2027 Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Social Work degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their social work programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 112 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for social work students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Social Work in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social work education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Social Work
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 school for social work. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 507 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $52,424 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,137.
See the full social work program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 257 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $43,709 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,344 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Chicago came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 173 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $52,551 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
See the full social work program report for University Of Chicago
University Of Wisconsin Stout is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #4. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. University Of Wisconsin Stout awarded about 20 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $54,235 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,821.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for social work. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 202 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $54,548 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,398 to complete this degree.
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Case Western Reserve University landed the #6 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 87% of students finish within six years. Case Western Reserve University awarded about 166 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $51,720. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire awarded about 95 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn around $40,562 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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Loyola University Chicago landed the #8 spot for social work this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 294 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $51,834 in their early career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $21,133 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Loyola University Chicago
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois landed the #9 spot for social work this year. Located in the suburb of Addison, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. About 150 social work degrees were awarded at Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $101,006 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete this degree.
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Marquette University earned the #10 position for social work this year. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Marquette University graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 social work students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $37,494 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 572 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $44,632 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,970 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
Xavier University earned the #12 position for social work this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cincinnati. Xavier University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 social work students who graduated with this degree at Xavier University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $55,045 early in their careers. Xavier University graduates carry a median of $26,614 in student loans.
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Michigan State University earned the #13 position for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan State University awarded about 81 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $42,640. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,169 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at Michigan State University
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 205 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $51,727 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
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Marian University Indiana earned the #15 position for social work this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Indianapolis. Marian University Indiana graduates 67% of students within six years. Marian University Indiana awarded about 13 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Marian University Indiana earn a median of $49,784 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,633 to complete this degree.
See the full social work program report for Marian University Indiana
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #16 spot for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 565 social work students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $44,292. Students borrow a median of $16,473 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Western Michigan University came in at #17 for social work this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. About 58% of students finish within six years. Western Michigan University awarded about 77 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $44,056 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full social work program report for Western Michigan University
Bradley University landed the #18 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bradley University awarded about 10 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $36,017 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Bradley University
Ball State University landed the #19 spot for social work this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Ball State University awarded about 106 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $39,094 early in their careers. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $23,900 in student loans.
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Ohio University Main Campus came in at #20 for social work this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. About 152 social work degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $43,618 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,570 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for Ohio University Main Campus
Cedarville University placed #21 among the best social work schools. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Cedarville University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 social work students who graduated with this degree at Cedarville University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $35,967. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin River Falls ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin River Falls awarded about 23 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn around $45,870 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin River Falls graduates carry a median of $26,303 in student loans.
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Central Michigan University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 social work students who graduated with this degree at Central Michigan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $35,800 in their early career. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Concordia University Wisconsin came in at #24 for social work this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Mequon. Concordia University Wisconsin graduates 69% of students within six years. Concordia University Wisconsin awarded about 63 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Concordia University Wisconsin generally make around $58,227. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #25 for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 87 social work students who graduated with this degree at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $46,602. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Social Work Schools
These schools also placed among the best for social work this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 112 schools evaluated.
- 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.