2026 Best Value Clinical/Medical Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Clinical/Medical Social Work](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/clinical-medical-social-work/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for clinical/medical social work students.
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2026 Best Value Clinical/Medical Social Work Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in clinical/medical social work, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Clinical/Medical Social Work Schools
Leading the list is Ivy Tech Community College, our #1 best value for clinical/medical social work in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Students borrow a median of $16,067 to complete the clinical/medical social work program here. Clinical/medical Social Work graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $29,954 early in their careers. Set against $16,067 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Indiana State University one of the best values for clinical/medical social work. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,258 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the clinical/medical social work program here. Clinical/medical Social Work graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $43,930 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Southern Indiana came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical/medical social work schools. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,066, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Typical student debt for clinical/medical social work graduates is $21,999. Early-career clinical/medical social work graduates make about $48,165. That is a strong return on a $21,999 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Akron Main Campus earned it the #4 place for clinical/medical social work. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for clinical/medical social work graduates is $25,347. Soon after graduation, clinical/medical social work degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $45,096. That is a strong return on a $25,347 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical/medical social work schools. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Clinical/medical Social Work graduates carry a median of $27,981 in student loans. Clinical/medical Social Work graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $42,266 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Indianapolis came in at #6 for value in clinical/medical social work this year. University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $37,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,699 to complete the clinical/medical social work program here. Clinical/medical Social Work graduates of University Of Indianapolis earn a median of $52,298 early in their careers. Set against $26,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Indianapolis admits about 66% of applicants.
Michigan State University landed the #7 spot for clinical/medical social work value this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete the clinical/medical social work program here. Early-career clinical/medical social work graduates make about $53,352. Set against $25,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.