Best colleges for Social Work in California
Program-level earnings — not school prestige — rank these. Among the California programs in the federal field-of-study file, La Sierra University leads: its Social Work graduates earn a median $69,244 four years after finishing, against the field's $51,790 national median. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026.)
| # | College | Grad earnings, 4 yrs | Vs field median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Sierra University | $69,244 | +$17,454 |
| 2 | California State University-San Bernardino | $69,201 | +$17,411 |
| 3 | San Francisco State University | $68,524 | +$16,734 |
| 4 | California State University-Long Beach | $68,448 | +$16,658 |
| 5 | University of California-Berkeley | $67,393 | +$15,603 |
Frequently asked questions
Which California college is best for Social Work?
By graduate earnings, La Sierra University — its Social Work bachelor's graduates earn a median $69,244 four years out, the highest of the 5 California programs in the federal file.
What do Social Work graduates earn in California?
Across the ranked California programs, median earnings four years after completion run from $67,393 to $69,244. The field's national median is $51,790.
Is a Social Work degree worth it?
On national medians, yes — Social Work graduates earn $3,430/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. See the full field profile for payback math.