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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

24 Ranked Colleges
2,479 Degrees Awarded
$21,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Social Work is the 12th most popular major in the country with 57,618 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, social work graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,459 and had an average of $30,084 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 4,575 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,827 and $29,452 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,479 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 24 colleges that offered a degree in social work. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social work programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the social work program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 24 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 247 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Washington University in St Louis are $56,562, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at WUSTL

#2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 124 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UMN Twin Cities Social Work Report

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #3 spot on the list. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 43 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UMN Duluth also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Duluth are $28,606.

Full UMN Duluth Social Work Report

#4

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Dakota landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, this fairly large public school handed out 75 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, UND has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Dakota are $18,326.

Read full report on Social Work at UND

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 102 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #5 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Columbia are $27,193, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Social Work Report

#6

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNI is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNI has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Northern Iowa are $22,648.

Read more about Social Work at University of Northern Iowa

#7

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

St. Cloud State University also took the #17 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at St. Cloud State University are $12,904.

Read more about Social Work at Saint Cloud State University

Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 30 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State University - Mankato are $8,788, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Minnesota State Mankato Social Work Report

University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 97 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UNOMAHA also took the #16 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UNOMAHA are $16,374, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at University of Nebraska at Omaha

#10

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 101 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Iowa are $27,613.

Full University of Iowa Social Work Report

#11

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 61 students in 2019-2020.

UMSL also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #19. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMSL are $30,154.

Read more about Social Work at UMSL

#12

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

St Catherine University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. St. Kate’s is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 17 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Kate’s, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at St Catherine University are $17,400, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full St. Kate’s Social Work Report

#13

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas

Washburn University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Washburn University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Washburn University are $19,206, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at Washburn University

#14

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMKC is a fairly large school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 51 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMKC, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at UMKC

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school awarded 31 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Missouri State also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri State are $12,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at Missouri State University - Springfield

#16

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 207 students in 2019-2020.

KU also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Kansas are $25,007.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Kansas

#17

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 81 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SLU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SLU are $22,074.

Read full report on Social Work at SLU

#18

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WSU is a fairly large public school situated in Wichita, Kansas. It awarded 49 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at WSU are $15,112, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at Wichita State University

#19

Newman University

Wichita, Kansas

Newman University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Newman University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Newman University also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #25. Average graduate tuition and fees at Newman University are $8,484, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at Newman University

The College of Saint Scholastica landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 30 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Scholastica also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. Average graduate tuition and fees at The College of Saint Scholastica are $15,502, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at The College of Saint Scholastica

#21

Park University

Parkville, Missouri

Park University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Park University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Parkville, Missouri. It awarded 33 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, Park University has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Park University are $6,224, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at Park University

#22

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Augsburg University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 81 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Augsburg, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Augsburg are $13,165, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at Augsburg University

#23

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa

Saint Ambrose University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Davenport, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

St. Ambrose University also took the #22 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Ambrose University are $18,150, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at Saint Ambrose University

#24

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

University of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of St Thomas Minnesota is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 117 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UST MN also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of St Thomas Minnesota are $24,814.

Full University of St Thomas Minnesota Social Work Report

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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