Best BSW Colleges in New York 2026

If you're considering a career in social work, Skidmore College stands out as the #3 BSW program for 2026. This school earned its place through a strong combination of student outcomes and program vitality.

The school holds onto 90.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. Tuition runs $63,730 per year, which is higher than many comparable programs. Financial aid can help offset the cost. With 20 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Ranked #36 among BSW programs for 2026, Nazareth University holds a solid mid-range position. For students who value factors beyond just rankings, there's a lot to consider here.

The school holds onto 85.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. In-state tuition of $38,790 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. With 32 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Ranked #38 among BSW programs for 2026, New York University holds a solid mid-range position. For students who value factors beyond just rankings, there's a lot to consider here.

A 96.0% retention rate shows that students at New York University are finding the support they need to persist. At $60,438 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The program graduated 59 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Ranked #39 among BSW programs for 2026, Siena College holds a solid mid-range position. For students who value factors beyond just rankings, there's a lot to consider here.

The school holds onto 83.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. In-state tuition of $42,580 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. The program graduated 21 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Keuka College comes in at #40 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 73.0%, Keuka College clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. In-state tuition of $36,500 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. With 93 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Ranked #46 among BSW programs for 2026, Binghamton University holds a solid mid-range position. For students who value factors beyond just rankings, there's a lot to consider here.

With a retention rate of 89.0%, Binghamton University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. In-state tuition sits at $7,070 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. The program graduated 39 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

State University of New York at Plattsburgh sits at #54 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 73.0% retention rate shows that students at State University of New York at Plattsburgh are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition sits at $7,070 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. With 52 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

SUNY Brockport sits at #67 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. In-state tuition sits at $7,070 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. With 67 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Coming in at #87, Stony Brook 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.

With a retention rate of 90.0%, Stony Brook University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $7,070 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. Stony Brook University produced 37 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Marist University ranks #90 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%, Marist University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $45,330 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The program graduated 17 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Adelphi University ranks #96 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 83.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $45,450 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. Adelphi University produced 35 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Roberts Wesleyan University sits at #142 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. Tuition runs $36,004 per year, which is higher than many comparable programs. Financial aid can help offset the cost. With 20 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Niagara University sits at #144 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 80.0% retention rate shows that students at Niagara University are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition of $36,100 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. Niagara University produced 17 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

University at Albany sits at #164 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 83.0%, University at Albany clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. In-state tuition sits at $7,070 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. With 27 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Coming in at #171, CUNY Lehman 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.

With a retention rate of 73.0%, CUNY Lehman College clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $6,930 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. The program graduated 126 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Coming in at #189, Syracuse 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.

The school holds onto 90.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. In-state tuition of $61,310 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. With 15 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Coming in at #199, SUNY at Fredonia 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 holds onto 76.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $7,070 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. The program graduated 14 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Coming in at #213, Fordham 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.

With a retention rate of 89.0%, Fordham University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. Tuition runs $60,335 per year, which is higher than many comparable programs. Financial aid can help offset the cost. The program is smaller, with 6 social work completions last year — which can mean more personalized attention.

Coming in at #228, CUNY Hunter 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.

With a retention rate of 78.0%, CUNY Hunter College clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. In-state tuition sits at $6,930 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. CUNY Hunter College produced 43 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Molloy University sits at #256 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

A 85.0% retention rate shows that students at Molloy University are finding the support they need to persist. At $36,280 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. Only 8 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.

Mercy University sits at #341 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%, Mercy University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $21,236 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The program graduated 18 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Coming in at #379, The College of Saint Rose 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.

With a retention rate of 72.0%, The College of Saint Rose clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $36,122 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The program graduated 15 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Daemen University sits at #381 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%, Daemen University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. Tuition runs $33,054 per year, which is higher than many comparable programs. Financial aid can help offset the cost. With 4 recent completions, this is a smaller program. That often translates to closer faculty relationships.

Coming in at #418, SUNY Buffalo State 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.

With 58.0% of students returning after their first year, SUNY Buffalo State University maintains a reasonable retention rate. You'll pay $7,070 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. SUNY Buffalo State University produced 34 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Coming in at #422, Long Island 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 77.0% retention rate shows that students at Long Island University are finding the support they need to persist. At $39,458 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. Long Island University produced 20 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Iona University ranks #442 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 77.0% retention rate shows that students at Iona University are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition of $43,680 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. The program graduated 10 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Dominican University New York sits at #451 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 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 $32,160 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. The program is smaller, with 5 social work completions last year — which can mean more personalized attention.

CUNY Medgar Evers College sits at #466 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

CUNY Medgar Evers College keeps 50.0% of its students year over year, which is in line with what you'd expect from a mid-range program. At $6,930 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. The program graduated 40 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Coming in at #493, CUNY York 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.

With 57.0% of students returning after their first year, CUNY York College maintains a reasonable retention rate. In-state tuition sits at $6,930 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. The program graduated 32 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Coming in at #531, College of Staten Island CUNY 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 holds onto 76.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. You'll pay $6,930 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. With 14 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.