Social Work programs in Ontario

37 programs across 19 campuses, with published admission ranges starting at 70%. Sorted by the range each one publishes, lowest first, so you can see where you land.

Programs

Campuses

Lowest range

70%

What this leads to

The picture for social work as of 2026-08-17, not a description of this particular program.

Social workers work in a moderate employment market in Ontario for 2024-2026, with employment growth leading to several new positions. Most graduates work as caseworkers in child and family services, mental health agencies, hospitals, schools, or community organizations—assessing clients, planning interventions, connecting people to resources, and writing up case notes.

In its favour

Growth driven by increasing and diversified social service needs and an aging population
You work with real people solving real problems, not sitting at a desk solving abstractions
Many social workers are age 50 and over, so retirements will eventually open positions
Work exists across all regions and can involve direct clinical practice, management, or policy

Worth knowing

Starting salary in Ontario averages $58,171 and most workers earn between $36,000 and $60,000, which is modest for a four-year degree
There is a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience, meaning early competition for entry-level jobs
Very high emotional labour: burnout rates in social work are documented to be higher than many professions, with caseloads that grow when agencies face budget pressure
Many provinces require licensing (like the CPSE in Ontario) after your degree—this adds time and cost before you can call yourself a registered social worker

How AI is changing this work

AI will not eliminate social workers but will transform work: AI automates administrative tasks like data entry, client tracking, and report creation, letting social workers spend more time on client interactions rather than paperwork. Predictive analytics helps social workers detect abuse and neglect situations earlier. However, AI automation creates potential job displacement risks, and as agencies become more efficient they may expect social workers to handle higher caseloads. The client-facing relationship work—the core of social work—is not being automated, but the administrative jobs that once absorbed new graduates are shrinking.

Where this came from (6 sources)