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2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region

51 Ranked Colleges
5,125 Degrees Awarded
$42,747 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2021-2022, 58,923 people earned their degree in social work, making the major the 13th most popular in the United States. In , social work graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $37,585 and had an average of $29,565 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 10,057 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,369 and $28,472 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 5,125 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,182 and $43,142 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 51 colleges that offer a degree in social work. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their social work program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Social Work Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Work in the Great Lakes Region

1
The Erikson Institute crest
Erikson Institute
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Erikson Institute. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 21 degrees to qualified masters’s social work students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Social Work at Erikson Institute

2
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

Out of the 51 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Aurora University landed the #2 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 519 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Aurora

3
Spring Arbor crest
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, Michigan

Out of the 51 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Spring Arbor University landed the #3 spot on the list. Spring Arbor is a small school located in Spring Arbor, Michigan that handed out 114 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 Spring Arbor

4
Dominican U crest
Dominican University
River Forest, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Dominican University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region. This small school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 98 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Social Work at Dominican U

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Case Western Reserve University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Case Western Reserve University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 156 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Case Western Social Work Report

6

With a ranking of #6, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 416 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

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 IUPUI Social Work Report

7
Madonna crest
Madonna University
Livonia, Michigan

Madonna University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Livonia, Michigan, and it awarded 30 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

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 more about Social Work at Madonna

8
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Loyola Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 268 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at Loyola Chicago

9
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Wayne State is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 253 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Wayne State University Social Work Report

10
CSU crest
Chicago State University
Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 16 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Social Work at CSU

11

Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Marion, Indiana, and it awarded 215 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Social Work Report

12
GSU crest
Governors State University
University Park, Illinois

With a ranking of #12, Governors State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in University Park, Illinois, and it awarded 34 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at GSU

13
Andrews crest
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, Michigan

Andrews University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Andrews University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Berrien Springs, Michigan. It awarded 12 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Andrews University Social Work Report

14

With a ranking of #14, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 63 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

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

Full Northeastern Illinois University Social Work Report

15

With a ranking of #15, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Green Bay is a medium-sized public school situated in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It awarded 62 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at UW - Green Bay

16
Saginaw Valley State University crest
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. University Center, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 38 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Saginaw Valley State University Social Work Report

17

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 225 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Work at University of Illinois at Chicago

18

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UWM is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 140 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at UWM

19
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #19, University of Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 191 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 99%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Chicago Social Work Report

20

Youngstown State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Youngstown State University is a public institution located in Youngstown, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 66 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Work at Youngstown State University

21

With a ranking of #21, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 367 masters’s social work degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, 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 97%.

Read more about Social Work at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

22

Cleveland State University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Cleveland State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 95 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read full report on Social Work at Cleveland State University

23

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 446 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Social Work Report

24
University of Saint Francis crest
University of St Francis
Joliet, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of St Francis is a small school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 10 masters’s social work degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 more about Social Work at University of St Francis

25

Grand Valley State University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Social Work Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school awarded 125 diplomas to qualified masters’s social work students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.

Full Grand Valley State University Social Work Report

Notes and References

References

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