Best Social Work Schools Near Branson, MO (2026)

Updated September 6, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Branson, Missouri has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs, with tuition ranging from $10,104 to $29,966 per year for indexed programs. Branson has a population of about 12,760. Median household income is $54,961 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Missouri, the top-earning social work-related role is Social Worker, All Other at a median $98,740 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Social Work Schools to Branson

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer social work programs near Branson, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Branson city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

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 Branson. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

College of the Ozarks

Point Lookout, MO 2.8 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
55.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,592
Avg net price $6,100/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 89%
  • Programs offered: 55

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Missouri State University-Springfield

Springfield, MO 37.9 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,827
Avg net price $17,613/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 200

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Evangel University

Springfield, MO 39.4 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,573
Avg net price $18,669/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 52

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, MO 66.3 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
36.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,112
Avg net price $21,677/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 66%
  • Programs offered: 41

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Missouri Southern State University

Joplin, MO 73.0 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
42.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 45%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,620
Avg net price $12,007/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 66%
  • Programs offered: 77

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Lincoln University

Jefferson City, MO 145.2 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
28.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 33%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,463
Avg net price $19,092/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 55%
  • Programs offered: 33

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, MO 148.0 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
54.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 64%
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,560
Avg net price $14,462/yr
Tuition
In‑state$10,050
Out‑of‑state$18,600
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 92

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, MO 166.6 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
75.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,403
Avg net price $20,268/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 92%
  • Programs offered: 156

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Social Work Wages Near Branson

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Missouri, statewide)
Child, Family, and School Social Worker $48,520
Healthcare Social Worker $59,870
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker $49,560
Social Worker, All Other $98,740
Social and Community Service Manager $71,970
Social and Human Service Assistant $41,780
Community Health Worker $48,770

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.

Branson at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 12,760 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $54,961 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 29.4% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Social Work-related employment in Taney County 401 workers, 170 establishments BLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Branson-Area Cities With Social Work Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited social work schools are near Branson, MO?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs near Branson. The closest is College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO (2.8 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Southwest Baptist University (66.3 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying social work roles in Missouri?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles in Missouri are: Social Worker, All Other ($98,740), Social and Community Service Manager ($71,970), Healthcare Social Worker ($59,870). Wages for Branson workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Nixa instead of Branson?

Nixa, MO is 27.4 miles from Branson 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 Branson an affordable place to study social work?

Branson’s median household income of $54,961 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Branson while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Missouri 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 Branson

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

Data verified: September 6, 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 Social Work Schools in Missouri: Online Programs (2026)