Best Online Social Work Programs in Lancaster, PA (2026)

Lancaster, Pennsylvania has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs, with tuition ranging from $29,990 to $40,813 per year for indexed programs. Lancaster has a population of about 57,683. Median household income is $63,421 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Lancaster, PA metro area, the top-earning social work-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $77,390 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Social Work Schools to Lancaster

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

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

Social Work Wages Near Lancaster

Lancaster is part of the Lancaster, PA metro area (BLS area code 29540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania statewide.

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.

Lancaster at a Glance

Other Lancaster-Area Cities With Social Work Programs

• Lebanon, PA – 21.6 mi away (77,839 pop)
• York, PA – 23.4 mi away (232,796 pop)
• Reading, PA – 28.5 mi away (264,736 pop)
• Harrisburg, PA – 34.7 mi away (438,995 pop)
• Pottstown, PA – 37.6 mi away (109,052 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited social work schools are near Lancaster, PA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs near Lancaster. The closest is Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA (2.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Alvernia University (26.8 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying social work roles near Lancaster?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles near Lancaster are: Social and Community Service Manager ($77,390), Healthcare Social Worker ($62,300), Social Worker, All Other ($61,610). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Pennsylvania statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Lebanon instead of Lancaster?

Lebanon, PA is 21.6 miles from Lancaster 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 Lancaster an affordable place to study social work?

Lancaster’s median household income of $63,421 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lancaster while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
• Social Work programs by state

Other Programs Available in Lancaster

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

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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.