Social worker aide education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a social worker aide. Social workers aide usually study social work, psychology, or human services. 53% of social workers aide hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 348 real social worker aide resumes to see exactly what social worker aide education sections show.

The most common colleges for social workers aide are the Troy University and the Troy University.

There are also many online social worker aide courses to help get the education required to be a social worker aide.

What education do you need to become a social worker aide?

What degree do you need to be a social worker aide?

The most common degree for social workers aide is bachelor's degree, with 53% of social workers aide earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 22% and associate degree degree at 12%.

Bachelor's, 53%

Associate, 22%

Master's, 12%

Diploma, 6%

Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a social worker aide?

You should major in social work to become a social worker aide. 31% of social workers aide major in social work. Other common majors for a social worker aide include psychology and human services.

Social Work, 31%

Psychology, 13%

Human Services, 11%

Criminal Justice, 10%

Other Majors, 35%

Most common colleges for social workers aide

Social workers aide often get their degrees at Troy University, California State University - San Bernardino, and Adelphi University. Here are the most common colleges for social workers aide in the US based on their resumes.

Social worker aide common college	Percentages
Troy University	8.33%
California State University - San Bernardino	8.33%
Adelphi University	6.25%
Metropolitan State University	6.25%
Old Dominion University	6.25%

Show more common social worker aide colleges

Best majors for social workers aide

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Social Work	30.5%
2	Psychology	13.0%
3	Human Services	10.7%
4	Criminal Justice	9.6%
5	Sociology	6.8%

Show more common social worker aide majors

Best colleges for social workers aide

The best colleges for social workers aide are Northwestern University, Washington University in St Louis, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

A social worker aide with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for social workers aide. 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 social workers aide.

1. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Enrollment

13,871

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. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Enrollment

16,205

5. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

6. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Enrollment

34,637

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

8. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Enrollment

31,321

9. Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$8,967

Enrollment

10,030

10. Howard University

Washington, DC • Private

In-state tuition

$26,756

Enrollment

6,166

20 best online courses for social workers aide

Advertising disclosure

1. Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners

In the U.S., social policy accounts for two-thirds of government spending. Knowing how policies are constructed, what values underlie them, and how they succeed or fail makes everyone more effective at work or in their civic role. This specialization includes an HONORS track in which learners will complete a professional social policy analysis.\n\nTeachers, health care workers, police, and social workers interact with policy daily, but all of us should care about the impact and effectiveness of...

2. Psychological First Aid

Learn to provide psychological first aid to people in an emergency by employing the RAPID model: Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition. Utilizing the RAPID model (Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition), this specialized course provides perspectives on injuries and trauma that are beyond those physical in nature. The RAPID model is readily applicable to public health settings, the workplace, the...

3. Home Health Aide, Nurse Aide, Caregiver Certification Course

4.6

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4. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)

4.7

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Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...

5. AIDS: Fear and Hope

The basic biology of the virus, HIV, and the disease it causes, AIDS. The economic, social and political factors that determine who gets sick and who remains healthy, who lives and who dies. The progress of scientific research and medical treatments. The reasons for hope; the reasons for fear. (To get a glimpse of some of the materials that students have been posting on the course forums, go to @AIDSFAH or #AIDSFAH.)...

6. Social Determinants of Health: Data to Action

This five course specialization explores dimensions of applied knowledge related to the social determinants of health. This specialization will utilize the Data-to-Action Hourglass Model to support thinking about multiple perspectives as a way to filter, frame, and focus data-driven action related to social determinants of health.\n\nCourse 1: Introduction to the Social Determinants of Health, provides an overview of definitions and theoretical perspectives that will form the foundation of this...

7. Mental Health First Aid Skills -

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This course is designed to provide the tools and knowledge for learners to help and support those experiencing MH issues...

8. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs

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Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...

9. HI-FIVE: Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment (Social/Peer Perspective)

HI-FIVE (Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment) Training is an approximately 10-hour online course designed by Columbia University in 2016, with sponsorship from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The training is role-based and uses case scenarios. No additional hardware or software are required for this course. Our nation’s healthcare system is changing at a rapid pace. Transformative health care delivery programs depend heavily on...

10. The Influence of Social Determinants on Health

Why are some groups healthier than others, and how do these differences emerge and persist over a lifetime? How do social policies on housing, transportation, and employment relate to health and health inequalities?\n\nThis specialization will examine social, behavioral, economic, political, and structural factors that contribute to health inequalities, and suggest innovative ways to reduce disparities in health to achieve health equity.You will learn,\n\n-Use conceptual models to understand...

11. Conflict Resolution for Co-Workers

4.4

(266)

You'll learn diagnosis and resolution techniques for tense, sensitive conflicts with your co-workers, manager or peers...

12. Crisis Intervention Seminar

4.4

(634)

The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...

13. Mental Health Ambassador Certificate

4.6

(1,115)

Be a leader in improving society's mental health and learn to provide mental health first aid...

14. First Aid, and Children's Health: Your Complete Guide

4.5

(622)

Taught by a Doctor: Mandatory first aid course covering all of the common injuries and illnesses especially of children...

15. The Communication Skills and Social Intelligence Masterclass

4.6

(1,185)

An essential guide to cultivating influential people skills, communication skills and street-smart social intelligence...

16. Communication & Social Skills

4.5

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Learn to become more confident and effective when speaking, listening, or writing...

17. Social Media Crisis Prevention

4.2

(277)

Get practical skills to protect your reputation and your organization against a social media meltdown...

18. Communication Skills Masterclass - Your Communication Guide

4.5

(961)

Communication Skill For Business Communication & Effective Communication In Workplace & Relationships...

19. CSR Development & Communications: Make a Difference Today!

4.4

(378)

Introduction to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program Development & Communication...

20. Emergency Life Support First Aid Training

4.7

(2,132)

Learn important life saving first aid. Treatment of major illness and injuries...

Top 10 most affordable universities for social workers aide

The most affordable schools for social workers aide are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and california state university - bakersfield.

If the best universities for social workers aide 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 social workers aide.

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. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

4. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

5. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

8. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

9. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,922

Cost of attendance

18,522

10. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Cost of attendance

25,275

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for social workers aide

The hardest universities for social workers aide to get into are Northwestern University, Washington University in St Louis, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for social workers aide 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 social workers aide 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

SAT average

1,508

2. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,512

4. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

Admissions rate

40%

SAT average

1,376

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

9. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

10. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

Admissions rate

49%

SAT average

1,347

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for social workers aide

The easiest schools for social workers aide to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, notre dame de namur university, and university of north texas at dallas.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a social worker aide 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 social workers aide.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

4. Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA • Private

Admissions rate

95%

SAT average

980

5. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

6. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

7. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

8. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

9. University of Houston - Downtown

Houston, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,012

10. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

Average social worker aide salary by education level

Social workers aide with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $41,990 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, social workers aide earn a median annual income of $39,081 compared to $35,649 for social workers aide with an Associate degree.

Social worker aide education level	Social worker aide salary
Master's Degree	$41,990
High School Diploma or Less	$35,460
Bachelor's Degree	$39,081
Some College/ Associate Degree	$35,649

Social worker aide education FAQs

What is the best college for Social Workers Aide?

Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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