2027 Best Social Work Schools in the The Plains States Region
Social Work is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 64 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best social work schools.
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Best Schools for Social Work in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social work education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Social Work
Leading the list is University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, our #1 school for social work. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 108 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $56,823. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota awarded about 108 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota generally make around $69,785. Typical student debt for the program is $27,081.
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Creighton University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in social work, ranking #3. Creighton University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Omaha. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 social work students who graduated with this degree at Creighton University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Creighton University earn a median of $64,369 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,831.
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Washington University In St Louis is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in social work, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 112 social work degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $50,855 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at University Of Missouri Columbia, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $44,434 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,119.
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Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #6 position for social work this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 31 social work degrees were awarded at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $67,909. Typical student debt for the program is $24,499.
More information about a degree in social work from Maryville University Of Saint Louis
University Of Mary landed the #7 spot for social work this year. Located in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of Mary graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Mary earn around $65,565 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Mary graduates carry a median of $26,983 in student loans.
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University Of Kansas came in at #8 for social work this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 253 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Kansas in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Kansas earn around $45,600 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Dakota ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 118 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Dakota in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $55,614 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #10 position for social work this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 73 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $50,207 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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Metropolitan State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Metropolitan State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 65 social work students who graduated with this degree at Metropolitan State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Metropolitan State University generally make around $47,637. Metropolitan State University graduates carry a median of $29,615 in student loans.
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Winona State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Winona State University awarded about 142 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $44,546 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Iowa landed the #13 spot for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 222 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $44,523. Students borrow a median of $25,180 to complete this degree.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #14 spot for social work this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 74 social work degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $65,989 in the first couple years of their career. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
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Bethel University Minnesota placed #15 among the best social work schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 71% of students finish within six years. Bethel University Minnesota awarded about 29 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $45,259 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Dordt College earned the #16 position for social work this year. Located in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Dordt College graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 social work students who graduated with this degree at Dordt College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $54,926 in their early career. Dordt College graduates carry a median of $21,812 in student loans.
More information about a degree in social work from Dordt College
Bemidji State University earned the #17 position for social work this year. Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Bemidji State University awarded about 34 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $47,192. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth earned the #18 position for social work this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates 65% of students within six years. About 87 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $44,276. Typical student debt for the program is $23,111.
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Concordia College At Moorhead placed #19 among the best social work schools. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Concordia College At Moorhead is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 13 social work degrees were awarded at Concordia College At Moorhead in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Concordia College At Moorhead generally make around $44,611. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Northern Iowa came in at #20 for social work this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. University Of Northern Iowa awarded about 100 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $44,780. Students borrow a median of $22,847 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska At Omaha ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 143 social work students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $45,149. Typical student debt for the program is $19,930.
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Fort Hays State University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best social work schools. Set in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public institution. Fort Hays State University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 151 social work students who graduated with this degree at Fort Hays State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Fort Hays State University earn around $42,413 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Kansas State University came in at #23 for social work this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 28 social work degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $41,833 in their early career. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $24,603 in student loans.
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Grand View University landed the #24 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 social work degrees were awarded at Grand View University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Grand View University generally make around $40,736. Grand View University graduates carry a median of $25,837 in student loans.
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Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #25 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 101 social work degrees were awarded at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Saint Louis University Main Campus earn around $48,270 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,875 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Social Work Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong social work education:
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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 · 64 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.