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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Plains States Region

51 Ranked Colleges
1,891 Degrees Awarded
$15,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Plains States region, there were 4,557 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,891 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 51 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.

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 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 Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Plains States Region

#1

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minot State University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. This small school is located in Minot, North Dakota, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU also took the #2 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MSU is $11,898 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

Full MSU Social Work Report

#2

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Bemidji State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bemidji State University, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $15,868 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

Read more about Social Work at Bemidji State University

#3

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Winona State University is a medium-sized school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 73 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Winona State also took the #1 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $17,656 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

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 more about Social Work at Winona State

#4

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#3 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 Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region. Grand Forks, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 84 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $15,738 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Read full report on Social Work at UND

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Moorhead not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Moorhead is $16,893 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.

Full MSU Moorhead Social Work Report

#8 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 61 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $16,221 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

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 full report on Social Work at Minnesota State Mankato

Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. This medium-sized school is located in Marshall, Minnesota, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,397 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University Social Work Report

#8

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

Metropolitan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 58 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Metro State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,225 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students per year to attend Metro State.

Read more about Social Work at Metropolitan State University

#11 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 25 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $17,067 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at UMN Duluth

#10

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#21 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 57 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

St. Cloud State University also took the #21 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,267 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

Read full report on Social Work at Saint Cloud State University

#11

Chadron State College

Chadron, Nebraska

Chadron State College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Chadron, Nebraska, this small public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,268 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students per year to attend Chadron State College.

Read more about Social Work at Chadron State College

#12

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#12 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 72 students in 2019-2020.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,620 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students per year to attend UNI.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full University of Northern Iowa Social Work Report

Fort Hays State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Hays, Kansas, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Fort Hays State University is $12,053 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

Read full report on Social Work at FHSU

With a ranking of #14, University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. UNK is a medium-sized public school situated in Kearney, Nebraska. It awarded 28 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Nebraska at Kearney is $16,017 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at UNK

#15

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Pitt State is located in Pittsburg, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $14,436 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students per year to attend Pitt State.

Read more about Social Work at Pittsburg State University

#16

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

With a ranking of #16, University of Central Missouri did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. UCM is a medium-sized public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 50 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,677 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students per year to attend University of Central Missouri.

Read more about Social Work at UCM

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 40 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

Read more about Social Work at Missouri State

#18

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $12,774 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

Full Southeast Missouri State University Social Work Report

#19

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

University of Sioux Falls came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $19,893 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students per year to attend University of Sioux Falls.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at University of Sioux Falls

#19

Park University

Parkville, Missouri

Park University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Park University is a fairly large school located in Parkville, Missouri that handed out 12 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Park University is $15,579 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

Full Park University Social Work Report

#21

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas

Washburn University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Washburn University is a medium-sized school located in Topeka, Kansas that handed out 37 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,481 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students per year to attend Washburn University.

Full Washburn University Social Work Report

#22

Walden University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Walden University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Full Walden University Social Work Report

#23

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 16 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $17,491 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

The 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 Lindenwood University

#24

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#16 in overall quality

Kansas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #24. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.

K -State also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend K -State is $18,285 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Social Work at Kansas State University

#25

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, this small public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Western is $10,958 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students.

Read full report on Social Work at Missouri Western State 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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