2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Great Lakes Region” 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 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” ranking analyzed 47 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.
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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.
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Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree social work students.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Aurora University landed the #1 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Aurora, Illinois, and it awarded 460 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Aurora did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora University are $13,200.
Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Loyola University Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 249 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Loyola Chicago, the school also landed the #4 spot 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 Loyola University Chicago are $19,154.
Read full report on Social Work at Loyola University Chicago
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Spring Arbor University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Spring Arbor, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 103 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Spring Arbor University are $8,232, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Out of the 47 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ferris State University landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, 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 Ferris State University are $7,908.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 27 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Grand Valley State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Grand Valley State University is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 143 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at GVSU are $17,448, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of St Francis landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Saint Francis is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Joliet, Illinois. It awarded 26 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social work students list, University of Saint Francis has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Saint Francis are $13,839, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #9, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300.
Read full report on Social Work at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
With a ranking of #10, Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. IWU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Marion, Indiana. It awarded 99 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
IWU also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at IWU are $11,977, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Social Work Report
Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Youngstown, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 71 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 27 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Whitewater did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Whitewater are $19,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 425 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Social Work at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 60 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Green Bay not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay are $19,126.
Read full report on Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW Oshkosh is a fairly large school located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that handed out 16 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
UW Oshkosh not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh are $18,744, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Madonna 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 ranking. This small school is located in Livonia, Michigan, and it awarded 48 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 Madonna are $16,200.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee 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 ranking. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 129 students in 2019-2020.
UWM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 248 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.
UIC also took the #10 spot 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 University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036.
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bowling Green, Ohio, and it awarded 17 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 BGSU are $15,823.
Read more about Social Work at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
University of Akron Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. University of Akron Main Campus is a public institution located in Akron, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 65 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Akron Main Campus are $15,217.
Governors State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University Park, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 48 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at GSU are $14,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 151 students in 2019-2020.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Social Work at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 50 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio University - Athens Campus are $17,712, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Cleveland State University 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 ranking. Cleveland State University is a fairly large school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 82 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 Cleveland State University are $17,622.
Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Northeastern Illinois University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 42 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.
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.
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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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