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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

46 Ranked Colleges
5,096 Degrees Awarded
$24,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking.

Social Work is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 8th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 56,762 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 9,933 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 5,096 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 46 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 46 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #1 spot on the list. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 167 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UW - Madison Social Work Report

#7 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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 151 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UIUC also took the #7 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 379 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

U-M also took the #2 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 248 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social work students with aid list, UIC has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UIC Social Work Report

#9 in overall quality

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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 425 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

IUPUI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Social Work Report

#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 60 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UW - Green Bay also took the #22 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay are $19,126, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

#7

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#18 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 29 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Social Work Report

#25 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social work students with aid list, UW Oshkosh has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Oshkosh are $18,744, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at UW Oshkosh

#9

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Governors State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in University Park, Illinois, and it awarded 48 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Governors State University are $14,674, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at GSU

#10

Indiana University - East

Richmond, Indiana

Indiana University - East did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Indiana University - East is a small public school situated in Richmond, Indiana. It awarded 20 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - East are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at IU East

#11

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#12 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 129 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Social Work Report

#12

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin
#21 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 27 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Whitewater, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater are $19,200, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at UW - Whitewater

#13

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Aurora University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Aurora, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 460 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social work students with aid list, Aurora has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora are $13,200.

Read more about Social Work at Aurora University

#14

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ferris State University is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris State University are $7,908, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at Ferris

#5 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 365 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social work students with aid list, Ohio State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Social Work Report

#16

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

Michigan State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Michigan State University is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at Michigan State

#17

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. CSU is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 24 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSU are $15,056.

Full Chicago State University Social Work Report

#18

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and it awarded 71 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at Youngstown State University

#19

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 143 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social work students with aid list, GVSU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grand Valley State University are $17,448, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full GVSU Social Work Report

#20

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 322 students in 2019-2020.

Wayne State also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Wayne State University Social Work Report

#21

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 56 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Saginaw Valley State University are $28,780.

Full Saginaw Valley State University Social Work Report

With a ranking of #22, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 29 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300.

Read full report on Social Work at SIUE

Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 41 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Wright State University - Main Campus are $24,286, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Work at Wright State University - Main Campus

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 91 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928.

Read more about Social Work at SIUC

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 42 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032.

Read more about Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University

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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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