Best BSW Colleges 2026

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.

Northwestern Oklahoma State University sits at #532 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 65.0% of its first-year students — a solid number that suggests most students are getting what they need here. At $5,448 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.

Jarvis Christian University ranks #533 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 retention rate of 48.0% is below average, which means a significant number of students leave after their first year — something to factor into your decision. In-state tuition sits at $10,400 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. With 11 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.

Oglala Lakota College sits at #534 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

Oglala Lakota College keeps 62.0% of its students year over year, which is in line with what you'd expect from a mid-range program. With tuition at $2,016, the financial barrier to entry here is remarkably low. The program graduated 10 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.

Coming in at #535, Tougaloo 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 holds onto 83.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $10,258 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. Only 2 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.

Coming in at #536, Indiana University-East 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 62.0% of students returning after their first year, Indiana University-East maintains a reasonable retention rate. In-state tuition sits at $7,492 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. Only 8 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.

Manchester University sits at #537 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

With 66.0% of students returning after their first year, Manchester University maintains a reasonable retention rate. In-state tuition of $35,800 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. The program is smaller, with 7 social work completions last year — which can mean more personalized attention.

Philander Smith University sits at #538 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.

With 66.0% of students returning after their first year, Philander Smith University maintains a reasonable retention rate. In-state tuition sits at $11,804 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. Only 6 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.

Coming in at #539, Purdue University Northwest 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. At $7,259 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. Purdue University Northwest produced 13 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.

Newman University ranks #540 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 retains 69.0% of its first-year students — a solid number that suggests most students are getting what they need here. In-state tuition of $35,500 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. The program is smaller, with 1 social work completions last year — which can mean more personalized attention.