Illinois · Social Work

Best institutions to study Social Work in Illinois

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…

Institutions
36
offering CIP 44.07
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
2,622
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$38,707
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
13
College Scorecard
Median net price
$18,431
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
51%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Healthcare Social Workers
$68,190
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Governors State University
University Park Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,1334122%$33,983
2Millikin University
Decatur Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$41,543955%$8,373$27,000
3Western Illinois University
Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,6412545%$29,850
4Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,17811222%$17,500
5Illinois State University
Normal Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,0417665%$25,000
6University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,7071953%$24,810
7Aurora University
Aurora Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$38,38274560%$18,431$27,000
8National Louis University
Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$37,2053030%$18,904
9Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,9744457%$25,000
10University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign
Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,81525785%$19,344

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+7.7%
Faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~18,400
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$68,090
typically Master's degree

Top skills

SpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionWritingActive Learning

What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Illinois

Jobs in Illinois
4,910
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$68,190
median $64,270
Best-paying metro
$72,300
Bloomington, IL

Related careers

Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$70,670 avg · 19,860 jobs
Social and Community Service Managers
$82,480 avg · 7,520 jobs
Healthcare Social Workers
$68,190 avg · 4,910 jobs
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
$58,130 avg · 3,460 jobs
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
$78,380 avg · 2,590 jobs
Social Workers, All Other
$72,410 avg · 1,910 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Illinois.

Which Social Work program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Governors State University tops the list at $44,133. Compare it against completions, 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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