Best BSW Colleges in California 2026

San Diego State University ranks #16 in our 2026 BSW program list, placing it in the top 25 nationally. That's a solid showing among the 130+ programs we evaluated.

With a retention rate of 91.0%, San Diego State University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. You'll pay $5,742 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. The program graduated 80 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

At #18 in our 2026 rankings, University of California-Berkeley offers a BSW program that stands out from the pack. If you're weighing your options, this school deserves consideration.

The school holds onto 97.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. You'll pay $11,834 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. The program graduated 68 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Coming in at #19 nationally, World Mission University is a strong contender among BSW programs for 2026. Students here benefit from a program that performs above average on key outcome measures.

The school holds onto 100.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $6,720 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. With 11 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

At #22 in our 2026 rankings, California State University-Sacramento offers a BSW program that stands out from the pack. If you're weighing your options, this school deserves consideration.

The school holds onto 82.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $5,742 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. The program graduated 151 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

At #45 nationally, California State University-Chico is a BSW program that deserves a closer look. The school's overall performance puts it in the upper half of programs we evaluated.

A 82.0% retention rate shows that students at California State University-Chico are finding the support they need to persist. At $5,742 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. With 66 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

At #47 nationally, California State University-Fresno is a BSW program that deserves a closer look. The school's overall performance puts it in the upper half of programs we evaluated.

The school holds onto 82.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $5,742 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. The program graduated 89 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

California State University-Long Beach comes in at #48 in our 2026 BSW program rankings. While not at the very top, this program offers a respectable combination of outcomes that many students find appealing.

With a retention rate of 87.0%, California State University-Long Beach clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $5,742 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. The program graduated 60 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

San Jose State University ranks #61 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

The school holds onto 87.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. You'll pay $5,742 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. The program graduated 52 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

California State University-San Bernardino sits at #63 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

With a retention rate of 80.0%, California State University-San Bernardino clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. In-state tuition sits at $5,742 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. With 73 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

California State University-Los Angeles sits at #77 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

The school holds onto 72.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $5,742 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. California State University-Los Angeles produced 217 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Azusa Pacific University sits at #94 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

The school holds onto 84.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $42,900 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. With 18 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Point Loma Nazarene University ranks #107 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

With a retention rate of 86.0%, Point Loma Nazarene University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. In-state tuition of $42,600 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. With 12 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Fresno Pacific University ranks #133 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

With a retention rate of 72.0%, Fresno Pacific University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $34,960 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. With 70 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt sits at #182 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

The school holds onto 76.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. You'll pay $5,742 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. The program graduated 39 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Chapman University ranks #201 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

With a retention rate of 92.0%, Chapman University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. Tuition runs $62,400 per year, which is higher than many comparable programs. Financial aid can help offset the cost. With 3 recent completions, this is a smaller program. That often translates to closer faculty relationships.

San Francisco State University ranks #212 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

A 83.0% retention rate shows that students at San Francisco State University are finding the support they need to persist. At $5,742 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. The program graduated 21 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Coming in at #220, University of Massachusetts Global is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

University of Massachusetts Global keeps 62.0% of its students year over year, which is in line with what you'd expect from a mid-range program. At $12,000 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. With 102 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Pacific Union College ranks #255 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

With a retention rate of 89.0%, Pacific Union College clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. In-state tuition of $34,191 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. Only 6 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.

Pacific Oaks College ranks #257 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

At $32,040 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. With 5 recent completions, this is a smaller program. That often translates to closer faculty relationships.

La Sierra University ranks #382 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

With a retention rate of 77.0%, La Sierra University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. Tuition runs $34,920 per year, which is higher than many comparable programs. Financial aid can help offset the cost. With 8 recent completions, this is a smaller program. That often translates to closer faculty relationships.

California Baptist University ranks #383 in our 2026 BSW program list. While the school faces some challenges in certain metrics, it may still be a good fit depending on your priorities and location.

With a retention rate of 74.0%, California Baptist University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $37,570 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. With 19 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Coming in at #407, Mount Saint Mary's University is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

A 71.0% retention rate shows that students at Mount Saint Mary's University are finding the support they need to persist. At $46,726 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The program is smaller, with 7 social work completions last year — which can mean more personalized attention.

California State University-East Bay sits at #424 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

With a retention rate of 76.0%, California State University-East Bay clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $5,742 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. The program is smaller, with 1 social work completions last year — which can mean more personalized attention.

Coming in at #487, Whittier College is a BSW program with room to grow. That said, rankings don't tell the whole story — factors like location, campus culture, and fieldwork opportunities matter too.

The school retains 66.0% of its first-year students — a solid number that suggests most students are getting what they need here. In-state tuition of $48,924 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. Only 4 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.

Touro University Worldwide sits at #580 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

Touro University Worldwide keeps 65.0% of its students year over year, which is in line with what you'd expect from a mid-range program. In-state tuition sits at $14,440 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. With 6 recent completions, this is a smaller program. That often translates to closer faculty relationships.