BestOnlineCollege.org is an advertising-supported website. Many of the school and program listings that appear on this site are from partners who compensate us, and this compensation may affect how, where, and in what order listings appear (such as featured placements). This compensation does not influence our editorial content, evaluations, or rankings, which are determined independently using publicly available data. We do not review or feature every school or program available in the marketplace. Our goal is to provide accurate, unbiased information so you can make informed decisions. Read our full Advertiser Disclosure.
Best Online Social Work Programs in Columbus, MS (2026)
Columbus, Mississippi has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs, with tuition ranging from $3,420 to $33,200 per year for indexed programs. Columbus has a population of about 23,616. Median household income is $40,588 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Mississippi, the top-earning social work-related role is Social Worker, All Other at a median $91,560 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Social Work Schools to Columbus
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer social work programs near Columbus, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Columbus 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 Mississippi schools on the Mississippi social work page.
Social Work Wages Near Columbus
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Mississippi, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Worker | $46,530 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $62,250 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $48,970 |
| Social Worker, All Other | $91,560 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $67,330 |
| Social and Human Service Assistant | $31,200 |
| Community Health Worker | $39,520 |
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.
Columbus at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,616 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $40,588 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 25.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Social Work-related employment in Lowndes County | 603 workers, 40 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Columbus-Area Cities With Social Work Programs
- Starkville, MS – 24.2 mi away (32,441 pop)
- Northport, AL – 50.1 mi away (25,045 pop)
- Tupelo, MS – 55.2 mi away (46,095 pop)
- Meridian, MS – 79.3 mi away (39,478 pop)
- Bessemer, AL – 83.7 mi away (26,511 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited social work schools are near Columbus, MS?
Accredited schools offering social work programs near Columbus 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 in Mississippi?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles in Mississippi are: Social Worker, All Other ($91,560), Social and Community Service Manager ($67,330), Healthcare Social Worker ($62,250). Wages for Columbus workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Starkville instead of Columbus?
Starkville, MS is 24.2 miles from Columbus 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 Columbus an affordable place to study social work?
Columbus’s median household income of $40,588 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbus while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Mississippi 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 Mississippi
- Social Work programs by state
Other Programs Available in Columbus
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Columbus:
- Criminal Justice programs in Columbus, MS
- Nursing programs in Columbus, MS
- Business Administration programs in Columbus, MS
- Computer Science programs in Columbus, MS
- Psychology programs in Columbus, MS
- Education programs in Columbus, MS
- Engineering programs in Columbus, MS
- Technology programs in Columbus, MS
- Liberal Arts programs in Columbus, MS
- Healthcare programs in Columbus, MS
- Cybersecurity programs in Columbus, MS
- Accounting programs in Columbus, MS
- Healthcare Administration programs in Columbus, MS
- Counseling programs in Columbus, MS
Related from Our Editorial Library
- Best Accredited Online Colleges (2026)
- Best Online Colleges Ranking
- Effective Learning Strategies for Online Students
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.
Back to Best Online Social Work Programs in Mississippi (2026)