Compare 133 Social Work. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $42,304.
With top graduates earning $55,686, Social Work stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $13K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige across 133 Midwest programs.
St Catherine University's Social Work program leads with graduates earning $55,686, well above the $42,304 regional average. Carthage College follows at $53,886, while University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign rounds out the top three at $53,310—demonstrating that strong outcomes come from program quality, not school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates borrow $19,500 and face just an 8.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' affordability category. For families considering parent loans, Bemidji State University leads with a 17.7% family burden, proving the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $55,686
Strong outcomes ($55,686) with 94% acceptance
8.7% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
17.7% family burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | St Catherine UniversityPrivate | $55,686 | 44 | $24,181 | Good | $21,883 | Challenging |
| #2 | Carthage CollegePrivate | $53,886 | 9 | $26,000 | Good | $42,940 | High |
| #3 | $53,310 | 78 | $19,500 | Good | $34,511 | High | |
| #4 | $53,049 | 14 | $26,847 | Manageable | $29,471 | High | |
| #5 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $52,964 | 44 | $24,157 | Good | $54,045 | High |
| #6 | $50,045 | 21 | $20,500 | Good | $14,500 | Challenging | |
| #7 | Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $49,895 | 22 | $26,970 | Manageable | $28,640 | High |
| #8 | $49,870 | 84 | $22,057 | Good | $14,269 | Challenging | |
| #9 | Viterbo UniversityPrivate | $49,400 | 20 | $25,000 | Manageable | $21,560 | High |
| #10 | $49,259 | 43 | $23,250 | Good | $37,401 | High | |
| #11 | Saint Mary's CollegePrivate | $49,229 | 20 | $27,000 | Manageable | $48,565 | High |
| #12 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | $49,043 | 27 | $23,940 | Manageable | $45,500 | High |
| #13 | Marian UniversityPrivate | $48,807 | 16 | $25,000 | Manageable | $22,596 | High |
| #14 | Bemidji State UniversityPublic | $48,772 | 36 | $19,750 | Good | $12,173 | Manageable |
| #15 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $48,600 | 73 | $21,500 | Good | $19,316 | Challenging |
| #16 | Ashland UniversityPrivate | $48,516 | 9 | $25,000 | Manageable | $21,110 | High |
| #17 | $48,482 | 71 | $20,000 | Good | $16,000 | Challenging | |
| #18 | Hope CollegePrivate | $48,054 | 24 | $26,800 | Manageable | $48,059 | High |
| #19 | $48,016 | 57 | $21,058 | Good | $11,598 | Challenging | |
| #20 | University Of St ThomasPrivate | $47,656 | 16 | $23,250 | Manageable | $24,467 | High |
| #21 | $47,583 | 90 | $25,000 | Manageable | $18,264 | High | |
| #22 | $47,420 | 35 | $21,500 | Good | $13,500 | Challenging | |
| #23 | Millikin UniversityPrivate | $47,124 | 10 | $27,000 | Manageable | $25,486 | High |
| #24 | $46,946 | 65 | $26,188 | Manageable | $22,488 | High | |
| #25 | Oakland UniversityPublic | $46,925 | 95 | $22,750 | Manageable | $17,858 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
