Best BSW Colleges 2026

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.

University of Minnesota-Duluth ranks #172 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 81.0% retention rate shows that students at University of Minnesota-Duluth are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition sits at $12,766 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. The program graduated 35 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Western Kentucky University ranks #173 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 78.0%, Western Kentucky University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $11,436 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.

La Salle University ranks #174 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 74.0% retention rate shows that students at La Salle University are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition of $34,270 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. With 22 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Salem State University ranks #175 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 75.0%, Salem State University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. With tuition at $910, the financial barrier to entry here is remarkably low. Salem State University produced 42 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

University of Wyoming ranks #176 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 80.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. In-state tuition of $4,980 makes this one of the cheapest BSW programs available — hard to beat on price alone. University of Wyoming produced 35 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Creighton University ranks #177 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 94.0%, Creighton University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $45,000 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The program is smaller, with 9 social work completions last year — which can mean more personalized attention.

The University of Texas at Arlington sits at #178 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 73.0%, The University of Texas at Arlington clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $9,206 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. With 204 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Montclair State University sits at #179 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 78.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. You'll pay $13,710 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. Montclair State University produced 46 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Tarleton State University sits at #180 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

Tarleton State University keeps 70.0% of its students year over year, which is in line with what you'd expect from a mid-range program. In-state tuition of $4,416 makes this one of the cheapest BSW programs available — hard to beat on price alone. With 75 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.