2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Master’s in the Great Lakes 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 Great Lakes region, there were 10,171 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,708 and $29,897 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 Making $0-$30k” 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.
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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our 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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
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 Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 199 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 379 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, U-M has also earned the #2 rank 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 more about Social Work at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UW - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 167 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #3 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 - 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
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. 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 also took the #7 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 UIUC are $30,083.
Read full report on Social Work at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Out of the 46 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 365 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 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 Ohio State are $37,141.
Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 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 IU Bloomington are $33,338.
With a ranking of #7, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 425 students 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013.
Read full report on Social Work at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
With a ranking of #9, 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 Making $0-$30k list. Green Bay, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Green Bay, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Green Bay are $19,126, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Ferris State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Big Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris are $7,908, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 248 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
UIC also took the #10 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 Chicago are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Indiana University - East landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. IU East is a small school located in Richmond, Indiana that handed out 20 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - East are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is a fairly large public school situated in Whitewater, Wisconsin. It awarded 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 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 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW Oshkosh is a public institution located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k 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 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh are $18,744, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Grand Valley State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grand Valley State University is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 143 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at GVSU are $17,448, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #16, 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 Making $0-$30k list. SIUE is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 29 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Social Work Report
Governors State University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. 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 GSU are $14,674, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Case Western Reserve University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 223 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
Case Western did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 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 Case Western are $47,958.
Aurora University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Aurora is a private not-for-profit institution located in Aurora, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 460 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Aurora, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora University are $13,200, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. 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 also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Saginaw Valley State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saginaw Valley State University is a medium-sized public school situated in University Center, Michigan. It awarded 56 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 Saginaw Valley State University are $28,780.
Wayne State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wayne State University is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 322 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wayne State, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #23, Youngstown State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 71 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Youngstown State University are $9,495, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 91 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Social Work at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Western Michigan University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Western Michigan University is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 113 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
WMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 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 Western Michigan University are $31,355.
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Army Medicine.
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