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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Social Work Schools in Illinois

17 Colleges in the United States
2,573 Social Work Degrees Awarded
$47,104 Avg Early-Career Salary

Social Work is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 40 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best social work schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Social Work in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall social work education in Illinois.

Top Schools in Social Work

1

Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 school for social work. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 258 social work degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $43,709 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,344 in student loans. Get the full social work details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

University Of Chicago came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 177 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $52,551 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree. Get the full social work details for University Of Chicago

3

A rank of #3 makes Loyola University Chicago one of the top schools for social work. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 298 social work students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $51,834 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $21,133 in student loans. See the full social work program report for Loyola University Chicago

4

Students looking for a strong social work program will find one at Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois, which ranked #4. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Addison. About 42% of students finish within six years. About 86 social work degrees were awarded at Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois earn around $101,006 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete this degree. Get the full social work details for Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois

5

University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 245 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $51,727 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. Read more about the social work program at University Of Illinois At Chicago

6

Bradley University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. Bradley University awarded about 14 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $36,017 in their early career. Bradley University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. See the full social work program report for Bradley University

7

Illinois State University earned the #7 position for social work this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 72 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $44,297 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from Illinois State University

8

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #8 spot for social work this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Northeastern Illinois University graduates 22% of students within six years. Northeastern Illinois University awarded about 144 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $42,588. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Read more about the social work program at Northeastern Illinois University

9
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL

Aurora University came in at #9 for social work this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 749 social work degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Aurora University earn around $44,596 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. Get the full social work details for Aurora University

10
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University earned the #10 position for social work this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 social work students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $51,689. Typical student debt for the program is $25,310. Read more about the social work program at Depaul University

11

Western Illinois University landed the #11 spot for social work this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 social work degrees were awarded at Western Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $39,641 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,850 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from Western Illinois University

12
Erikson Institute crest
Erikson Institute
Chicago, IL

Erikson Institute ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best social work schools. Erikson Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 23 social work degrees were awarded at Erikson Institute in the most recent year. Social Work graduates of Erikson Institute earn a median of $53,028 early in their careers. Read more about the social work program at Erikson Institute

13
Dominican University crest
Dominican University
River Forest, IL

Dominican University came in at #13 for social work this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of River Forest. Dominican University graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 95 social work students who graduated with this degree at Dominican University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Dominican University earn a median of $52,605 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,236. Get the full social work details for Dominican University

14

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #14 spot for social work this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 social work degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent year. Graduates of the social work program make about $42,529 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

15
Lewis University crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

Lewis University earned the #15 position for social work this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Romeoville. Lewis University graduates 67% of students within six years. Lewis University awarded about 37 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $49,271. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from Lewis University

16

University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #16 position for social work this year. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Springfield awarded about 11 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from University Of Illinois At Springfield earn around $38,707 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,810 to complete this degree. Get the full social work details for University Of Illinois At Springfield

17

University Of St Francis placed #17 among the best social work schools. Set in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 social work degrees were awarded at University Of St Francis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of St Francis generally make around $47,909. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full social work program report for University Of St Francis

18

Olivet Nazarene University placed #18 among the best social work schools. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 social work students who graduated with this degree at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their social work degree from Olivet Nazarene University earn around $31,720 in the first couple years of their career. Olivet Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in social work from Olivet Nazarene University

19

National Louis University landed the #19 spot for social work this year. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 social work degrees were awarded at National Louis University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $37,205. National Louis University graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans. More information about a degree in social work from National Louis University

20
Governors State University crest
Governors State University
University Park, IL

Governors State University placed #20 among the best social work schools. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. Governors State University graduates 21% of students within six years. There were roughly 54 social work students who graduated with this degree at Governors State University in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $48,182 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $33,983 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in social work from Governors State University

21

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #21 for social work this year. This large public university is located in the town of Carbondale. About 60% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Carbondale awarded about 84 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Social Work graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $40,356 early in their careers. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full social work program report for Southern Illinois University Carbondale

22

Chicago State University placed #22 among the best social work schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 16%. Chicago State University awarded about 26 social work degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the social work program make about $48,031 in their early career. Chicago State University graduates carry a median of $43,322 in student loans. More information about a degree in social work from Chicago State University

23

Saint Augustine College earned the #23 position for social work this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 20% of students finish within six years. About 29 social work degrees were awarded at Saint Augustine College in the most recent year. Students who receive their social work degree from Saint Augustine College earn around $34,201 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Augustine College graduates carry a median of $4,974 in student loans. Read more about the social work program at Saint Augustine College

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 40 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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