Best Online Social Work Programs in Topeka, KS (2026)

Updated June 11, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Topeka, Kansas has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs, with tuition ranging from $9,578 to $20,949 per year for indexed programs. Topeka has a population of about 126,103. Median household income is $55,902 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Topeka, KS metro area, the top-earning social work-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $79,970 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Social Work Schools to Topeka

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

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Topeka. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Washburn University

Topeka, KS 0.3 miles from Topeka BOC Score53.8
Published tuition$9,578 - $20,949
Online programsYes

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#2

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS 24.6 miles from Topeka BOC Score72.0
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#3

Haskell Indian Nations University

Lawrence, KS 25.8 miles from Topeka BOC Score57.6
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--

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#4

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS 49.4 miles from Topeka BOC Score67.7
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#5

Park University

Parkville, MO 55.5 miles from Topeka BOC Score41.2
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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

Social Work Wages Near Topeka

Topeka is part of the Topeka, KS metro area (BLS area code 45820). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Kansas statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Child, Family, and School Social Worker$54,310Topeka, KS$61,160
Healthcare Social Worker$65,740Topeka, KS$74,032
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$51,670Topeka, KS$58,187
Social Worker, All OtherN/AKS statewide–
Social and Community Service Manager$79,970Topeka, KS$90,056
Social and Human Service Assistant$43,560Topeka, KS$49,054
Community Health Worker$47,300KS statewide$53,266

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.

Topeka at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population126,103Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$55,902Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+29.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)88.8 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Social Work-related employment in Shawnee County3,758 workers, 277 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Topeka-Area Cities With Social Work Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited social work schools are near Topeka, KS?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs near Topeka. The closest is Washburn University in Topeka, KS (0.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Park University (55.5 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles near Topeka are: Social and Community Service Manager ($79,970), Healthcare Social Worker ($65,740), Child, Family, and School Social Worker ($54,310). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Kansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Lawrence instead of Topeka?

Lawrence, KS is 23.7 miles from Topeka 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 Topeka an affordable place to study social work?

Topeka’s median household income of $55,902 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Topeka while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kansas 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

Other Programs Available in Topeka

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

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.

Back to Best Online Social Work Programs in Kansas (2026)

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