What you'll do in college
These majors prepare students to support people across the lifespan—children, families, older adults, and individuals navigating addiction, disability, or crisis. Coursework spans child and adolescent development, family systems, counseling theory and techniques, gerontology, substance abuse treatment, social policy, and case management. Programs are heavily applied, with required practicums, supervised fieldwork in schools, clinics, child welfare offices, or community agencies, and training in ethics, mandated reporting, and trauma-informed practice.
Social work tracks (BSW) typically include several hundred hours of supervised field placement and align with the path toward MSW and clinical licensure (LCSW). Addiction and counseling tracks build toward state credentials such as LADC or LPC.
What you'll do after college
Graduates go directly into roles as case managers, child welfare workers, family support specialists, addiction and substance abuse counselors, early intervention specialists, gerontology and aging-services coordinators, school-based social workers, and program staff at nonprofits and government agencies. A BSW is the entry credential for social work; most clinical roles require an MSW and state licensure, and counseling roles typically require a master's plus supervised hours toward licensure.
The work is mission-driven and emotionally demanding, with starting pay that is modest but stable, strong demand across the country, and clear ladders into clinical practice, program leadership, policy, and private practice. Many graduates also continue to law school, public health, or PhD programs in social work, human development, or family science.
Famous graduates
- Brené Brown — Researcher, author, and podcaster on vulnerability and shame; B.S.W. from the University of Texas at Austin, MSW and Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Houston
- Suze Orman — Personal finance expert and television host; B.A. in Social Work from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Selectivity vs. earnings
By acceptance rate
By SAT median
Earnings vs. selectivity rank
Majors in this category
| Major | Colleges | Degrees ▼ | Male/Female | Intl | 5yr Earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human Development & Social Work | 742 | 31,275 | 11% / 89% | 1% | $51,531 |
| 515 | 16,386 | 11% / 89% | 1% | $53,909 | |
| 103 | 4,606 | 6% / 94% | 1% | $46,645 | |
| 123 | 2,340 | 13% / 87% | 1% | $46,404 | |
| 63 | 1,284 | 3% / 97% | 2% | $47,429 | |
| 59 | 1,232 | 14% / 86% | 1% | $45,364 | |
| 12 | 728 | 12% / 88% | 1% | $51,248 | |
| 1 | 504 | 8% / 92% | 0% | $69,438 | |
| 6 | 373 | 11% / 89% | 0% | $52,312 | |
| 2 | 341 | 11% / 89% | 0% | $51,193 | |
| 21 | 337 | 13% / 87% | 0% | $46,368 | |
| 29 | 238 | 25% / 75% | 3% | $48,712 | |
| 6 | 218 | 10% / 90% | 2% | $60,985 | |
| 1 | 199 | 12% / 88% | 0% | $51,362 | |
| 9 | 177 | 6% / 94% | 0% | $48,594 | |
| 1 | 160 | 3% / 97% | 0% | ||
| 2 | 156 | 9% / 91% | 0% | $48,047 | |
| 3 | 139 | 7% / 93% | 1% | $32,525 | |
| 2 | 126 | 2% / 98% | 0% | $51,649 | |
| 2 | 119 | 11% / 89% | 2% | ||
| 1 | 105 | 5% / 95% | 3% | $46,047 | |
| 3 | 104 | 5% / 95% | 0% | $46,987 | |
| 27 | 102 | 22% / 78% | 2% | $56,143 | |
| 1 | 90 | 14% / 86% | 1% | $52,550 | |
| 14 | 85 | 29% / 71% | 0% | $51,971 | |
| 6 | 75 | 12% / 88% | 0% | $50,246 | |
| 1 | 72 | 4% / 96% | 0% | $52,835 | |
| 2 | 68 | 3% / 97% | 1% | $37,100 | |
| 1 | 63 | 22% / 78% | 0% | $48,116 | |
| 1 | 61 | 51% / 49% | 5% | $124,533 | |
| 4 | 59 | 12% / 88% | 0% | $52,164 | |
| 1 | 55 | 20% / 80% | 2% | $54,155 | |
| 1 | 54 | 0% / 100% | 2% | $40,216 | |
| 1 | 50 | 10% / 90% | 0% | $50,461 | |
| 1 | 40 | 20% / 80% | 2% | $62,591 | |
| 1 | 37 | 24% / 76% | 8% | $69,774 | |
| 1 | 34 | 3% / 97% | 0% | $40,317 | |
| 4 | 31 | 3% / 97% | 0% | $43,764 | |
| 1 | 28 | 11% / 89% | 0% | $45,705 | |
| 1 | 25 | 24% / 76% | 0% | $53,326 | |
| 1 | 25 | 28% / 72% | 0% | ||
| 2 | 24 | 21% / 79% | 0% | $53,575 | |
| 1 | 23 | 4% / 96% | 9% | $60,398 | |
| 1 | 23 | 4% / 96% | 0% | $55,390 | |
| 1 | 20 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $51,275 | |
| 4 | 19 | 26% / 74% | 0% | $60,426 | |
| 3 | 19 | 37% / 63% | 5% | ||
| 1 | 19 | 21% / 79% | 0% | ||
| 3 | 18 | 22% / 78% | 0% | $57,874 | |
| 2 | 17 | 6% / 94% | 6% | ||
| 1 | 17 | 0% / 100% | 12% | ||
| 1 | 17 | 12% / 88% | 0% | $65,925 | |
| 1 | 16 | 25% / 75% | 0% | $55,265 | |
| 1 | 14 | 0% / 100% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 14 | 14% / 86% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 13 | 8% / 92% | 0% | $59,293 | |
| 1 | 12 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $40,522 | |
| 1 | 11 | 36% / 64% | 0% | $49,339 | |
| 2 | 10 | 20% / 80% | 10% | ||
| 1 | 9 | 33% / 67% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 8 | 12% / 88% | 12% | $45,973 | |
| 1 | 8 | 25% / 75% | 0% | $51,945 | |
| 1 | 8 | 12% / 88% | 0% | $47,042 | |
| 1 | 6 | 0% / 100% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 2 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $44,173 | |
| 6 | 1 | 100% / 0% | 0% | ||
| 1 | 1 | 100% / 0% | 0% |