Best Social Work Schools in Illinois

Illinois has 18 colleges offering Social Work programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 514 recent graduates. Graduates in Illinois earn $29,396 on average within two years — 6% below the national average of $31,424. Lower cost of living or industry mix may explain the gap.

Schools in IL

$29,396

IL Avg. Earnings

$31,424

National Avg.

482

Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Social Work in Illinois

Public Schools (8)

$30,416

avg. 2yr earnings

Private Schools (9)

$28,207

avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools in Illinois produce comparable or higher early earnings for Social Work graduates, often at lower cost — making them strong value options.

Social Work Schools in Illinois, Ranked by Earnings

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 81.4%

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

N/A

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $34,974

Graduates: 36

Acceptance: 43.7%

University of St Francis

Joliet, IL · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 63.9%

Governors State University

University Park, IL · Public

$26,121

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,365

Graduates: 33

Acceptance: N/A

Aurora University

Aurora, IL · Private

$32,925

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $30,727

Graduates: 59

Acceptance: 85.1%

Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public

$30,554

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,554

Graduates: 53

Acceptance: 89.0%

Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public

$32,854

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,654

Graduates: 69

Acceptance: 75.0%

Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public

$31,474

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $32,165

Graduates: 117

Acceptance: 70.4%

Bradley University

Peoria, IL · Private

Millikin University

Decatur, IL · Private

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL · Public

$29,374

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,707

Graduates: 28

Acceptance: 97.2%

#12

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, IL · Private

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, IL · Private

$29,250

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $29,995

Graduates: 23

Acceptance: 66.9%

#14

Lewis University

Romeoville, IL · Private

N/A

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: 72.7%

#15

St. Augustine College

Chicago, IL ·

N/A

2yr Earnings

Acceptance: N/A

#16

University of Illinois Springfield

Springfield, IL · Public

$31,466

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $31,182

Graduates: 23

Acceptance: 84.4%

#17

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public

$31,067

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $26,883

Graduates: 53

Acceptance: 90.4%

#18

Concordia University-Chicago

River Forest, IL · Private

$26,739

2yr Earnings

1yr Earnings: $27,539

Graduates: 20

Acceptance: 93.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Social Work in Illinois?

Loyola University Chicago ranks #1 for Social Work in Illinois with median graduate earnings of N/A within two years of graduation. There are 18 schools offering Social Work programs in the state.

How much do Social Work graduates earn in Illinois?

Social Work graduates in Illinois earn an average of $29,396 within two years of graduation. This is 6% below the national average of $31,424 for this major.

What is the hardest Social Work school to get into in Illinois?

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the most selective Social Work program in Illinois with an acceptance rate of 43.7%. The average acceptance rate across Social Work programs in the state is 77.1%.

Should I attend a public or private school for Social Work in Illinois?

In Illinois, private Social Work programs produce average earnings of $28,207 vs $30,416 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 8 public and 9 private options in the state.

Other Popular Majors in Illinois

Chemical Engineering $69,173 Computer Science $66,656 Computer Engineering $65,978 Biomedical/Medical Engineering $64,764 Civil Engineering $61,502 Construction Management $60,021 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering $58,932 Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other $57,318

All colleges in Illinois →

Social Work in Other States

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Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release.