2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
50
Ranked Colleges
4,791
Degrees Awarded
$11,400
Avg Net Price*
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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 58,326 people earned their degree in social work, making the major the 13th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, social work graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $37,651 and had an average of $26,679 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 4,791 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,939 and $30,670 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 50 colleges that offered 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.
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.
More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools
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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k”.
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. 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Social Work (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Washington University in St Louis. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 267 degrees to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k list, WUSTL has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WUSTL is $2,446 for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Social Work at Washington University in St Louis
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 117 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities also took the #5 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $8,609 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at UMN Twin Cities
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - St Louis. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UMSL is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 122 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,324 for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Missouri - St Louis.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.
Full University of Missouri - St Louis Social Work Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 80 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $8,697 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at University of Minnesota - Duluth
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minot State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This small school is located in Minot, North Dakota, and it awarded 78 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
MSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,060 for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Minot State University.
Read full report on Social Work at Minot State University
University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school awarded 29 degrees to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
Mizzou also made our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $11,386 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.
Read more about Social Work at Mizzou
University of North Dakota landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of North Dakota is a public institution located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 157 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UND not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of North Dakota is $13,151 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of North Dakota Social Work Report
Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 94 students in 2020-2021.
Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State Mankato is $12,263 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Social Work Report
University of Northern Iowa ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Northern Iowa is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 121 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UNI also took the #10 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $13,175 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UNI Social Work Report
With a ranking of #10, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 57 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Moorhead, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $14,194 for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at MSU Moorhead
Saint Cloud State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Saint Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 94 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Cloud State University, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $10,825 for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full St. Cloud State University Social Work Report
Winona State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 81 students in 2020-2021.
Winona State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $12,963 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Winona State University Social Work Report
University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 153 students in 2020-2021.
UNOMAHA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $11,294 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Iowa landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 174 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $15,508 for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 Iowa
Kansas State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school handed out 50 degrees to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kansas State University is $14,653 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Social Work at Kansas State University
St Olaf College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 11 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend St Olaf College is $11,138 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full St. Olaf Social Work Report
University of Kansas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. University of Kansas is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 224 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
KU also took the #9 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,288 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend KU.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 Kansas
Southwest Minnesota State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Marshall, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 14 degrees to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,945 for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.
Read full report on Social Work at Southwest Minnesota State University
Wichita State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wichita State University is located in Wichita, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 134 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $12,272 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wichita State University.
Read full report on Social Work at WSU
Fort Hays State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Fort Hays State University is a fairly large school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 54 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for FHSU is $10,847 for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full FHSU Social Work Report
University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Kearney, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 44 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney is $14,018 for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad 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 Nebraska at Kearney
Missouri Southern State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Missouri Southern is a small school located in Joplin, Missouri that handed out 23 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Missouri Southern State University is $7,731 for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Missouri Southern State University Social Work Report
Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 106 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $13,144 for Plains States Region Social Work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Missouri State University - Springfield Social Work Report
Bemidji State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bemidji State University is located in Bemidji, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Bemidji State University is $10,377 for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Bemidji State University
Southeast Missouri State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $11,406 for plains states region social work students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full Southeast Missouri State University Social Work Report
