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2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region

47 Ranked Colleges
5,096 Degrees Awarded
$17,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Great Lakes region, there were 10,171 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,708 and $29,897 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 5,096 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 47 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social work. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent social work programs, but they also 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The social work school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois

Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Aurora University landed the #1 spot on the list. Aurora University is located in Aurora, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 460 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Aurora also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. Average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora are $13,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at Aurora

#2

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Loyola University Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 249 students in 2019-2020.

Loyola Chicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Chicago are $19,154.

Full Loyola Chicago Social Work Report

#3

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Spring Arbor University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Spring Arbor is located in Spring Arbor, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 103 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Spring Arbor University are $8,232.

Read full report on Social Work at Spring Arbor University

#4

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ferris State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. This fairly large school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 29 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris are $7,908, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at Ferris State University

#5

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Illinois State University is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 27 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at Illinois State University

University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 167 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Social Work Report

#7

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. GVSU is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 143 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Valley State University are $17,448.

Full GVSU Social Work Report

#8

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. University of Saint Francis is a small school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 26 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social work students list, University of Saint Francis has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of St Francis are $13,839, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Saint Francis

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 29 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Marion, Indiana, and it awarded 99 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IWU, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global are $11,977.

Read full report on Social Work at IWU

#11

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Youngstown State University is a public institution located in Youngstown, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 71 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Youngstown State University Social Work Report

#12

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a public institution located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 27 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Whitewater did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Whitewater are $19,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Social Work Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 425 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social work students list, IUPUI has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013.

Read full report on Social Work at IUPUI

#14

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Green Bay is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social work students list, UW - Green Bay has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Green Bay are $19,126, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UW Oshkosh did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh are $18,744, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at UW Oshkosh

#16

Madonna University

Livonia, Michigan

With a ranking of #16, Madonna University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Livonia, Michigan, and it awarded 48 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Madonna University are $16,200.

Read full report on Social Work at Madonna University

#17

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 129 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

UWM also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at UWM

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 248 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.

Read more about Social Work at UIC

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. BGSU is a fairly large public school situated in Bowling Green, Ohio. It awarded 17 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at BGSU are $15,823.

Read full report on Social Work at BGSU

University of Akron Main Campus landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Akron, Ohio. It awarded 65 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at University of Akron Main Campus

#21

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Governors State University is a small school located in University Park, Illinois that handed out 48 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Governors State University are $14,674, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at GSU

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 151 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at UIUC

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 50 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Social Work Report

#24

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, Ohio

With a ranking of #24, Cleveland State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 82 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cleveland State University are $17,622.

Read more about Social Work at Cleveland State University

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Northeastern Illinois University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 42 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University

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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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