College of Our Lady of the Elms

College of Our Lady of the Elms conferred 30 bachelor's degrees in social work in the most recent reporting year, ranking #215 among the 587 colleges nationally that award the degree. That is a mid-sized program — large enough to sustain a dedicated field placement office, small enough that faculty tend to know students by name.

60.3% of students complete their degree, close to the 50.4% median across BSW colleges nationally. Students who finish take a median of 5 years to do it. Unusually, part-time students complete at a higher rate here (71.3%) than full-time students (55.8%) — often a sign of a program built around people already working in the field.

The average student pays $19,870 a year after grants and scholarships — $4,990 below the $24,860 median across the 12 BSW colleges in Massachusetts. 55.0% of first-time students receive Pell Grants, a high share that usually reflects a student body with substantial financial need — and a financial aid office practiced at handling it. Net price is the number that matters when comparing programs, not sticker tuition — and because most social work roles are with government or nonprofit employers, graduates are typically eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.