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2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region

51 Ranked Colleges
1,891 Degrees Awarded
$15,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking.

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” ranking looked at 51 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the social work program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools

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” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Plains States Region

#1

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minot State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Minot State University is a small public school situated in Minot, North Dakota. It awarded 60 bachelors’s social work degrees 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 estimated yearly cost for MSU is $11,898 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

Read full report on Social Work at Minot State University

#2

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bemidji State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Bemidji State University is a public institution located in Bemidji, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Bemidji State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $15,868 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

Full Bemidji State University Social Work Report

#3

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Winona State is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 73 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Winona State, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $17,656 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State Social Work Report

#4

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Dakota. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. University of North Dakota 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,738 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students per year to attend University of North Dakota.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 full report on Social Work at University of North Dakota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a medium-sized public school situated in Moorhead, Minnesota. It awarded 69 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Moorhead not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $16,893 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.

Read more about Social Work at Minnesota State University - Moorhead

Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 61 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students list, Minnesota State Mankato has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $16,221 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

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%.

Read full report on Social Work at Minnesota State Mankato

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized school located in Marshall, Minnesota that handed out 11 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,397 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Read full report on Social Work at Southwest Minnesota State University

#8

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Metropolitan State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 58 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students list, Metro State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,225 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students per year to attend Metropolitan State University.

Read more about Social Work at Metropolitan State University

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a fairly large public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 25 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #11 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $17,067 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

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%.

Read more about Social Work at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#10

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 57 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students 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. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $14,267 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

Read full report on Social Work at St. Cloud State University

#11

Chadron State College

Chadron, Nebraska

Chadron State College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Chadron State College is a public institution located in Chadron, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,268 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students per year to attend Chadron State College.

Read full report on Social Work at Chadron State College

#12

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 72 students in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #12 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNI is $15,620 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at University of Northern Iowa

With a ranking of #13, Fort Hays State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. FHSU is a fairly large public school situated in Hays, Kansas. It awarded 16 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Fort Hays State University is $12,053 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

Full FHSU Social Work Report

University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Kearney, Nebraska, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,017 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students per year to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 UNK Social Work Report

#15

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Pitt State is located in Pittsburg, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Pitt State is $14,436 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

Read more about Social Work at Pitt State

#16

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri 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 ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Warrensburg, Missouri, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,677 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students per year to attend UCM.

Read more about Social Work at UCM

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Missouri State University - Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 40 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $16,725 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students per year to attend Missouri State.

Read more about Social Work at Missouri State

#18

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $12,774 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

Read full report on Social Work at Southeast Missouri State University

#19

Park University

Parkville, Missouri

With a ranking of #19, Park University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Park University is a fairly large school located in Parkville, Missouri that handed out 12 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Park University is $15,579 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

Full Park University Social Work Report

#19

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

University of Sioux Falls did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #19. This small school is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $19,893 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students per year to attend University of Sioux Falls.

The low student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 full report on Social Work at University of Sioux Falls

#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 list. Washburn University is a medium-sized public school situated in Topeka, Kansas. It awarded 37 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Washburn University is $14,481 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

Full Washburn University Social Work Report

#22

Walden University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #22, Walden University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

Read more about Social Work at Walden University

#23

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

With a ranking of #23, Lindenwood University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $17,491 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at Lindenwood University

#24

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Kansas State University is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for K -State is $18,285 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

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 more about Social Work at Kansas State University

#25

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, this small public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Western is $10,958 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

Full Missouri Western 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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