2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Wisconsin

[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for social work students.
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2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Wisconsin
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social work degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Social Work Schools
For return on investment in social work, no school beat University Of Wisconsin Green Bay this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,700 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,288. Students borrow a median of $25,237 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn a median of $48,560 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Green Bay admits about 89% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in social work will find it at University Of Wisconsin River Falls, which ranked #2. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,008, with out-of-state students paying around $17,470. Social Work graduates carry a median of $26,303 in student loans. Social Work graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $45,870 early in their careers. Set against $26,303 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point one of the best values for social work. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $18,248. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point generally make around $41,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in social work will find it at University Of Wisconsin Superior, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Superior, University Of Wisconsin Superior is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,812, with out-of-state students paying around $16,726. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $29,166. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Superior generally make around $42,487. Set against $29,166 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,532, compared with $16,446 for out-of-state students. Social Work graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $47,008. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned the #6 position for value in social work this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Students borrow a median of $25,912 to complete the social work program here. Social Work graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of $43,411 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee placed #7 among the best values for social work. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, with out-of-state students paying around $22,398. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $29,610. Social Work graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $46,852 early in their careers. Set against $29,610 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $21,398. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $54,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Alverno College earned the #9 position for value in social work this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Alverno College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,086. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $34,425. Social Work graduates of Alverno College earn a median of $55,790 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #10 spot for social work value this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. In-state tuition and fees average $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Social Work graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Social Work graduates of University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of $40,562 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #11 for value in social work this year. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Social Work graduates carry a median of $25,821 in student loans. Social Work graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $54,235 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Marian University Wisconsin placed #12 among the best values for social work. Set in the city of Fond Du Lac, Marian University Wisconsin is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,204. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $27,242. Early-career social work graduates make about $72,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Concordia University Wisconsin placed #13 among the best values for social work. Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mequon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,470. Social Work graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Social Work graduates of Concordia University Wisconsin earn a median of $58,227 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Marquette University came in at #14 for value in social work this year. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,170. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $37,494. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Marquette University admits about 81% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.