2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Illinois
[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 40 schools to find the best return on investment for social work students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social work degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Social Work Schools
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #1 spot for value among social work schools in Illinois. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $24,810. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $38,707. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Springfield admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $20,115. Social Work graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $51,727 early in their careers. Set against $20,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Western Illinois University one of the best values for social work. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Social Work graduates carry a median of $29,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $39,641. Set against $29,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Governors State University earned it the #4 place for social work. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Students borrow a median of $33,983 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $48,182 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $33,983 median debt. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Northeastern Illinois University one of the best values for social work. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,383, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $17,500. Early-career social work graduates make about $42,588. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
Chicago State University earned the #6 position for value in social work this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,754, compared with $12,757 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $43,322 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $48,031. That is a strong return on a $43,322 median debt. Chicago State University admits about 43% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #7 position for value in social work this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $19,344 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $43,709. That is a strong return on a $19,344 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #8 spot for social work value this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $25,000. Social Work graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $42,529 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Dominican University earned the #9 position for value in social work this year. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,828 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $52,605. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
National Louis University placed #10 among the best values for social work. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,245 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $29,242. Early-career social work graduates make about $37,205. Set against $29,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Francis landed the #11 spot for social work value this year. University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Joliet. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,110. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the social work program here. Early-career social work graduates make about $47,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #12 for value in social work this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $27,000. Social Work graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $40,356 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago landed the #13 spot for social work value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $52,551. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Lewis University came in at #14 for value in social work this year. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. In-state tuition and fees average $39,200. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $49,271 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Saint Augustine College earned the #15 position for value in social work this year. Saint Augustine College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,688. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $4,974. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Saint Augustine College generally make around $34,201. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Aurora University earned the #16 position for value in social work this year. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,170. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $44,596 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University earned the #17 position for value in social work this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $25,000. Early-career social work graduates make about $44,297. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,900. Social Work graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career social work graduates make about $31,720. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Bradley University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. Social Work graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career social work graduates make about $36,017. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earned the #20 position for value in social work this year. Located in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,536 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $39,146. Early-career social work graduates make about $101,006. That is a strong return on a $39,146 median debt. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois admits about 83% of applicants.
Depaul University came in at #21 for value in social work this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $25,310. Social Work graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $51,689 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,310 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #22 for value in social work this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Students borrow a median of $21,133 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $51,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,133 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Social Work Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
