Rutgers University-New Brunswick

With 86 social work graduates in the latest year, Rutgers University-New Brunswick runs one of the country's higher-volume BSW programs, ranking #35 among 587 colleges awarding the degree. Program size matters more than it first appears: larger cohorts usually mean more field placement partnerships and a deeper alumni network in local agencies.

70.2% 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. First-time entrants complete at 84.7% against 73.3% for transfers — worth checking how transfer credits map onto the practice sequence.

The average student pays $20,522 a year after grants and scholarships — about the same as the $20,457 median across the 12 BSW colleges in New Jersey. 27.0% of first-time students receive Pell Grants. 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.