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2023 Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in Illinois

22 Ranked Colleges
825 Degrees Awarded
$30,907 Avg Salary
Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor's

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Illinois, there were 2,720 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,486 and $25,281 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 825 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,117 and $25,584 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in social work. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in social work.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s” list to help you make the college 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students.

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 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s. Aurora University is a medium-sized school located in Aurora, Illinois that handed out 167 bachelors’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%.

Full Aurora University Social Work Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northeastern Illinois University. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s. Northeastern Illinois University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 102 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UIUC Social Work Report

4

Out of the 22 schools in the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 60 bachelors’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%.

Read more about Social Work at Illinois State University

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Social Work at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

6
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. Loyola Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Social Work at Loyola University Chicago

7

Western Illinois University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 45 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Social Work at WIU

8

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 40 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Social Work at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

9
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Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

With a ranking of #9, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 35 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Olivet Nazarene Social Work Report

10
GSU crest
Governors State University
University Park, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Governors State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. Governors State University is a small public school situated in University Park, Illinois. It awarded 30 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Full GSU Social Work Report

11
Bradley crest
Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. Bradley University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Peoria, Illinois. It awarded 28 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Bradley University Social Work Report

12
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National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois

National Louis University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 25 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2020-2021.

Full NLU Social Work Report

13
St. Augustine College crest
Saint Augustine College
Chicago, Illinois

Saint Augustine College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

Full Saint Augustine College Social Work Report

14

With a ranking of #14, University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at UIS

15
Lewis crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. Lewis is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Romeoville, Illinois. It awarded 19 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Lewis

16
Trinity Christian crest
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, Illinois

With a ranking of #16, Trinity Christian College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Palos Heights, Illinois. It awarded 18 bachelors’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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at Trinity Christian

17
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. This medium-sized school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at Concordia University, Chicago

18
Greenville crest
Greenville University
Greenville, Illinois

Greenville University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s list. This small school is located in Greenville, Illinois, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Social Work at Greenville

19
Millikin crest
Millikin University
Decatur, Illinois

Millikin University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. Millikin University is a small school located in Decatur, Illinois that handed out 7 bachelors’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.

Read more about Social Work at Millikin

19
University of Saint Francis crest
University of St Francis
Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. University of St Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at University of St Francis

21
Methodist College crest
Methodist College
Peoria, Illinois

Methodist College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #21. Methodist College is located in Peoria, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Methodist College Social Work Report

22
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Social Work Major in Illinois for a Bachelor’s ranking. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 175 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Chicago

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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