Pacific Lutheran University

Pacific Lutheran University awarded 19 bachelor's degrees in social work in the most recent reporting year, ranking #312 of the 587 colleges nationally that offer the degree. This is a small program, which cuts both ways: cohorts are tight and faculty access is easy, but course rotations can be less frequent and specialization options narrower than at a larger school.

66.7% of students here finish their degree, against a national median of 50.4% across the BSW colleges in this directory — a meaningful margin. Students who finish take a median of 5 years to do it. Full-time students complete at 77.0% against 62.6% for part-time, so the part-time route takes more persistence at Pacific Lutheran University. Transfer students actually outperform first-time entrants here (86.2% vs 68.7%), which is a good signal if you are coming from a community college.

The average student pays $22,299 a year after grants and scholarships — $7,134 above the $15,165 median across the 10 BSW colleges in Washington. 40.0% 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.