Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University's BSW program produced 22 graduates in the most recent reporting year — #273 of 587 colleges awarding the degree nationally, putting it squarely in the middle of the field by size.

53.4% 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 (57.6%) than full-time students (48.4%) — often a sign of a program built around people already working in the field. Transfer students actually outperform first-time entrants here (63.0% vs 52.3%), which is a good signal if you are coming from a community college.

The average student pays $14,208 a year after grants and scholarships — $4,798 below the $19,006 median across the 21 BSW colleges in Illinois. 26.0% of first-time students receive Pell Grants. 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.