Best BSW Colleges in Texas 2026
35 ranked BSW programs in Texas
How we rank these colleges → | All BSW programs in Texas →
All 35 Ranked Colleges in Texas
Coming in at #11 nationally, The University of Texas at Austin is a strong contender among BSW programs for 2026. Students here benefit from a program that performs above average on key outcome measures.
A 97.0% retention rate shows that students at The University of Texas at Austin are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition sits at $11,678 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. The program graduated 88 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.
Texas Christian University comes in at #41 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.
The school holds onto 93.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $57,130 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The program graduated 32 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.
Texas A&M University-Central Texas ranks #82 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 $6,593 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. Texas A&M University-Central Texas produced 27 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.
Baylor University ranks #113 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 91.0% retention rate shows that students at Baylor University are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition of $54,844 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. Baylor University produced 22 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranks #118 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 81.0%, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. You'll pay $7,637 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. The program graduated 81 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.
Texas State University ranks #128 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. At $8,606 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. With 77 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.
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.
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.
University of North Texas sits at #195 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.
A 77.0% retention rate shows that students at University of North Texas are finding the support they need to persist. You'll pay $8,319 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. With 67 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.
Texas Tech University sits at #203 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 85.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. In-state tuition sits at $8,935 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. With 24 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.
Saint Edward's University ranks #210 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 80.0% retention rate shows that students at Saint Edward's University are finding the support they need to persist. Tuition runs $50,484 per year, which is higher than many comparable programs. Financial aid can help offset the cost. With 21 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.
University of Houston-Downtown sits at #242 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 67.0% of its first-year students — a solid number that suggests most students are getting what they need here. At $6,080 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. With 95 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.
Stephen F Austin State University ranks #261 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 72.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $7,842 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. With 49 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.
The University of Texas at El Paso ranks #273 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 79.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. You'll pay $7,704 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. The University of Texas at El Paso produced 45 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.
Prairie View A & M University ranks #279 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 76.0%, Prairie View A & M University clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $7,387 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. Prairie View A & M University produced 42 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.
Texas Woman's University sits at #321 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.
With 70.0% of students returning after their first year, Texas Woman's University maintains a reasonable retention rate. In-state tuition sits at $5,712 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. The program graduated 42 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.
Our Lady of the Lake University sits at #327 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.
Our Lady of the Lake University keeps 63.0% of its students year over year, which is in line with what you'd expect from a mid-range program. At $30,804 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The program graduated 60 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.
Lubbock Christian University sits at #334 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.
With 70.0% of students returning after their first year, Lubbock Christian University maintains a reasonable retention rate. At $26,678 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. With 10 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.
Angelo State University sits at #351 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.
With 69.0% of students returning after their first year, Angelo State University maintains a reasonable retention rate. In-state tuition of $4,495 makes this one of the cheapest BSW programs available — hard to beat on price alone. Angelo State University produced 58 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.
University of Houston-Clear Lake sits at #376 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 74.0%, University of Houston-Clear Lake clearly invests in keeping students on track toward their degree. At $6,600 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. The program graduated 10 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.
The University of Texas at Tyler sits at #380 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.
A 77.0% retention rate shows that students at The University of Texas at Tyler are finding the support they need to persist. At $7,020 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. The program graduated 19 social work students last year, making it one of the more active BSW programs.
Abilene Christian University sits at #387 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.
A 81.0% retention rate shows that students at Abilene Christian University are finding the support they need to persist. In-state tuition of $42,100 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. Abilene Christian University produced 10 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.
West Texas A & M University sits at #399 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.
With 70.0% of students returning after their first year, West Texas A & M University maintains a reasonable retention rate. You'll pay $6,372 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. West Texas A & M University produced 21 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.
East Texas A&M University ranks #402 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 57.0% of students returning after their first year, East Texas A&M University maintains a reasonable retention rate. At just $4,790 per year for in-state tuition, you'll find one of the most affordable paths into social work. East Texas A&M University produced 51 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.
Midwestern State University ranks #440 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 64.0% of students returning after their first year, Midwestern State University maintains a reasonable retention rate. At $5,877 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. Midwestern State University produced 17 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville sits at #507 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville 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 $5,137 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. Texas A&M University-Kingsville produced 12 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.
Nelson University sits at #516 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 75.0% of its first-year students, a sign that people who enroll here tend to stay and finish. At $17,650 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The program is smaller, with 6 social work completions last year — which can mean more personalized attention.
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor ranks #518 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.
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor keeps 62.0% of its students year over year, which is in line with what you'd expect from a mid-range program. In-state tuition of $30,600 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. With 10 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.
Lamar University ranks #521 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.
Lamar University keeps 62.0% 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 $6,228 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. Lamar University produced 29 BSW completions recently, showing the program has meaningful throughput.
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.
Hardin-Simmons University ranks #552 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 65.0% of students returning after their first year, Hardin-Simmons University maintains a reasonable retention rate. At $30,694 per year, tuition is above average — make sure to explore scholarship and aid options. The program is smaller, with 8 social work completions last year — which can mean more personalized attention.
The University of Texas Permian Basin sits at #555 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.
With 61.0% of students returning after their first year, The University of Texas Permian Basin maintains a reasonable retention rate. At $6,577 per year, the tuition is moderate — not the cheapest option, but far from the most expensive. With 10 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.
Texas Southern University ranks #571 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 66.0% of students returning after their first year, Texas Southern University maintains a reasonable retention rate. In-state tuition sits at $6,941 per year, keeping costs manageable for most students. With 16 social work graduates, this is a program with a track record of getting students across the finish line.
Howard Payne University ranks #581 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.
Howard Payne University keeps 52.0% of its students year over year, which is in line with what you'd expect from a mid-range program. In-state tuition of $29,522 per year puts this on the pricier side, so you'll want to factor in financial aid availability. With 3 recent completions, this is a smaller program. That often translates to closer faculty relationships.
Texas A&M University-Texarkana sits at #592 in our 2026 BSW rankings. The program's numbers are mixed, but your experience will depend on many factors beyond what rankings capture.
Texas A&M University-Texarkana keeps 64.0% of its students year over year, which is in line with what you'd expect from a mid-range program. You'll pay $6,090 per year in tuition, which is in the typical range for BSW programs. Only 1 students completed the BSW recently. Smaller cohorts can be an advantage if you prefer tighter-knit learning.
Where a BSW Leads
A Bachelor of Social Work opens into six main practice areas, and pay differs between them by more than most prospective students expect. Each guide below carries the full BLS percentile spread, pay by work setting, and pay by state. Figures are May 2025 medians.
Nonprofits and government — program development, policy, advocacy
K-12 districts — attendance, behavior, family support, IEP teams
Hospitals, clinics, home health — discharge planning and care coordination
Community clinics and hospitals — assessment, counseling, crisis response
Treatment centers and public health — recovery planning and aftercare
County and state agencies — child protection, foster care, family preservation
Not sure which fits? Start with the career and salary overview or the is social work for me self-assessment.