Southwest Minnesota State University

Southwest Minnesota State University conferred 32 bachelor's degrees in social work in the most recent reporting year, ranking #211 among the 587 colleges nationally that award the degree. That is a mid-sized program — large enough to sustain a dedicated field placement office, small enough that faculty tend to know students by name.

45.6% 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.

The average student pays $15,547 a year after grants and scholarships — $5,371 below the $20,918 median across the 17 BSW colleges in Minnesota. 43.0% 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.