2027 Best Social Work Schools in Illinois
Social Work degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 25 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 Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social work education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Social Work
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2027 ranking of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 257 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $43,709. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,344 in student loans.
Read more about the social work program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Chicago came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 173 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $52,551 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 294 social work degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent 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.
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Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Addison. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois awarded about 150 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $101,006 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $39,146.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 205 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $51,727. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete this degree.
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Bradley University came in at #6 for social work this year. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. Bradley University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 social work students who graduated with this degree at Bradley University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $36,017. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 76 social work students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $44,297 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Aurora University earned the #8 position for social work this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Aurora University awarded about 745 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $44,596. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Aurora University
Trinity Christian College landed the #9 spot for social work this year. Set in the suburb of Palos Heights, Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 social work students who graduated with this degree at Trinity Christian College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Trinity Christian College generally make around $48,400. Trinity Christian College graduates carry a median of $28,722 in student loans.
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Northeastern Illinois University earned the #10 position for social work this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 112 social work students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $42,588 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
More information about a degree in social work from Northeastern Illinois University
Western Illinois University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 social work degrees were awarded at Western Illinois University in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $39,641 early in their careers. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $29,850 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for Western Illinois University
Depaul University placed #12 among the best social work schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 social work degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $51,689 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans.
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Lewis University came in at #13 for social work this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lewis University awarded about 50 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Lewis University earn around $49,271 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #14 position for social work this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 44 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $42,529 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Dominican University came in at #15 for social work this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. Dominican University awarded about 86 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $52,605. Typical student debt for the program is $26,236.
See the full social work program report for Dominican University
Southwestern Illinois College placed #16 among the best social work schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Belleville. Southwestern Illinois College awarded about 12 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $44,345 in their early career. Southwestern Illinois College graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans.
See the full social work program report for Southwestern Illinois College
University Of Illinois At Springfield came in at #17 for social work this year. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Springfield in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $38,707 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Springfield graduates carry a median of $24,810 in student loans.
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National Louis University placed #18 among the best social work schools. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. National Louis University graduates 30% of students within six years. National Louis University awarded about 30 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $37,205 early in their careers. National Louis University graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from National Louis University
University Of St Francis placed #19 among the best social work schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of St Francis awarded about 49 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $47,909 in their early career. University Of St Francis graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Olivet Nazarene University landed the #20 spot for social work this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Olivet Nazarene University graduates 61% of students within six years. About 16 social work degrees were awarded at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Olivet Nazarene University earn around $31,720 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full social work program report for Olivet Nazarene University
Governors State University came in at #21 for social work this year. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. Governors State University graduates 21% of students within six years. Governors State University awarded about 41 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $48,182 early in their careers. Governors State University graduates carry a median of $33,983 in student loans.
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Erikson Institute landed the #22 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Erikson Institute is a small private not-for-profit university. Erikson Institute awarded about 26 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Erikson Institute generally make around $53,028.
More information about a degree in social work from Erikson Institute
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earned the #23 position for social work this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. About 26 social work degrees were awarded at City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earn a median of $48,264 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #24 for social work this year. This large public university is located in the town of Carbondale. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Southern Illinois University Carbondale awarded about 78 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $40,356 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Chicago State University came in at #25 for social work this year. Chicago State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 16%. Chicago State University awarded about 12 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Chicago State University earn a median of $48,031 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $43,322 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in social work from Chicago State University
More Social Work Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 25 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.