Best Online Social Work Programs in Modesto, CA (2026)

Modesto, California has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs, with tuition ranging from $7,055 to $45,627 per year for indexed programs. Modesto has a population of about 218,614. Median household income is $77,899 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Modesto, CA metro area, the top-earning social work-related role is Social Worker, All Other at a median $102,180 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Social Work Schools to Modesto

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer social work programs near Modesto. Distances are calculated from Modesto city center.

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California social work page.

Social Work Wages Near Modesto

Modesto is part of the Modesto, CA metro area (BLS area code 33700). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Modesto at a Glance

Other Modesto-Area Cities With Social Work Programs

• Ceres, CA – 3.6 mi away (48,278 pop)
• Riverbank, CA – 7.1 mi away (24,389 pop)
• Turlock, CA – 12.1 mi away (106,100 pop)
• Oakdale, CA – 12.2 mi away (22,564 pop)
• Patterson, CA – 13.7 mi away (22,169 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited social work schools are near Modesto, CA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs near Modesto. The closest is California State University-Stanislaus in Turlock, CA (11.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of California-Berkeley (70.5 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying social work roles near Modesto?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles near Modesto are: Social Worker, All Other ($102,180), Healthcare Social Worker ($95,250), Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker ($78,880). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Ceres instead of Modesto?

Ceres, CA is 3.6 miles from Modesto and has its own set of local social work programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Modesto an affordable place to study social work?

Modesto’s median household income of $77,899 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Modesto while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Social Work Programs

• Social Work accreditation: what to look for
• Social Work concentrations and specializations
• Is a Social Work degree worth it?
• Main Social Work degree guide
• Online Social Work programs in California
• Social Work programs by state

Other Programs Available in Modesto

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Modesto:

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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.