Best colleges for Social Work in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Western Illinois University, Illinois State University and Aurora University are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Western Illinois University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,641, College Scorecard. Aurora University, Loyola University Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign award the most Social Work degrees in Illinois: 745, 294 and 257 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 Illinois colleges offer Social Work and award 2,622 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Social Work program prepares students to support individuals and communities in overcoming challenges and improving their well-being. This field focuses on advocacy, education, and resource connection, making it ideal for those…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,641 | 25 | 45% | — | $29,850 |
| 2 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,041 | 76 | 65% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Aurora University Aurora Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,382 | 745 | 60% | $18,431 | $27,000 |
| 4 | National Louis University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,205 | 30 | 30% | $18,904 | — |
| 5 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,974 | 44 | 57% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,815 | 257 | 85% | — | $19,344 |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,664 | 78 | 62% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Governors State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,133 | 41 | 22% | — | $33,983 |
| 9 | Millikin University Decatur Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,543 | 9 | 55% | $8,373 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Northeastern Illinois University Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,178 | 112 | 22% | — | $17,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Illinois
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aurora University Aurora Private not-for-profit | 745 | $38,382 |
| 2 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 294 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 257 | $36,815 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 205 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 173 | Not reported |
| 6 | Chamberlain University - Illinois Addison Private for-profit | 150 | Not reported |
| 7 | Dominican University River Forest Private not-for-profit | 86 | Not reported |
| 8 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 78 | $34,664 |
| 9 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 76 | $39,041 |
| 10 | Lewis University Romeoville Private not-for-profit | 50 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 26 Illinois colleges offering Social Work
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
Aurora University (745 graduates a year), Loyola University Chicago (294 graduates a year) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (257 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 Illinois colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Western Illinois University leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,641, College Scorecard. Illinois State University and Aurora University follow. By degrees awarded, Aurora University is the largest, with 745 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Western Illinois University tops the list at $39,641. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Illinois is $68,190 (median $64,270), across about 4,910 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Social Work program?+
The Social Work program prepares students to support individuals and communities in overcoming challenges and improving their well-being. This field focuses on advocacy, education, and resource connection, making it ideal for those…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Healthcare Social Workers?+
The national job outlook is about +7.7% growth with around 18,400 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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