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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

24 Ranked Colleges
2,479 Degrees Awarded
$21,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

With 56,762 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, social work is the 8th most popular major in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 4,557 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,479 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree in social work. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social work programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the social work program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region master’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 24 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 247 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at WUSTL are $56,562, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Washington University in St Louis Social Work Report

#2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school awarded 124 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at UMN Twin Cities

#13 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 43 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Duluth are $28,606.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#4

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Dakota. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 75 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UND also took the #10 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UND are $18,326, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of North Dakota Social Work Report

#5 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #5 spot on the list. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 102 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Mizzou Social Work Report

#6

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#12 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

UNI also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNI are $22,648.

Read more about Social Work at UNI

#7

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#17 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 47 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at St. Cloud State University are $12,904.

Read full report on Social Work at St. Cloud State University

#15 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 30 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Minnesota State University - Mankato are $8,788, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Minnesota State Mankato Social Work Report

#16 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. University of Nebraska at Omaha is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 97 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UNOMAHA also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNOMAHA are $16,374.

Read more about Social Work at University of Nebraska at Omaha

#10

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

University of Iowa came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school awarded 101 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Iowa also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa are $27,613, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at University of Iowa

#11

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#19 in overall quality

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 61 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMSL, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - St Louis are $30,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Missouri - St Louis Social Work Report

#12

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

St Catherine University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. St. Kate’s is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Kate’s has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at St. Kate’s are $17,400, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at St Catherine University

#13

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#21 in overall quality

Washburn University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. This medium-sized school is located in Topeka, Kansas, and it awarded 60 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Washburn University, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Washburn University are $19,206, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at Washburn University

#14

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#23 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Kansas City, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 51 students in 2019-2020.

UMKC also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #23. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at UMKC

#18 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.

Missouri State also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri State University - Springfield are $12,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Missouri State Social Work Report

#16

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#6 in overall quality

University of Kansas came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 207 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

KU also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Kansas are $25,007.

Read full report on Social Work at KU

#17

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#7 in overall quality

Saint Louis University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Louis University is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 81 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

SLU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Louis University are $22,074.

Read full report on Social Work at SLU

#18

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#20 in overall quality

Wichita State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wichita State University is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 49 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #20. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at WSU are $15,112.

Read full report on Social Work at Wichita State University

#19

Newman University

Wichita, Kansas
#25 in overall quality

Newman University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 49 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Newman University, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Newman University are $8,484, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at Newman University

#9 in overall quality

The College of Saint Scholastica came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Scholastica has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The College of Saint Scholastica are $15,502.

Read more about Social Work at St. Scholastica

#21

Park University

Parkville, Missouri
#24 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Park University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Park University is located in Parkville, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 33 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, Park University has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Park University are $6,224.

Read more about Social Work at Park University

#22

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#11 in overall quality

Augsburg University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Augsburg University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 81 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Augsburg also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at Augsburg are $13,165, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at Augsburg University

#23

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa
#22 in overall quality

Saint Ambrose University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Davenport, Iowa, and it awarded 20 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Ambrose University, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saint Ambrose University are $18,150, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Saint Ambrose University Social Work Report

#24

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

University of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 117 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UST MN, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UST MN are $24,814.

Full UST MN Social Work Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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