Best colleges for Social Work in Indiana
Ranked by graduate earnings
Indiana University - Indianapolis, Indiana University - Bloomington and Ball State University are the top bachelor's Social Work programs in Indiana by graduate earnings. Indiana University - Indianapolis leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,657, College Scorecard. Indiana University - Indianapolis, Ball State University and Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion award the most Social Work degrees in Indiana: 565, 106 and 46 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 23 Indiana colleges offer Social Work and award 1,360 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 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,657 | 565 | 54% | — | $18,410 |
| 2 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,695 | 36 | 80% | — | $14,506 |
| 3 | Ball State University Muncie Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,094 | 106 | 62% | — | $23,900 |
| 4 | Indiana University - South Bend South Bend Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,812 | 35 | 40% | — | $24,263 |
| 5 | Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion Marion Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,722 | 46 | 67% | $21,351 | $41,903 |
| 6 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,126 | 39 | 48% | — | $21,500 |
| 7 | University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,532 | 4 | 55% | $20,012 | — |
| 8 | Indiana University - Northwest Gary Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $38,652 | 14 | 37% | — | $30,924 |
| 9 | Purdue University Global West Lafayette Public · Bachelor's degree Online | $38,324 | 34 | 50% | — | $53,229 |
| 10 | Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Marion Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $36,722 | 346 | 35% | $18,316 | $41,903 |
Colleges awarding the most Social Work degrees in Indiana
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 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis Public | 565 | $41,657 |
| 2 | Ball State University Muncie Public | 106 | $39,094 |
| 3 | Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion Marion Private not-for-profit | 46 | $36,722 |
| 4 | University of Southern Indiana Evansville Public | 39 | $36,126 |
| 5 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington Public | 36 | $39,695 |
| 6 | Indiana University - South Bend South Bend Public | 35 | $37,812 |
| 7 | University of Indianapolis Indianapolis Private not-for-profit | 18 | $36,399 |
| 8 | Vincennes University Vincennes Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 9 | Indiana State University Terre Haute Public | 16 | $36,294 |
| 10 | Indiana University - Northwest Gary Public | 14 | $38,652 |
ShowHide the other 13 Indiana colleges offering Social Work
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global (Online) | Marion | Private not-for-profit | 346 |
| Purdue University Global (Online) | West Lafayette | Public | 34 |
| Marian University | Indianapolis | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Purdue University Northwest | Hammond | Public | 13 |
| Valparaiso University | Valparaiso | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Indiana University - East | Richmond | Public | 11 |
| Goshen College | Goshen | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Huntington University | Huntington | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Manchester University | North Manchester | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Saint Mary's College | Notre Dame | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Anderson University | Anderson | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Taylor University | Upland | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Healthcare Social Workers (SOC 21-1022).
Top skills
What Healthcare Social Workers earn in Indiana
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Social Work programs in Indiana.
Which Indiana colleges award the most Social Work degrees?+
Indiana University - Indianapolis (565 graduates a year), Ball State University (106 graduates a year) and Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion (46 graduates a year) award the most Social Work degrees in Indiana, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 23 Indiana colleges offer Social Work.
What is the best college for Social Work in Indiana?+
By graduate earnings, Indiana University - Indianapolis leads among bachelor's Social Work programs in Indiana, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,657, College Scorecard. Indiana University - Bloomington and Ball State University follow. By degrees awarded, Indiana University - Indianapolis is the largest, with 565 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Social Work program in Indiana has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Indiana University - Indianapolis tops the list at $41,657. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Healthcare Social Workers earn in Indiana?+
The average annual wage for Healthcare Social Workers in Indiana is $68,370 (median $64,580), across about 3,890 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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