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Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region

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2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

53 Colleges
$19,049 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$39,939 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Social Work School for You

Out of all the majors we analyze each year, social work was ranked #13 in the country. In fact 58,326 degrees and certificates were handed out in 2020-2021.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 53 schools in the Plains States Region to see which programs offered the best value experiences for social work students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region

Check out the social work programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

Top 10 Best Social Work Schools

$8,163 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Minot State University to be the best value school for social work students who want to pursue a degree in the Plains States Region . MSU is a small public school located in the town of Minot.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MSU are $8,163 a year. After completing their degree, social work graduates from MSU carry an average student debtload of $27,000.

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The excellent programs at Bemidji State University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best social work schools in the Plains States Region . Bemidji State University is a small public school located in the remote town of Bemidji.

Bemidji State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,806 in tuition and fees each year. On average, social work graduates from Bemidji State University take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

In addition to its great value ranking, Bemidji State University is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list.

Full Social Work at Bemidji State University Report

$9,394 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list. Metro State is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Metro State are $9,394 per year. On average, social work graduates from Metro State take out $29,113 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Social Work at Metropolitan State University Report

$9,482 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Southwest Minnesota State University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Southwest Minnesota State University are $9,482 a year. Social Work majors at Southwest Minnesota State University take out an average of $20,107 in student loans while working on their egree.

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$5,906 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minneapolis Community and Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region list. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school located in the large city of Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Community and Technical College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,906 in tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Social Work at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

#6

Capella University

Minneapolis, MN
$14,148 Average Tuition & Fees

Capella University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for social work students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Capella University are $14,148 per year.

Full Social Work at Capella University Report

With a ranking of #7, Winona State University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for social work students. Winona State is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Winona.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Winona State are $16,684 a year. The average amount in student loans that social work majors at Winona State take out is $28,389. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $144.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Winona State also is in the top 15% of our Best Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking.

Read full report on Social Work at Winona State University

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value social work programs. Minnesota State Mankato is a large public school located in the small city of Mankato.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Minnesota State Mankato are $18,200 a year. On average, social work graduates from Minnesota State Mankato take out $23,250 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Social Work at Minnesota State University - Mankato Report

#9

Newman University

Wichita, KS
$34,460 Average Tuition & Fees

Newman University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Work Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the city of Wichita, Newman University is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Newman University undergraduate students pay an average of $34,460 in tuition and fees each year.

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$15,870 Average Tuition & Fees

Fort Hays State University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value social work programs. FHSU is a large public school located in the town of Hays.

FHSU undergraduate students pay an average of $15,870 in tuition and fees each year. Social Work majors at FHSU take out an average of $25,125 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full Social Work at Fort Hays State University Report

Best Social Work Colleges by State

Explore the best social work schools for a specific state in the Plains States region.

State Degrees Awarded
Missouri 924
Minnesota 2,131
Kansas 623
Iowa 553
Nebraska 262
North Dakota 258
South Dakota 20

Social Work is one of 5 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Public Administration 16,905
Human Services 13,238
Public Policy 6,430
Community Organization & Advocacy 3,096
Other Public Administration 588

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Army Medicine.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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