2023 Best Value Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
83
Ranked Colleges
10,126
Degrees Awarded
$7,600
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
With 57,401 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, social work is the 9th most popular major in the United States.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 10,126 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 83 colleges that offer a degree in social work. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent social work programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the social work program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 175 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Chicago is $2,500 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Social Work at University of Chicago
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 403 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $2,670 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read more about Social Work at U-M
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 208 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $3,981 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read more about Social Work at UW - Madison
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 226 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $4,858 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at UIUC
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 617 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,026 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Social Work Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 526 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,068 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Social Work Report
Michigan State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 76 students in 2020-2021.
Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $6,927 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Social Work at Michigan State
Ball State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 81 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ball State has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Ball State University Social Work Report
Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $5,752 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IU Bloomington.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Social Work at IU Bloomington
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 251 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,549 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 University of Illinois at Chicago
With a ranking of #11, Indiana University - South Bend did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - South Bend is a public institution located in South Bend, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,504 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.
Full Indiana University - South Bend Social Work Report
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Eau Claire, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 108 students in 2020-2021.
UW - Eau Claire did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $9,547 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Social Work at UW - Eau Claire
With a ranking of #13, Indiana University - East did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. IU East is a small school located in Richmond, Indiana that handed out 15 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,516 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IU East.
Read full report on Social Work at IU East
Ferris State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Big Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 102 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $6,577 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ferris.
Full Ferris State University Social Work Report
Indiana University - Northwest landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana University - Northwest is a small school located in Gary, Indiana that handed out 35 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Northwest is $2,714 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Social Work at IU Northwest
With a ranking of #16, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school handed out 119 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
UW - Whitewater also took the #14 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is $8,143 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Social Work at UW - Whitewater
University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 24 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,438 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - River Falls.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at University of Wisconsin - River Falls
With a ranking of #18, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wayne State University is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 453 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
Wayne State also took the #17 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,060 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wayne State University.
Read more about Social Work at Wayne State
Oakland University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Oakland is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 68 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Oakland University is $8,949 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Oakland University
Aurora University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Aurora, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social work degrees to 712 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, Aurora has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Aurora University is $13,571 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
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
University of Wisconsin - Superior ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Superior, Wisconsin, this small public school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UW - Superior is $9,360 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Superior
With a ranking of #22, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 64 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,047 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend SIUE.
Read more about Social Work at SIUE
Grand Valley State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. GVSU is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 227 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, GVSU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $10,259 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Read more about Social Work at Grand Valley State University
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. UWM is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 252 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $11,973 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Social Work at UWM
With a ranking of #25, Saginaw Valley State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saginaw Valley State University is located in University Center, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 142 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Saginaw Valley State University is $10,424 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Saginaw Valley State University
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