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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

50 Ranked Colleges
1,891 Degrees Awarded
$15,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Plains States region, there were 4,575 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,827 and $29,452 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,891 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 50 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

#1

Minot State University

Minot, North Dakota

Out of the 50 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Minot State University landed the #1 spot on the list. MSU is located in Minot, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 60 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

MSU also took the #2 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minot State University is $11,898 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

Read full report on Social Work at Minot State University

Out of the 50 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #2 spot on the list. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 61 students in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also took the #8 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,221 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State University - Mankato Social Work Report

#3

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Winona State University is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 73 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,656 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid per year to attend Winona State.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Winona State

#4

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - St Louis. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. UMSL is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 70 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,435 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid per year to attend UMSL.

Full University of Missouri - St Louis Social Work Report

#5

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Cloud State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 57 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Cloud State University is $14,267 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid.

Full Saint Cloud State University Social Work Report

#6

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Bemidji State University is a small public school situated in Bemidji, Minnesota. It awarded 36 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Bemidji State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Bemidji State University is $15,868 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

Read full report on Social Work at Bemidji State University

#7

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 84 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UND also took the #3 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $15,738 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 UND

#8

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Metropolitan State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 58 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Metro State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Metropolitan State University is $15,225 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

Read more about Social Work at Metro State

#9

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. UNI is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 72 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNI is $15,620 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 University of Northern Iowa Social Work Report

Minnesota State University - Moorhead came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Moorhead, Minnesota, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

MSU Moorhead also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $16,893 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid per year to attend MSU Moorhead.

The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.

Full Minnesota State University - Moorhead Social Work Report

With a ranking of #11, Fort Hays State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. FHSU is a fairly large public school situated in Hays, Kansas. It awarded 16 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,053 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid per year to attend Fort Hays State University.

Full Fort Hays State University Social Work Report

University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large public school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 43 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $14,040 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid.

Read full report on Social Work at UNOMAHA

#13

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Pittsburg State University is located in Pittsburg, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 28 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Pitt State is $14,436 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

Read full report on Social Work at Pitt State

#14

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri Western is $10,958 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid.

Read more about Social Work at Missouri Western State University

#15

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and it awarded 54 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $19,145 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Social Work at Iowa

University of Minnesota - Duluth ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 25 degrees to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #11 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $17,067 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid.

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 UMN Duluth

#17

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, Missouri

With a ranking of #17, University of Central Missouri did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Warrensburg, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 50 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Central Missouri is $13,677 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Central Missouri

#18

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas

With a ranking of #18, Washburn University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Washburn University is located in Topeka, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Washburn University is $14,481 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

Full Washburn University Social Work Report

With a ranking of #19, Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized school located in Marshall, Minnesota that handed out 11 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Southwest Minnesota State University is $14,397 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid.

Read more about Social Work at Southwest Minnesota State University

University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 27 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also made our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $16,001 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Social Work at Mizzou

#20

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

With a ranking of #20, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school handed out 36 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s social work students in 2019-2020.

K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,285 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid per year to attend K -State.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full K -State Social Work Report

#22

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota

St Catherine University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Kate’s, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Kate’s is $19,078 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid.

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%.

Read more about Social Work at St Catherine University

#23

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Wichita State University is located in Wichita, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 75 bachelors’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Wichita State University is $14,382 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

Read more about Social Work at Wichita State University

#24

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s social work degrees to 38 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,774 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Social Work students with aid per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

Read more about Social Work at Southeast Missouri State University

University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Kearney, Nebraska, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UNK is $16,017 for plains states region bachelor’s degree social work students with aid.

The low 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%.

Full UNK Social Work Report

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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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