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Adoption worker education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an adoption worker. Adoption workers usually study social work, psychology, or criminal justice. 64% of adoption workers hold a bachelor's degree, and 31% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 163 real adoption worker resumes to see exactly what adoption worker education sections show.
The most common colleges for adoption workers are the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh.
There are also many online adoption worker courses to help get the education required to be an adoption worker.
What education do you need to become an adoption worker?
What degree do you need to be an adoption worker?
- Bachelor's, 64%
- Master's, 31%
- Associate, 5%
- High School Diploma, 1%
What should I major in to become an adoption worker?
- Social Work, 36%
- Psychology, 15%
- Criminal Justice, 11%
- Sociology, 9%
- Other Majors, 29%
Most common colleges for adoption workers
| Adoption worker common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Pittsburgh | 7.14% |
| University of Delaware | 7.14% |
| Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | 7.14% |
| Eastern Michigan University | 4.76% |
| California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | 4.76% |
Best majors for adoption workers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Work | 36.1% |
| 2 | Psychology | 15.1% |
| 3 | Criminal Justice | 10.9% |
| 4 | Sociology | 9.2% |
| 5 | Human Services | 5.9% |
Best colleges for adoption workers
The best colleges for adoption workers are Northwestern University, Boston College, and Johns Hopkins University.
An adoption worker with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for adoption workers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become adoption workers.
1. SUNY at Albany
Albany, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$10,011
Enrollment
13,434
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
3. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
4. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
6. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,464
Enrollment
9,639
7. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Enrollment
16,205
8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
9. University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$10,595
Enrollment
30,184
10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
20 best online courses for adoption workers
Advertising disclosure
1. MaaS: Adoption and Use
In this course you will learn how to evaluate the potential of MaaS for a city of country before putting substantial investment in realizing any MaaS pilots or large scale projects. More precisely, you will be introduced to methods allowing you to collect data from citizens. We will also have a look at some example studies in which this type of data has been analyzed to provide answers to the following questions: "Would a MaaS service attract enough travelers in the study area?" "What would be...
2. Organizational Change and Culture for Adopting Google Cloud
Understanding organizational adoption of Google Cloud. This series of courses starts with the basics of digital transformation and Google Cloud and then builds on that knowledge to understand the culture and change management that organizations use to benefit from Google Cloud...
3. Parenting Skills to Raise Responsible, Mature Children
Positive Parenting Parenting Skills Loving Home Parenting Techniques Positive Discipline Family Communication...
4. Introduction to Child Psychology - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
Learn about child behaviour, parenting styles, relationships and socialising, cognitive development, counselling & more!...
5. Child Care as a Business
This course is targeted toward individuals wishing to run a home-based child care center. It covers topics such as the fundamentals of an in-home childcare setting as a business; the importance of financial management of a child care center; the creation of a child care contract; and an exploration of how to set tuition rates. Since a Family Policy Handbook is essential for anyone operating a family day care center, this course includes the development of one of three imperative sections of the...
6. Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing
Everyday Parenting gives you access to a toolkit of behavior-change techniques that will make your typical day in the home easier as you develop the behaviors you would like to see in your child. The lessons provide step-by-step instructions and demonstrations to improve your course of action with both children and adolescents. Among many techniques, you will learn how even simple modifications to tone of voice and phrasing can lead to more compliance. The course will also shed light on many...
7. Fully Accredited Professional Child Psychology Diploma
Learn or Specialise Your Therapy in Child Psychology with this Fully Accredited Diploma Course...
8. Mindful Parenting Diploma Happy Positive Children
Earn Your Certification in Mindful Parenting and Positive Psychology and Improve Your Family's Well-being...
9. Child Nutrition and Cooking
Eating patterns that begin in childhood affect health and well-being across the lifespan. The culture of eating has changed significantly in recent decades, especially in parts of the world where processed foods dominate our dietary intake. This course examines contemporary child nutrition and the impact of the individual decisions made by each family. The health risks associated with obesity in childhood are also discussed. Participants will learn what constitutes a healthy diet for children...
10. Helping Families Avoid Negative Court Involvement Teach-Out
This course will teach learners how to understand when issues can become legal issues, encourage learners to recognize legal problems early, identify possible “legal soft spots” in their own situations, and act when issues are identified to avoid them escalating. This course will also teach and encourage learners to think preventatively and provide some tools to use with an eye toward preventing future legal issues. Finally, this Teach-out seeks to expand the idea of legal health checks to a...
11. Autism Awareness Course for Parents - Autism Training
Training Helps Parents Reduce Challenging Autism Behavior Learn to Understand & Manage Autism and Autistic Children...
12. Positive Parenting - Dealing with Power Struggles
No I Won't and You Can't Make Me!...
13. Kids with Cancer Still Need School: The Providers Role
This course will help you understand and address the challenges parents and families face regarding schooling after a cancer diagnosis. When a child is diagnosed with cancer, families can be overwhelmed learning about and managing this new and frightening reality. As they adjust to the new normal of ongoing treatment, school may be the farthest thing from their mind. However, as their oncology health care provider, you have a critical role in starting conversations about schooling. Even for...
14. Personal & Family Financial Planning
Personal and Family Financial Planning will address many critical personal financial management topics in order to help you learn prudent habits both while in school and throughout your lifetime...
15. Safeguarding Children Level One
Safeguarding, Spotting Abuse, Sharing Concerns and Child Protection...
16. Parenting Teens with Confidence: Certified Practitioner
The Ultimate Parenting Teens Course: Accredited Certification and Practical Strategies for Navigating Adolescence...
17. Home-Based Child Care
This series of courses is intended to provide learners with the tools to develop and operate a home-based childcare center. Stages of child development, best practices to stimulate learning, important safety measures, and business fundamentals are introduced...
18. Photography - Individual & Family Posing - Live Sessions
Dramatically improve your portraits with these easy relaxed posing techniques. Flatter your subjects & they'll love you!...
19. Crisis Intervention Seminar
The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...
20. PMI-ACP Certification: Agile Project Management (Beginner)
Agile Certified Practitioner Certification Program (PMI-ACP) - Course 1 and 2 of 8 - Understanding and Adopting Agile...
Top 10 most affordable universities for adoption workers
The most affordable schools for adoption workers are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and brigham young university.
If the best universities for adoption workers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for adoption workers.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
4. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
5. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
6. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
7. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
8. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
9. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$4,831
Cost of attendance
19,559
10. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-state tuition
$7,064
Cost of attendance
15,576
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for adoption workers
The hardest universities for adoption workers to get into are Northwestern University, Boston College, and Johns Hopkins University.
Some great schools for adoption workers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for adoption workers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
3. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
4. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
6. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
10. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for adoption workers
The easiest schools for adoption workers to get into are Nyack College, mount saint mary's university, and kean university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an adoption worker without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for adoption workers.
1. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
4. Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,059
5. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
6. Iona College
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,089
7. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
8. College of New Rochelle, The
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
982
9. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
10. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
Average adoption worker salary by education level
| Adoption worker education level | Adoption worker salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $57,906 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $47,819 |
Adoption worker education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025