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Best Social Work Programs in Indiana (2026)

Updated

This page ranks the 16 Social Work programs in Indiana by the median earnings of Social Work graduates four years after completing, highest first. Valparaiso University leads the list at $57,609, followed by Anderson University at $51,748 and Indiana University-Northwest at $51,575.

Across the listed programs, the median is $48,950, with figures ranging from $57,609 to $26,715, a spread of $30,894. For 3 of the 16 programs, the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list includes 7 public and 9 private nonprofit schools. Indiana University-Northwest posts the lowest average net price at $5,130, while Indiana University-Indianapolis ranks 139th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne is the most accessible, with an admission rate of 96%.

The ranked list

16 schools in list order
RankSchoolProgram EarningsAverage net priceNet price, families under $30KAdmission rate
1Valparaiso University · Valparaiso, IN$57,609$18,578$11,04389.4%
Valparaiso University reports $57,609 in median earnings for its Social Work graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $18,578.
2Anderson University · Anderson, IN$51,748$25,021$23,11979.3%
Anderson University ranks 2nd on this list, with median federal debt of $27,000 among Social Work completers who borrowed and an admission rate of 79%.
3Indiana University-Northwest · Gary, IN$51,575$5,130$1,41973.4%
A public university in Gary, Indiana University-Northwest posts an average net price of $5,130 and median earnings of $51,575 for its Social Work graduates four years after completing.
4University of Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN$50,666$21,602$15,34666.5%
University of Indianapolis admits 66% of applicants and its Social Work graduates four years after completing earn a median of $50,666.
5Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion · Marion, IN$50,351$22,866$19,79388.9%
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion sits 753rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Social Work graduates four years after completing earn a median of $50,351.
6Ball State University · Muncie, IN$50,321$14,940$7,83485.5%
Ball State University reports median federal debt of $21,500 among Social Work completers who borrowed, combined with an average net price of $14,940.
7Indiana University-Indianapolis · Indianapolis, IN$50,246$11,668$5,70176.4%
Indiana University-Indianapolis ranks 139th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $50,246 for its Social Work graduates four years after completing.
8Saint Mary's College · Notre Dame, IN$49,555$25,292$16,76076.0%
Graduates across all fields who borrowed left Saint Mary's College with a median of $27,000 in federal loans, while its Social Work graduates four years after completing earn a median of $49,555.
9Indiana University-South Bend · South Bend, IN$48,344$8,653$4,63783.8%
Indiana University-South Bend reports an average net price of $8,653 and median earnings of $48,344 for its Social Work graduates four years after completing.
10Indiana State University · Terre Haute, IN$46,548$10,873$6,45580.8%
Median federal debt among Social Work completers who borrowed is $23,781 at Indiana State University, which ranks 10th on this list.
11University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne · Fort Wayne, IN$43,989$18,196$12,72096.0%
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne admits 96% of applicants, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $25,976 in federal loans.
12Indiana University-East · Richmond, IN$43,470$8,134$5,15467.2%
Indiana University-East reports median federal debt of $13,250 among Social Work completers who borrowed and median earnings of $43,470 for those graduates four years after completing.
13Goshen College · Goshen, IN$39,176$14,493$12,76184.1%
Goshen College reports median earnings of $39,176 for its Social Work graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 9 graduates in the earnings cohort.
14Huntington University · Huntington, IN$32,569$19,310$10,79675.6%
Huntington University admits 76% of applicants and posts an average net price of $10,796 for families earning under $30,000.
15Taylor University · Upland, IN$31,133$24,865$16,14373.5%
Taylor University ranks 1333rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $24,865.
16Purdue University Northwest · Hammond, IN$26,715$6,079$1,43272.4%
Purdue University Northwest, a public university in Hammond, shows median earnings of $26,715 for its Social Work graduates four years after completing.

How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Social Work graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in Indiana appear. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled. For 3 of the 16 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The spread from Valparaiso University to the bottom of the list is $30,894, and the gap between Valparaiso University and Anderson University is $5,861.

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