2023 Best Value Colleges for Social Work (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
84
Ranked Colleges
10,408
Degrees Awarded
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking.
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 Great Lakes region, there were 10,408 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,459 and $27,818 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 84 colleges that offered 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.
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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.
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. 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 Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Social Work (Income $48-$75k) 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 175 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
UChicago also took the #1 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $8,375 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Social Work at UChicago
Out of the 84 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 403 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $10,481 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Social Work Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 208 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $10,364 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, 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 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at UW - Madison
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 226 students in 2020-2021.
UIUC also took the #5 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $11,505 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read full report on Social Work at UIUC
Out of the 84 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 526 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $13,273 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Social Work at Ohio State University - Main Campus
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 617 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k list, IUPUI has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $13,306 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at IUPUI
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 251 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $14,105 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Social Work Report
With a ranking of #8, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. UW - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 108 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
UW - Eau Claire also took the #11 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $14,737 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Social Work at UW - Eau Claire
Aurora University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Aurora University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Aurora, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 712 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Aurora also made our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Aurora University is $15,645 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Aurora Social Work Report
With a ranking of #10, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Wayne State University is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 454 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k list, Wayne State has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $13,612 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Social Work at Wayne State
Oakland University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Oakland is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 68 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $12,008 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Oakland University.
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%.
Read more about Social Work at Oakland University
With a ranking of #12, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 119 degrees to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k list, UW - Whitewater has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Whitewater is $14,226 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Indiana University - South Bend landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in South Bend, Indiana, and it awarded 47 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana University - South Bend is $10,840 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Indiana University - South Bend Social Work Report
With a ranking of #14, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 81 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,158 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Ball State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 more about Social Work at Ball State
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. IU Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 27 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $12,369 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Social Work at Indiana University - Bloomington
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized public school situated in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It awarded 57 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Stevens Point, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,560 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.
Full University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Social Work Report
Indiana University - East ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. IU East is a small school located in Richmond, Indiana that handed out 15 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,955 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend IU East.
Full IU East Social Work Report
Saginaw Valley State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Saginaw Valley State University is a public institution located in University Center, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 142 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,265 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Saginaw Valley State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Saginaw Valley State University
Stark State College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Stark State College is located in North Canton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Stark State College is $8,660 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Stark State College Social Work Report
Grand Valley State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Grand Valley State University is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 227 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,277 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Grand Valley State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at Grand Valley State University
Indiana University - Northwest landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Indiana University - Northwest is located in Gary, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 35 ’s social work degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend IU Northwest is $7,885 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Indiana University - Northwest Social Work Report
With a ranking of #22, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UW - River Falls is $14,528 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 UW - River Falls
University of Illinois at Springfield came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified ’s social work students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Springfield is $11,492 for Great Lakes Region Social Work students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Social Work at UIS
University of Wisconsin - Superior ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Superior, Wisconsin, and it awarded 22 ’s social work degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Superior is $12,668 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Social Work at UW - Superior
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social work degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.
UW Oshkosh also made our “Best Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $14,157 for great lakes region social work students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.
Read more about Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
