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2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

90 Ranked Colleges
4,146 Degrees Awarded
$9,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 9,933 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,146 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 90 colleges that offered 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the social work program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 71 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $6,860 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $8,464 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 Urbana-Champaign

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 154 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $10,037 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Ohio State University - Main Campus

Out of the 90 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Northwest landed the #4 spot on the list. IU Northwest is a small school located in Gary, Indiana that handed out 30 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Northwest is $4,960 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at Indiana University - Northwest

#5

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 21 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - River Falls, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - River Falls is $10,124 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at UW - River Falls

#2 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Eau Claire, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 72 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $11,828 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - Eau Claire.

Read full report on Social Work at UW - Eau Claire

#7

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UW - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 61 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UW - Stevens Point also took the #8 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,433 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.

Full UW - Stevens Point Social Work Report

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 146 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IUPUI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $6,315 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#18 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is a public institution located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Green Bay, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $11,641 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at UW - Green Bay

#10

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

With a ranking of #10, Oakland University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Oakland is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 95 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $7,751 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Oakland.

Read full report on Social Work at Oakland University

#11

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana University - South Bend is a small public school situated in South Bend, Indiana. It awarded 37 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - South Bend is $5,057 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at Indiana University - South Bend

#12 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large public school situated in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It awarded 35 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW Oshkosh has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is $13,114 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

#13

University of Wisconsin - Superior

Superior, Wisconsin
#21 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Superior landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Superior, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 38 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, UW - Superior has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Superior is $10,426 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Superior Social Work Report

#14

Indiana University - East

Richmond, Indiana

Indiana University - East landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana University - East is a small public school situated in Richmond, Indiana. It awarded 23 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,002 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend IU East.

Read full report on Social Work at Indiana University - East

With a ranking of #15, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. SIUE is a public institution located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $9,938 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#16

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#23 in overall quality

Ball State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 70 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Ball State has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State is $10,487 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at Ball State

#17

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#22 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 90 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

GVSU also took the #22 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grand Valley State University is $12,459 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at GVSU

#18

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Springfield is $8,323 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at UIS

#19

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Evansville, Indiana, this fairly large public school handed out 59 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for USI is $9,842 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Southern Indiana

#20

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 69 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,156 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UW - Whitewater.

Read more about Social Work at UW - Whitewater

#21

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Ferris State University is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 67 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $10,521 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Ferris.

Full Ferris Social Work Report

#22

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

Purdue University Northwest did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Hammond, Indiana, this medium-sized public school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Purdue Northwest is $8,401 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at Purdue University Northwest

University of Michigan - Flint ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Flint, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 30 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,512 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UM Flint.

Read more about Social Work at University of Michigan - Flint

#24

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan
#25 in overall quality

Saginaw Valley State University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 90 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Saginaw Valley State University has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saginaw Valley State University is $11,734 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Saginaw Valley State University Social Work Report

#25

Viterbo University

La Crosse, Wisconsin
#4 in overall quality

Viterbo University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 20 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Viterbo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $17,042 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Viterbo University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Viterbo University 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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