Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

18 Ranked Colleges
791 Degrees Awarded
$14,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois 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. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 56,762 social work students received their degree, making the major the 8th most popular in the country.

Across Illinois, there were 2,650 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 791 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in social work. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality social work programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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 Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

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

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,464 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 38 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE also took the #7 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $9,938 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at SIUE

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Springfield. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Springfield, Illinois, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UIS not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIS is $8,323 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UIS Social Work Report

#4

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Aurora University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. Aurora, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 141 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Aurora has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Aurora University is $13,845 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Full Aurora Social Work Report

#5

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Governors State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. GSU is a small public school situated in University Park, Illinois. It awarded 44 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

GSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $12,046 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Governors State University.

Read full report on Social Work at GSU

#6

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

WIU also took the #5 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WIU is $14,526 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Western Illinois University Social Work Report

#10 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 47 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $14,306 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SIUC.

Read full report on Social Work at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#8

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Illinois State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 51 students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $14,999 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State Social Work Report

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 132 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $15,513 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northeastern Illinois University.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Social Work Report

#10

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

University of St Francis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. University of St Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

University of Saint Francis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $11,229 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Saint Francis.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Saint Francis

#11

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

Bradley University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 20 students in 2019-2020.

Bradley also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $18,232 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bradley University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Social Work at Bradley

#12

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Olivet Nazarene University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Olivet Nazarene is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Olivet Nazarene also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene is $15,390 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at Olivet Nazarene University

#13

Saint Augustine College

Chicago, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Saint Augustine College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. St. Augustine College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 25 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Augustine College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $12,491 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saint Augustine College.

Full Saint Augustine College Social Work Report

#14

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

National Louis University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

NLU also took the #16 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,403 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend National Louis University.

Read more about Social Work at NLU

#15

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Millikin University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Millikin University is a small school located in Decatur, Illinois that handed out 10 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Millikin has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Millikin University is $17,692 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Millikin University Social Work Report

#16

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

Concordia University, Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 17 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Concordia University, Chicago has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Chicago is $15,406 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at Concordia University, Chicago

#17

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Trinity Christian College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Palos Heights, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Trinity Christian has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $19,918 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Trinity Christian.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.

Full Trinity Christian Social Work Report

#18

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Loyola University Chicago came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 44 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Loyola Chicago also took the #8 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Loyola University Chicago is $29,788 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Loyola University Chicago Social Work Report

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.

Credits

Featured Social Work Schools

Find Schools Near You