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Most Popular Social Work Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

2023 Most Popular Social Work Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

124 Colleges
$31,612 Avg Salary
$27,410 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Social Work Bachelor's Degree School for You

Social Work is the #13 most popular major in the country with 58,326 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. 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.

The Most Popular Social Work Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 124 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which bachelor's degree programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Social Work program at each school on the list.

Check out the social work bachelor's degree programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the Great Lakes Region .

#1

Purdue University Global

Indianapolis, IN

Our analysis found Purdue University Global to be the most popular school for social work students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the Great Lakes Region . Purdue University Global is a fairly large public school located in the city of Indianapolis.

Women make up 92% of the social work majors at the school.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, social work majors at Purdue University Global accumulate an average of around $45,421 in student debt.

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Michigan University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Ypsilanti.

Of the 173 students majoring in social work at Eastern Michigan, 13% are male and 87% are female.

Social Work majors at Eastern Michigan take out an average of $33,485 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $172.

Full Social Work at Eastern Michigan University Report

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#3

Aurora University

Aurora, IL

Out of the 124 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Aurora University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Aurora is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora.

About 86% of the students majoring in social work at the school are women while 14% are male.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, social work graduates from Aurora carry an average student debt load of $29,349. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $135.

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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Ohio State University - Main Campus is a great place for social work students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the large city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public college with a very large student population.

Of the 165 students majoring in social work at Ohio State, 16% are male and 84% are female.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, social work graduates from Ohio State carry an average student debt load of $29,564. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $145.

Full Social Work at Ohio State University - Main Campus Report

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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, IUPUI is a public college with a very large student population.

About 93% of the students majoring in social work at the school are women while 7% are male.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, social work graduates from IUPUI carry an average student debt load of $24,085.

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Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the rural area of Marion, IWU is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 127 students majoring in social work at IWU, 8% are male and 92% are female.

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#7

Wayne State University

Detroit, MI

With a ranking of #7, Wayne State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for social work students working on their bachelor’s degree. Wayne State is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit.

About 88% of the students majoring in social work at the school are women while 12% are male.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, social work graduates from Wayne State carry an average student debt load of $31,867. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $116.

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Grand Valley State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Allendale, GVSU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 91% of the students majoring in social work at the school are women while 9% are male.

On average, social work graduates from GVSU take out $27,788 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $201, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Social Work at Grand Valley State University Report

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With a ranking of #9, Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for social work students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public school with a very large student population.

About 90% of the students majoring in social work at the school are women while 10% are male.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, social work graduates from OHIO Athens carry an average student debt load of $24,781. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $305, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Northeastern Illinois University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the large city of Chicago.

Women make up 89% of the social work majors at the school.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, social work majors at Northeastern Illinois University accumulate an average of around $19,913 in student debt.

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#11

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH

Youngstown State University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 88% of the social work majors at the school.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, social work graduates from Youngstown State University carry an average student debt load of $37,526.

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#12

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, MI

With a ranking of #12, Saginaw Valley State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for social work students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Women make up 94% of the social work majors at the school.

On average, social work graduates from Saginaw Valley State University take out $32,356 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $245.

Full Social Work at Saginaw Valley State University Report

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#13

Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH

Cleveland State University landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree social work programs. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland.

Women make up 89% of the social work majors at the school.

Social Work majors at Cleveland State University take out an average of $35,688 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

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#14

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, MI

Spring Arbor University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Spring Arbor, Spring Arbor is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

About 90% of the students majoring in social work at the school are women while 10% are male.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, social work majors at Spring Arbor accumulate an average of around $33,244 in student debt.

Full Social Work at Spring Arbor University Report

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University of Wisconsin - Whitewater came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - Whitewater is a fairly large public school located in the town of Whitewater.

Of the 80 students majoring in social work at UW - Whitewater, 9% are male and 91% are female.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, social work graduates from UW - Whitewater carry an average student debt load of $27,133. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $151, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree social work programs. Located in the large city of Milwaukee, UWM is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 77 students majoring in social work at UWM, 18% are male and 82% are female.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, social work majors at UWM accumulate an average of around $32,194 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $151, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Social Work at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Report

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With a ranking of #16, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for social work students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the midsize city of Akron, University of Akron Main Campus is a public college with a fairly large student population.

About 91% of the students majoring in social work at the school are women while 9% are male.

The average amount in student loans that social work majors at University of Akron Main Campus take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $35,115.

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for social work students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public college with a very large student population.

Women make up 82% of the social work majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that social work majors at UIUC take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $18,860. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $418, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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#18

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI

With a ranking of #18, Oakland University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for social work students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 68 students majoring in social work at Oakland, 15% are male and 85% are female.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, social work graduates from Oakland carry an average student debt load of $31,956. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $125, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Social Work Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. BGSU is a fairly large public school located in the town of Bowling Green.

Of the 68 students majoring in social work at BGSU, 4% are male and 96% are female.

The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $390, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Social Work students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Most Popular Social Work Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
21 University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI
22 Ball State University Muncie, IN
23 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI
23 University of Toledo Toledo, OH

Best Social Work Colleges by State

Explore the best social work colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Michigan 2,413
Ohio 2,332
Illinois 2,711
Indiana 1,545
Wisconsin 1,041

One of 5 majors within the area of study, social work has other similar majors worth exploring.

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 26 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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