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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Social Work in the Great Lakes Region

175 Ranked Colleges
10,408 Degrees Awarded
$26,800 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Social Work is the 13th most popular major in the country with 58,326 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, social work graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $37,651 and had an average of $26,679 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 10,408 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,459 and $27,818 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 175 colleges that offer a degree in social work. That schools that top this list have a program in social work in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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.

Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Social Work in the Great Lakes Region

1
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Aurora University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region. Aurora University is a medium-sized school located in Aurora, Illinois that handed out 712 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad 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 more about Social Work at Aurora

2
Kuyper crest
Kuyper College
Grand Rapids, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kuyper College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social work degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Kuyper Social Work Report

3
The Erikson Institute crest
Erikson Institute
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Erikson Institute. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. The Erikson Institute is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 39 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Social Work at The Erikson Institute

4
Spring Arbor crest
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Spring Arbor University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Spring Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 209 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad 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 Spring Arbor University

5
St. Augustine College crest
Saint Augustine College
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Saint Augustine College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. St. Augustine College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full St. Augustine College Social Work Report

6

Ohio State University - Mansfield Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Mansfield, Ohio, this small public school handed out 23 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad 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 full report on Social Work at Ohio State University - Mansfield Campus

7
Central State University crest
Central State University
Wilberforce, Ohio

Central State University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Wilberforce, Ohio, and it awarded 24 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Central State University Social Work Report

8

With a ranking of #8, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 163 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Social Work Report

9

Ohio State University - Lima Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio State University - Lima Campus is a small school located in Lima, Ohio that handed out 19 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at Ohio State University - Lima Campus

10
Wilberforce University crest
Wilberforce University
Wilberforce, Ohio

Wilberforce University ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Wilberforce, Ohio, and it awarded 7 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Wilberforce University Social Work Report

11
Dominican U crest
Dominican University
River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Dominican University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 74 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Dominican University

12
Saginaw Valley State University crest
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, Michigan

With a ranking of #12, Saginaw Valley State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University Center, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 142 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Saginaw Valley State University

13

With a ranking of #13, Ohio State University - Marion Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio State University - Marion Campus is located in Marion, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Ohio State University - Marion Campus Social Work Report

14

Mount Vernon Nazarene University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mount Vernon, Ohio. It awarded 48 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Mount Vernon Nazarene University

15

Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. IWU is located in Marion, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 283 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at IWU

16
Defiance College crest
Defiance College
Defiance, Ohio

Defiance College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Defiance College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Defiance, Ohio. It awarded 7 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Defiance College Social Work Report

17

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 617 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

18
Madonna crest
Madonna University
Livonia, Michigan

With a ranking of #18, Madonna University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Madonna University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Livonia, Michigan. It awarded 98 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Social Work at Madonna

19

Youngstown State University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and it awarded 164 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Youngstown State University Social Work Report

20
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Wayne State is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 454 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Social Work at Wayne State

21
GSU crest
Governors State University
University Park, Illinois

Governors State University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Governors State University is a small school located in University Park, Illinois that handed out 75 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Governors State University Social Work Report

22
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 317 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Social Work at Loyola Chicago

23
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 236 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Social Work at Eastern Michigan University

24

Case Western Reserve University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 202 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at Case Western

25

Indiana University - Northwest ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Gary, Indiana, this small public school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Social Work at Indiana University - Northwest

Rest of the Best 27 in Schools Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region

Not only did these schools make the top 27 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
Trinity Christian crest
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, Illinois

Notes and References

References

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