University of Southern Maine
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Social Work Programs in South Portland, ME (2026)
South Portland, Maine has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs. South Portland has a population of about 26,780. Median household income is $84,563 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 49.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area, the top-earning social work-related role is Healthcare Social Worker at a median $74,650 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Social Work Schools to South Portland
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer social work programs near South Portland. Distances are calculated from South Portland 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 South Portland. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
University of New England
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
York County Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Maine schools on the Maine social work page.
Social Work Wages Near South Portland
South Portland is part of the Portland-South Portland, ME metro area (BLS area code 38860). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Maine statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Worker | $63,700 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $62,512 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $74,650 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $73,258 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $59,010 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $57,910 |
| Social Worker, All Other | $60,280 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $59,156 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $74,650 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $73,258 |
| Social and Human Service Assistant | $49,110 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $48,194 |
| Community Health Worker | $47,600 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $46,712 |
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.
South Portland at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,780 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $84,563 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 49.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 101.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other South Portland-Area Cities With Social Work Programs
- Portland, ME – 3.3 mi away (206,193 pop)
- Biddeford, ME – 13.9 mi away (21,362 pop)
- Sanford, ME – 27.4 mi away (29,139 pop)
- Auburn, ME – 31.4 mi away (22,948 pop)
- Lewiston, ME – 32.4 mi away (58,664 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited social work schools are near South Portland, ME?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs near South Portland. The closest is University of Southern Maine in Portland, ME (2.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of New Hampshire-Main Campus (46.9 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying social work roles near South Portland?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles near South Portland are: Healthcare Social Worker ($74,650), Social and Community Service Manager ($74,650), Child, Family, and School Social Worker ($63,700). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Maine statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Portland instead of South Portland?
Portland, ME is 3.3 miles from South Portland 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 South Portland an affordable place to study social work?
South Portland’s median household income of $84,563 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in South Portland while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Maine 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 Maine
- Social Work programs by state
Other Programs Available in South Portland
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for South Portland:
- Criminal Justice programs in South Portland, ME
- Nursing programs in South Portland, ME
- Business Administration programs in South Portland, ME
- Computer Science programs in South Portland, ME
- Psychology programs in South Portland, ME
- Education programs in South Portland, ME
- Engineering programs in South Portland, ME
- Technology programs in South Portland, ME
- Liberal Arts programs in South Portland, ME
- Healthcare programs in South Portland, ME
- Cybersecurity programs in South Portland, ME
- Accounting programs in South Portland, ME
- Healthcare Administration programs in South Portland, ME
- Counseling programs in South Portland, ME
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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.