Best Online Social Work Programs in Cranston, RI (2026)

Cranston, Rhode Island has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs. Cranston has a population of about 82,632. Median household income is $87,716 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 35.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area, the top-earning social work-related role is Social Worker, All Other at a median $108,740 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Social Work Schools to Cranston

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer social work programs near Cranston, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Cranston 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 Cranston. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Community College of Rhode Island

Warwick, RI 3.7 miles from Cranston BOC Score 51.2
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 26%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,659
Avg net price $6,513/yr
Tuition
In‑state$5,550
Out‑of‑state$14,834
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 66

Source:Accreditor: New England Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Rhode Island College

Providence, RI 5.4 miles from Cranston BOC Score 60.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 92%
Graduation rate 47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,318
Avg net price $9,478/yr
Tuition
In‑state$11,300
Out‑of‑state$27,299
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 61

Source:Accreditor: New England Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Providence College

Providence, RI 6.0 miles from Cranston BOC Score 75.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 51%
Graduation rate 87%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $87,054
Avg net price $48,523/yr
Tuition
In‑state$63,550
Out‑of‑state$63,550
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 93%
  • Programs offered: 31

Source:Accreditor: New England Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Salve Regina University

Newport, RI 22.5 miles from Cranston BOC Score 69.0
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 68%
Graduation rate 76%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $72,975
Avg net price $36,967/yr
Tuition
In‑state$50,100
Out‑of‑state$50,100
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 84%
  • Programs offered: 24

Source:Accreditor: New England Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Social Work Wages Near Cranston

Cranston is part of the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area (BLS area code 39300). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Rhode Island statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Child, Family, and School Social Worker$70,900Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$69,646
Healthcare Social Worker$74,350Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$73,035
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$59,930Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$58,870
Social Worker, All Other$108,740Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$106,817
Social and Community Service Manager$77,490Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$76,120
Social and Human Service Assistant$47,440Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$46,601
Community Health Worker$52,130Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$51,208

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.


Cranston at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population82,632Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$87,716Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+35.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)101.8 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Social Work-related employment in Providence County9,126 workers, 1,751 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Cranston-Area Cities With Social Work Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited social work schools are near Cranston, RI?

Accredited schools offering social work programs near Cranston 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 near Cranston?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles near Cranston are: Social Worker, All Other ($108,740), Social and Community Service Manager ($77,490), Healthcare Social Worker ($74,350). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Rhode Island statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Warwick instead of Cranston?

Warwick, RI is 4.9 miles from Cranston 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 Cranston an affordable place to study social work?

Cranston’s median household income of $87,716 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Cranston while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Rhode Island 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 Cranston

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

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.