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2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

14 Ranked Colleges
1,729 Degrees Awarded
$21,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master's in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Illinois, there were 2,654 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,589 and $33,608 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,729 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,267 and $46,814 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools

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 Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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 Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

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

Top 14 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

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 Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 199 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UChicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UChicago Social Work Report

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois 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. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 151 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” 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 more about Social Work at UIUC

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 248 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

UIC also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UIC Social Work Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. Edwardsville, Illinois 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.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, SIUE has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300.

Read more about Social Work at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#5

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Aurora University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Aurora, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 460 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Aurora has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora University are $13,200.

Read more about Social Work at Aurora

#6

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois

With a ranking of #6, Governors State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in University Park, Illinois, this small public school handed out 48 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

GSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Governors State University are $14,674, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Social Work at GSU

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 91 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, SIUC has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928.

Full SIUC Social Work Report

#8

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Joliet, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

University of Saint Francis also took the #6 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Saint Francis are $13,839, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at University of Saint Francis

#9

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Dominican University is a small school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 77 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Dominican U also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Dominican University are $20,884, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Work at Dominican U

#10

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 27 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at Illinois State

#14 in overall quality

Northeastern Illinois University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 42 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University also took the #14 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University

#12

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small public school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

CSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chicago State University are $15,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Work at CSU

#13

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 249 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, Loyola Chicago has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola University Chicago are $19,154.

Read more about Social Work at Loyola University Chicago

#14

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #14, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

DePaul did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full DePaul Social Work Report

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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