | 0.57x |
| 9 | [Franklin University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/franklin-university) | Columbus, OH | 21% | $51,892 | $25,243 | $20,836 | 0.4x |
| 10 | [Upper Iowa University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/upper-iowa-university) | Fayette, IA | 38% | $52,766 | $20,942 | $25,000 | 0.47x |
| 11 | [Lamar University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lamar-university) | Beaumont, TX | 37% | $49,652 | $9,366 | $21,250 | 0.43x |
| 12 | [Unity Environmental University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/unity-environmental-university) | New Gloucester, ME | 44% | $37,852 | $19,104 | $25,000 | 0.66x |
| 13 | [Great Basin College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/great-basin-college) | Elko, NV | 46% | $39,289 | $8,471 | $15,750 | 0.4x |
| 14 | [Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-new-mexico-university-main-campus) | Portales, NM | 42% | $38,550 | $4,904 | $16,500 | 0.43x |
| 15 | [National University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/national-university) | San Diego, CA | 42% | $67,548 | $22,878 | $25,000 | 0.37x |
| 16 | [University of Maine at Presque Isle](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maine-at-presque-isle) | Presque Isle, ME | 45% | $40,956 | $7,035 | $16,000 | 0.39x |
| 17 | [University of Maryland Global Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maryland-global-campus) | Adelphi, MD | 31% | $65,287 | $22,063 | $21,000 | 0.32x |
| 18 | [Southern New Hampshire University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-new-hampshire-university) | Manchester, NH | 44% | $50,318 | $36,708 | $21,082 | 0.42x |
| 19 | [Prescott College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/prescott-college) | Prescott, AZ | 44% | $42,359 | $22,583 | $16,300 | 0.38x |
| 20 | [Saint Leo University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-leo-university) | Saint Leo, FL | 47% | $48,364 | $21,293 | $25,278 | 0.52x |
| 21 | [West Los Angeles College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/west-los-angeles-college) | Culver City, CA | 24% | $38,537 | $9,634 | $13,500 | 0.35x |
| 22 | [Maryville University of Saint Louis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maryville-university-of-saint-louis) | Saint Louis, MO | 69% | $62,105 | $22,066 | $22,000 | 0.35x |
| 23 | [Liberty University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/liberty-university) | Lynchburg, VA | 64% | $44,813 | $29,357 | $24,500 | 0.55x |
| 24 | [Mayville State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mayville-state-university) | Mayville, ND | 40% | $47,828 | $11,456 | $18,585 | 0.39x |
| 25 | [Brigham Young University-Idaho](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brigham-young-university-idaho) | Rexburg, ID | 55% | $53,406 | $8,221 | $13,969 | 0.26x |
| 26 | [Buena Vista University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/buena-vista-university) | Storm Lake, IA | 54% | $49,156 | $18,846 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 27 | [McMurry University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mcmurry-university) | Abilene, TX | 41% | $48,779 | $19,581 | $27,000 | 0.55x |
| 28 | [Central State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-state-university) | Wilberforce, OH | 24% | $33,267 | $13,096 | $30,739 | 0.92x |
| 29 | [Virginia Union University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-union-university) | Richmond, VA | 39% | $38,275 | $13,235 | $29,000 | 0.76x |
| 30 | [Livingstone College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/livingstone-college) | Salisbury, NC | 26% | $32,600 | $13,479 | $31,125 | 0.95x |
| 31 | [SUNY College of Technology at Canton](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-college-of-technology-at-canton) | Canton, NY | 41% | $47,860 | $15,268 | $20,000 | 0.42x |
| 32 | [Wilmington University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wilmington-university) | New Castle, DE | 21% | $53,844 | $15,644 | $20,000 | 0.37x |
| 33 | [Indiana University-East](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-university-east) | Richmond, IN | 42% | $47,156 | $8,134 | $18,000 | 0.38x |
| 34 | [Spring Arbor University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/spring-arbor-university) | Spring Arbor, MI | 61% | $51,732 | $19,353 | $26,375 | 0.51x |
| 35 | [Arkansas State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arkansas-state-university) | Jonesboro, AR | 55% | $42,617 | $12,366 | $20,500 | 0.48x |
| 36 | [University of North Carolina at Pembroke](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-pembroke) | Pembroke, NC | 44% | $43,407 | $10,260 | $25,000 | 0.58x |
| 37 | [University of West Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-west-florida) | Pensacola, FL | 60% | $49,137 | $9,364 | $16,624 | 0.34x |
| 38 | [The University of Texas Permian Basin](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-permian-basin) | Odessa, TX | 42% | $56,073 | $12,723 | $17,750 | 0.32x |
| 39 | [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus) | Atlanta, GA | 93% | $102,772 | $12,116 | $21,672 | 0.21x |
| 40 | [University of St Francis](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-st-francis) | Joliet, IL | 66% | $63,926 | $13,006 | $21,079 | 0.33x |
| 41 | [Eastern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-university) | Saint Davids, PA | 55% | $51,655 | $26,662 | $25,000 | 0.48x |
| 42 | [MiraCosta College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/miracosta-college) | Oceanside, CA | 41% | $43,845 | $7,339 | $9,000 | 0.21x |
| 43 | [University of West Georgia](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-west-georgia) | Carrollton, GA | 43% | $49,587 | $12,786 | $23,970 | 0.48x |
| 44 | [Emporia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emporia-state-university) | Emporia, KS | 55% | $47,601 | $16,261 | $19,500 | 0.41x |
| 45 | [University of Maine at Augusta](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maine-at-augusta) | Augusta, ME | 25% | $40,342 | $10,924 | $22,734 | 0.56x |
| 46 | [Cottey College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cottey-college) | Nevada, MO | 59% | $35,422 | $13,805 | $19,043 | 0.54x |
| 47 | [University of Hawaii-West Oahu](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-hawaii-west-oahu) | Kapolei, HI | 48% | $52,075 | $10,327 | $14,500 | 0.28x |
| 48 | [Bay Mills Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bay-mills-community-college) | Brimley, MI | 30% | $30,048 | $3,073 | N/A | N/A |
| 49 | [Park University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/park-university) | Parkville, MO | 34% | $56,309 | $21,032 | $21,685 | 0.39x |
| 50 | [Northern Kentucky University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northern-kentucky-university) | Highland Heights, KY | 50% | $50,220 | $8,191 | $23,000 | 0.46x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Most Affordable Online Master's in Social Work." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-06-12. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-online-masters-social-work

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.