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2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

50 Ranked Colleges
1,891 Degrees Awarded
$12,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 57,618 people earned their degree in social work, making the major the 12th most popular in the United States. 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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,891 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 50 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the social work program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minot State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Minot, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 60 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

MSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend MSU is $8,187 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at Minot State University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 25 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,992 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Social Work Report

#3

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

Out of the 50 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, St Olaf College landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $12,276 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St. Olaf.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full St. Olaf Social Work Report

#4

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bemidji State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bemidji State University is a small public school situated in Bemidji, Minnesota. It awarded 36 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Bemidji State University also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $11,658 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Bemidji State University Social Work Report

#5

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 73 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Winona State has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $13,606 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Winona State

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Minnesota State Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 61 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $11,781 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State Mankato Social Work Report

#7

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 84 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UND not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $11,916 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at University of North Dakota

#8

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 57 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also took the #21 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,274 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

Read full report on Social Work at Saint Cloud State University

#9

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #9, University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Missouri - St Louis is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 70 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - St Louis is $6,838 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at UMSL

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Mizzou has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $11,595 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Social Work Report

#11

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 72 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $12,495 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at University of Northern Iowa

Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. This medium-sized school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Moorhead, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,279 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at MSU Moorhead

Fort Hays State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Fort Hays State University is a fairly large school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 16 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,882 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend FHSU.

Full Fort Hays State University Social Work Report

#14

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Pittsburg, Kansas, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Pittsburg State University is $11,973 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at Pitt State

With a ranking of #15, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UNOMAHA is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,460 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNOMAHA.

Read full report on Social Work at UNOMAHA

Southwest Minnesota State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Marshall, Minnesota, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $11,410 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at Southwest Minnesota State University

#17

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #17, Metropolitan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Metropolitan State University is a public institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 58 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Metro State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Metro State is $14,812 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Metropolitan State University Social Work Report

#18

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. K -State is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

K -State also took the #16 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend K -State is $15,089 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Social Work at K -State

#19

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

St Catherine University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. St. Kate’s is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 44 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, St. Kate’s has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,569 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St Catherine University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Kate’s Social Work Report

#20

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. Missouri Western is a public institution located in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,096 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri Western.

Read more about Social Work at Missouri Western State University

#21

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas

With a ranking of #21, Washburn University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Washburn University is $12,850 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at Washburn University

#22

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

With a ranking of #22, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school handed out 54 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,073 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Iowa.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Iowa Social Work Report

#23

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Warrensburg, Missouri, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UCM is $12,022 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Central Missouri

The College of Saint Scholastica landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 71 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Scholastica also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend The College of Saint Scholastica is $22,004 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full The College of Saint Scholastica Social Work Report

#25

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southeast Missouri State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It awarded 38 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $10,217 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Southeast Missouri State University 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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