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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

91 Ranked Colleges
4,358 Degrees Awarded
$9,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Social Work is the 12th most popular major in the country with 57,618 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,358 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 91 colleges that offer a degree in social work. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality social work programs that also have a lower cost than 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 71 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $6,860 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Social Work Report

Out of the 91 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 78 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,464 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Out of the 91 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 154 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $10,037 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at Ohio State

Out of the 91 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Northwest landed the #4 spot on the list. IU Northwest is a small school located in Gary, Indiana that handed out 30 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $4,960 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - Northwest.

Full IU Northwest Social Work Report

#5

University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

UW - River Falls also took the #6 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $10,124 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%.

Full UW - River Falls Social Work Report

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 72 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $11,828 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

#7

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Stevens Point, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 61 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Stevens Point also took the #9 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $11,433 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at UW - Stevens Point

With a ranking of #8, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. IUPUI is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 146 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

IUPUI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $6,315 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at IUPUI

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is located in Green Bay, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UW - Green Bay also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Green Bay is $11,641 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Social Work Report

#10

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

With a ranking of #10, Oakland University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Oakland is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 95 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,751 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Oakland University.

Full Oakland Social Work Report

#11

Indiana University - South Bend

South Bend, Indiana

Indiana University - South Bend landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana University - South Bend is a public institution located in South Bend, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,057 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - South Bend.

Read more about Social Work at Indiana University - South Bend

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 35 students in 2019-2020.

UW Oshkosh also took the #13 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW Oshkosh is $13,114 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UW Oshkosh Social Work Report

#13

University of Wisconsin - Superior

Superior, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Superior landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - Superior is a public institution located in Superior, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Superior also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Superior is $10,426 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Superior

#14

Indiana University - East

Richmond, Indiana

Indiana University - East ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Richmond, Indiana, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,002 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend IU East.

Read more about Social Work at IU East

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 38 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $9,938 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Social Work Report

#16

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 70 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State is $10,487 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Ball State Social Work Report

#17

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan

Grand Valley State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 90 students in 2019-2020.

GVSU also took the #23 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $12,459 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Grand Valley State University

#18

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. University of Illinois at Springfield is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 19 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,323 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Illinois at Springfield.

Read more about Social Work at University of Illinois at Springfield

#19

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

With a ranking of #19, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Southern Indiana is a public institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 59 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Southern Indiana is $9,842 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Southern Indiana Social Work Report

#20

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large school located in Whitewater, Wisconsin that handed out 69 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - Whitewater is $12,156 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

#21

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Big Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 67 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Ferris is $10,521 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Ferris Social Work Report

#22

Purdue University Northwest

Hammond, Indiana

With a ranking of #22, Purdue University Northwest did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Purdue University Northwest is a public institution located in Hammond, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Purdue Northwest is $8,401 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at Purdue University Northwest

University of Michigan - Flint did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. University of Michigan - Flint is located in Flint, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $9,512 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Michigan - Flint.

Full UM Flint Social Work Report

#24

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan

With a ranking of #24, Saginaw Valley State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 90 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,734 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Saginaw Valley State University.

Full Saginaw Valley State University Social Work Report

#25

Viterbo University

La Crosse, Wisconsin

Viterbo University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Viterbo is a small private not-for-profit school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 20 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Viterbo also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Viterbo University is $17,042 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 more about Social Work at Viterbo 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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