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

18 Ranked Colleges
791 Degrees Awarded
$14,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

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 Illinois, there were 2,654 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,589 and $33,608 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 791 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree 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.

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.

More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

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

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 78 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $8,464 for Illinois 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%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Social Work Report

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #2 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, SIUE has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $9,938 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Springfield. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIS has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $8,323 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UIS.

Full University of Illinois at Springfield Social Work Report

#4

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Aurora University landed the #4 spot on the list. Aurora University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Aurora, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 141 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Aurora did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $13,845 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Aurora University.

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 more about Social Work at Aurora University

#5

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Governors State University landed the #5 spot on the list. This small school is located in University Park, Illinois, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

GSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $12,046 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend GSU.

Full Governors State University Social Work Report

#6

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Western Illinois University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU also took the #5 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Illinois University is $14,526 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full WIU Social Work Report

With a ranking of #7, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $14,306 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at SIUC

#8

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 51 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $14,999 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Illinois State

With a ranking of #9, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 132 students in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern Illinois University is $15,513 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Social Work Report

#10

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

University of St Francis ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of St Francis is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Joliet, Illinois. It awarded 11 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Saint Francis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Saint Francis is $11,229 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of St Francis Social Work Report

#11

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bradley University is a medium-sized school located in Peoria, Illinois that handed out 20 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Bradley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Bradley University is $18,232 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Bradley Social Work Report

#12

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bourbonnais, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Olivet Nazarene has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene University is $15,390 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Olivet Nazarene Social Work Report

#13

Saint Augustine College

Chicago, Illinois

Saint Augustine College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Augustine College, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St. Augustine College is $12,491 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Social Work at Saint Augustine College

#14

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

National Louis University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

NLU also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for NLU is $14,403 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Social Work at National Louis University

#15

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois

Millikin University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Millikin University is located in Decatur, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Millikin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Millikin is $17,692 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Social Work at Millikin

#16

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois

With a ranking of #16, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Concordia University, Chicago is located in River Forest, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Concordia University, Chicago also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Chicago is $15,406 for illinois bachelor’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Concordia University, Chicago Social Work Report

#17

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, Illinois

Trinity Christian College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Trinity Christian College is a small school located in Palos Heights, Illinois that handed out 7 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Trinity Christian did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $19,918 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Trinity Christian.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.

Read more about Social Work at Trinity Christian College

#18

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #18, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Loyola University Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 44 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Loyola Chicago also took the #8 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $29,788 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Loyola University Chicago.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Loyola University Chicago

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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