Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's BSW program produced 38 graduates in the most recent reporting year — #179 of 587 colleges awarding the degree nationally, putting it squarely in the middle of the field by size.

50.9% of students complete their degree, close to the 50.4% median across BSW colleges nationally. Students who finish take a median of 5 years to do it. Unusually, part-time students complete at a higher rate here (60.0%) than full-time students (42.0%) — often a sign of a program built around people already working in the field. Transfer students actually outperform first-time entrants here (62.0% vs 46.3%), which is a good signal if you are coming from a community college.

The average student pays $13,473 a year after grants and scholarships — $5,533 below the $19,006 median across the 21 BSW colleges in Illinois. 52.0% of first-time students receive Pell Grants, a high share that usually reflects a student body with substantial financial need — and a financial aid office practiced at handling it. Net price is the number that matters when comparing programs, not sticker tuition — and because most social work roles are with government or nonprofit employers, graduates are typically eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.