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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

50 Ranked Colleges
1,891 Degrees Awarded
$11,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 57,618 people earned their degree in social work, making the major the 12th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, social work graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,459 and had an average of $30,084 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 4,575 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,827 and $29,452 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.

This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 50 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The social work school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota

Out of the 50 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Minot State University landed the #1 spot on the list. MSU is located in Minot, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 60 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

MSU also took the #2 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Minot State University is $8,923 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Work at Minot State University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a fairly large school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 25 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,443 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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

#3

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

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 For Those Making $0-$30k. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 73 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Winona State, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $12,381 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 University

#4

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota

Out of the 50 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, St Olaf College landed the #4 spot on the list. St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Northfield, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for St. Olaf is $12,459 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 St. Olaf

#5

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bemidji State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bemidji State University is a small school located in Bemidji, Minnesota that handed out 36 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Bemidji State University also took the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,632 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bemidji State University.

Read more about Social Work at Bemidji State University

#6

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

With a ranking of #6, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 72 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $10,757 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 University of Northern Iowa

#7

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

With a ranking of #7, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. 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.

UND also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend UND is $11,092 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at University of North Dakota

With a ranking of #8, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 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. It costs about $11,057 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.

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%.

Read more about Social Work at Minnesota State Mankato

#9

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University 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 For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $10,688 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Work at Saint Cloud State University

With a ranking of #10, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 69 students in 2019-2020.

MSU Moorhead also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $12,484 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Minnesota State University - Moorhead

With a ranking of #11, Fort Hays State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. FHSU is a public institution located in Hays, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend FHSU is $9,464 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Work at Fort Hays State University

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 27 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #23 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $10,940 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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%.

Read more about Social Work at University of Missouri - Columbia

#13

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. K -State is a large school located in Manhattan, Kansas that handed out 36 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, K -State has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kansas State University is $14,232 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full K -State Social Work Report

#14

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMSL is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 70 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,401 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Missouri - St Louis.

Read more about Social Work at University of Missouri - St Louis

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $10,490 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UNOMAHA Social Work Report

#16

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 54 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $12,975 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Iowa Social Work Report

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized school located in Marshall, Minnesota that handed out 11 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $10,801 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Work at Southwest Minnesota State University

#18

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Western State University is $8,762 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Work at Missouri Western State University

#19

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. This medium-sized school is located in Pittsburg, Kansas, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,638 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pitt State.

Full Pittsburg State University Social Work Report

#20

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

St Catherine University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. St. Kate’s is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Kate’s, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St Catherine University is $15,102 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at St Catherine University

#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 For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Washburn University is $11,054 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Social Work at Washburn University

#22

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #22, Metropolitan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Metro State is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 58 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Metro State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Metro State is $14,388 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Metropolitan State University Social Work Report

#23

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Central Missouri is a medium-sized public school situated in Warrensburg, Missouri. It awarded 50 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Central Missouri is $10,608 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Work at UCM

#24

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Southeast Missouri State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It awarded 38 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $9,092 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Work at Southeast Missouri State University

#25

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

With a ranking of #25, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. WSU is a fairly large school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 75 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for WSU is $11,642 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Social Work at Wichita 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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