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Best Online Social Work Programs in Independence, KY (2026)
Independence, Kentucky has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs, with tuition ranging from $48,125 to $62,293 per year for indexed programs. Independence has a population of about 29,024. Median household income is $98,653 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 37.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, the top-earning social work-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $72,940 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Social Work Schools to Independence
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer social work programs near Independence, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Independence city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
No school data available.
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Kentucky schools on the Kentucky social work page.
Social Work Wages Near Independence
Independence is part of the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area (BLS area code 17140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Kentucky statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Worker | $55,080 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $57,736 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $70,670 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $74,078 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $45,390 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $47,579 |
| Social Worker, All Other | $65,770 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $68,941 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $72,940 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $76,457 |
| Social and Human Service Assistant | $41,800 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $43,816 |
| Community Health Worker | $49,200 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $51,572 |
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.
Independence at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,024 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $98,653 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 37.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 95.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Social Work-related employment in Kenton County | 1,269 workers, 319 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Independence-Area Cities With Social Work Programs
- Florence, KY – 5.9 mi away (32,460 pop)
- Covington, KY – 5.9 mi away (40,797 pop)
- Cincinnati, OH – 13.3 mi away (1,634,573 pop)
- Fairfield, OH – 26.2 mi away (42,617 pop)
- Hamilton, OH – 30.6 mi away (62,127 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited social work schools are near Independence, KY?
Accredited schools offering social work programs near Independence are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.
What are the highest-paying social work roles near Independence?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles near Independence are: Social and Community Service Manager ($72,940), Healthcare Social Worker ($70,670), Social Worker, All Other ($65,770). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Kentucky statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Florence instead of Independence?
Florence, KY is 5.9 miles from Independence 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 Independence an affordable place to study social work?
Independence’s median household income of $98,653 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Independence while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kentucky 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 Kentucky
- Social Work programs by state
Other Programs Available in Independence
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Independence:
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Data verified: July 23, 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.