by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 12 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Social Work Master's Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 2,084 master's degrees in social work to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The social work master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality social work program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To account for this we include a school's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for social work students working on their master's degree.
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Social Work Master's Degree Schools in Illinois list to help you make the college decision.
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for social work students seeking a a master's degree.
Any student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in social work needs to check out University of Chicago. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Chicago.
Those social work students who get their master's degree from University of Chicago make $2,622 more than the average social work student.
More information about a master’s in social work from University of Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in social work. Loyola Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Chicago.
Master's students who receive their degree from the social work program make about $51,834 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in social work from Loyola University Chicago
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a wonderful choice for individuals interested in a master's degree in social work. UIUC is a very large public university located in the small city of Champaign.
Students who graduate with their master's from the social work program state that they receive average early career earnings of $50,602.
More information about a master’s in social work from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Any student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in social work has to look into Aurora University. Aurora is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Aurora.
After graduating, social work master's recipients typically make an average of $50,809 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a master’s in social work from Aurora University
Located in the city of Chicago, UIC is a public university with a fairly large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the social work program state that they receive average early career earnings of $51,727.
More information about a master’s in social work from University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Saint Francis is a small private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Joliet.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the social work program make around $47,909 for their early career.
More information about a master’s in social work from University of St Francis
Illinois State is a very large public university located in the midsize suburb of Normal.
Master's students who receive their degree from the social work program earn about $49,552 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a master’s in social work from Illinois State University
Located in the distant town of Carbondale, SIUC is a public university with a large student population.
Master's students who receive their degree from the social work program earn an average of $46,047 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in social work from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Located in the large city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a public university with a medium-sized student population.
Master's students who receive their degree from the social work program earn an average of $45,997 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a master’s in social work from Northeastern Illinois University
SIUE is a fairly large public university located in the large suburb of Edwardsville.
Soon after graduation, social work master's recipients usually earn around $48,084 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a master’s in social work from Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleExplore all the Best Social Work Colleges in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.
One of 0 majors within the <nil> area of study, Social Work has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Social Work | 2,084 |
