Each year, roughly 0.5% of Alabama students graduate with degrees in social work. Thus, Alabama's 16 social work schools put out approximately 656 social workers each year.

Top Schools

The top-ranked school in Alabama that has a social work program is Auburn University. Auburn University, which was ranked 25th in the country in 2010, is located in Auburn University. 19 students graduated with a degree in social work from Auburn University in 2010. Tuition at Auburn University was $7,900 per year.

Tuskegee University, which was ranked 49th nationwide in 2010, is the second-ranked school in Alabama that has a social work program. It is located in Tuskegee Institute. In 2010, Tuskegee University graduated 16 students from its social work program. Tuition at Tuskegee University was $16,750 per year.

The third-ranked school in Alabama that has a social work program is Alabama A & M University. Alabama A & M University, which was ranked 51st in the country in 2010, is located in Normal. 67 students graduated with degree in social work from Alabama A & M University in 2010. The tuition rate at Alabama A & M University was $5,800 per year.

Cost

Social work schools in Alabama, charge students an average tuition of $7,522 per year. But, tuition can be as much as $16,750 per year, or as little as $3,570 per year. In 2010, the following Alabama social work schools had the highest tuition rates:

1. Tuskegee University - located in Tuskegee Institute, students are charged $16,750 per year
2. Oakwood University - located in Huntsville, students are charged $14,250 per year
3. Talladega College - located in Talladega, students are charged $11,111 per year

The lowest tuition rates at Alabama social work schools were charged at the following schools:

1. Lawson State Community College-Birmingham Campus - located in Birmingham, students are charged $3,570 per year
2. Jacksonville State University - located in Jacksonville, students are charged $5,424 per year
3. University of North Alabama - located in Florence, students are charged $5,426 per year

A social work degree from an Alabama school... what next?

The highest percentage of social work graduates in Alabama pursue careers as a social worker. 2,240 social workers were working in Alabama in 2010. In Alabama, the largest numbers of social workers work in the following counties:

1. Bibb County - 540 social workers
2. Autauga County - 220 social workers
3. Baldwin County - 210 social workers

Projected Growth

The government projects that by 2018, the number of social workers in the state of Alabama will grow to 3,000. This would require a 28% growth in the profession.

Salary

A social worker in Alabama earns $41,800 per year on average. However, Alabama social workers earned anywhere in the range from as less than $24,970 per year to more than $65,700 per year in 2010. A social worker in the following Alabama counties makes the highest salaries on average:

1. Chambers County - $45,700 per year
2. Etowah County - $44,220 per year
3. Bullock County - $43,790 per year

On average, social workers earns the least in the following Alabama counties:

1. Colbert County - $38,360 per year
2. Cullman County - $39,270 per year
3. Geneva County - $39,290 per year

More Information

Take a look at the graphs and charts below for additional Alabama statistics regarding a career in social work and to compare salaries with a variety of related fields such as human resources or social work.