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2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region

51 Ranked Colleges
4,748 Degrees Awarded
$17,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 in the Plains States Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Social Work is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 9th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 57,401 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across the Plains States region, there were 4,748 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 51 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the social work program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools

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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 in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region

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

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Social Work in the Plains States Region

1
Walden University crest
Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Walden University landed the #1 spot on the list. Walden University is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 936 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Walden University also took the #11 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Walden University

2
MSU crest
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota

Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Minot State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Minot, North Dakota, this small public school awarded 78 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.

MSU also made our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #24. The yearly cost to attend Minot State University is $12,205 for Plains States Region Social Work students.

Read more about Social Work at Minot State University

3
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Capella University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region. Capella University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 69 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region social work students list, Capella University has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Capella University is $16,545 for Plains States Region Social Work students.

Read full report on Social Work at Capella University

4
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list. Winona State is a medium-sized school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 81 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region social work students list, Winona State has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,634 for plains states region social work students per year to attend Winona State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at Winona State University

5
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Dakota landed the #5 spot on the list. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 157 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UND not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $16,966 for plains states region social work students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UND Social Work Report

6
Metro State crest
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Metropolitan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. Metropolitan State University is a public institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 61 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Metro State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Metro State is $16,044 for Plains States Region Social Work students.

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

Read full report on Social Work at Metropolitan State University

7

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 94 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

Minnesota State Mankato also took the #15 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,159 for Plains States Region Social Work students per year to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Minnesota State University - Mankato

8

Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #8. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 57 students in 2020-2021.

MSU Moorhead also made our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for MSU Moorhead is $17,680 for plains states region social work students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 more about Social Work at MSU Moorhead

9

University of Northern Iowa ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 121 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

UNI also took the #10 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,438 for Plains States Region Social Work students per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, 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 UNI Social Work Report

10

With a ranking of #10, Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution located in Marshall, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $13,872 for Plains States Region Social Work students.

Read more about Social Work at Southwest Minnesota State University

11
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 94 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

St. Cloud State University also made our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #21. It costs about $14,581 for Plains States Region Social Work students per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Saint Cloud State University

12

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri State is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 106 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $16,718 for plains states region social work students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State University - Springfield Social Work Report

13
Augsburg crest
Augsburg University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Augsburg University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social work degrees to 102 students in 2020-2021.

Augsburg also took the #14 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Augsburg is $23,898 for Plains States Region Social Work students.

Read more about Social Work at Augsburg University

14
Bemidji State University crest
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Bemidji, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,033 for plains states region social work students per year to attend Bemidji State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Bemidji State University Social Work Report

15

University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a medium-sized public school situated in Kearney, Nebraska. It awarded 44 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney is $17,099 for plains states region social work students.

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

Read full report on Social Work at UNK

16

University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 149 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region social work students list, UNOMAHA has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $13,914 for Plains States Region Social Work students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 UNOMAHA Social Work Report

17
Park University crest
Park University
Parkville, Missouri

Park University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Park University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Parkville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 39 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Park University is $14,619 for Plains States Region Social Work students.

Full Park University Social Work Report

18

With a ranking of #18, University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 147 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

UST MN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of St Thomas Minnesota is $31,066 for plains states region social work students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Social Work at University of St Thomas Minnesota

19
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

University of Kansas landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school awarded 224 degrees to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.

KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $20,257 for Plains States Region Social Work students per year to attend KU.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national 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 Kansas Social Work Report

20
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.

K -State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Kansas State University is $18,433 for Plains States Region Social Work students.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad 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 K -State

21

With a ranking of #21, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list. WSU is located in Wichita, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 134 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Wichita State University is $14,859 for Plains States Region Social Work students.

Read more about Social Work at Wichita State University

22

With a ranking of #22, Fort Hays State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list. FHSU is a fairly large school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 54 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for FHSU is $13,189 for plains states region social work students.

Full FHSU Social Work Report

23

University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #23. University of Minnesota - Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 80 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $18,505 for plains states region social work students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Minnesota - Duluth

24
St. Kate's crest
St Catherine University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

St Catherine University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 66 degrees to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region social work students list, St. Kate’s has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St. Kate’s is $17,814 for Plains States Region Social Work students.

The undergrad 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 St. Kate’s

25

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list. UMN Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 117 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,878 for plains states region social work students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

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