Best Online Social Work Programs in Forest City, NC (2026)

Forest City, North Carolina has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs, with tuition ranging from $15,956 to $53,576 per year for indexed programs. Forest City has a population of about 7,368. Median household income is $35,897 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 17.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In North Carolina, the top-earning social work-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $79,590 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Social Work Schools to Forest City

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

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

Social Work Wages Near Forest City

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.

Forest City at a Glance

Other Forest City-Area Cities With Social Work Programs

• Shelby, NC – 18.8 mi away (27,288 pop)
• Gaffney, SC – 21.6 mi away (21,692 pop)
• Spartanburg, SC – 27.1 mi away (185,031 pop)
• Greer, SC – 34.4 mi away (29,000 pop)
• Lincolnton, NC – 36.9 mi away (23,264 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited social work schools are near Forest City, NC?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs near Forest City. The closest is Limestone University in Gaffney, SC (22.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Johnson C Smith University (57.6 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying social work roles in North Carolina?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles in North Carolina are: Social and Community Service Manager ($79,590), Social Worker, All Other ($63,490), Healthcare Social Worker ($63,280). Wages for Forest City workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Shelby instead of Forest City?

Shelby, NC is 18.8 miles from Forest City 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 Forest City an affordable place to study social work?

Forest City’s median household income of $35,897 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Forest City while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina 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 North Carolina
• Social Work programs by state

Other Programs Available in Forest City

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

• Criminal Justice programs in Forest City, NC
• Nursing programs in Forest City, NC
• Business Administration programs in Forest City, NC
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• Psychology programs in Forest City, NC
• Education programs in Forest City, NC
• Engineering programs in Forest City, NC
• Technology programs in Forest City, NC
• Liberal Arts programs in Forest City, NC
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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.