Best Value BSW Colleges in Illinois 2026

University of Chicago earns the #2 spot on our 2026 best value BSW rankings, proving that a quality social work education doesn't have to break the bank.

After aid, students still pay around $28,060 per year — more than many comparable programs. The school is generous with financial aid, averaging $62,300 per student. With just 5.0% of students borrowing, the loan burden here is lighter than at most schools.

At #7 on our best value list, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shows that affordable BSW programs can still deliver. The school's combination of financial aid and outcomes makes it a smart choice.

After aid, students still pay around $13,973 per year — more than many comparable programs. With average aid of $19,299, the school clearly prioritizes making education accessible. Only 27.0% of students take out loans, suggesting most can manage costs without heavy borrowing.

Lewis University comes in at #87 on our 2026 best value BSW list. The value proposition is more modest here, but cost isn't everything — location and program fit matter too.

At $18,959 net cost, this isn't the most affordable option. Make sure the program's other strengths justify the price. Lewis University provides an average of $28,717 in aid per student — well above what most programs offer. About 42.0% of students borrow to fund their education, which is typical for programs in this price range.

Aurora University comes in at #108 on our 2026 best value BSW list. The value proposition is more modest here, but cost isn't everything — location and program fit matter too.

At $19,053 net cost, this isn't the most affordable option. Make sure the program's other strengths justify the price. With average aid of $21,513, the school clearly prioritizes making education accessible. The borrowing rate of 47.0% is moderate — you may need loans, but you won't be alone in that.

University of St Francis comes in at #113 on our 2026 best value BSW list. The value proposition is more modest here, but cost isn't everything — location and program fit matter too.

The net price of $14,045 per year is on the higher side, even after financial aid. You'll want to explore additional scholarship opportunities. University of St Francis provides an average of $31,998 in aid per student — well above what most programs offer. The borrowing rate of 76.0% is high — factor potential loan payments into your post-graduation plans.

Loyola University Chicago comes in at #115 on our 2026 best value BSW list. The value proposition is more modest here, but cost isn't everything — location and program fit matter too.

At $39,147 net cost, this isn't the most affordable option. Make sure the program's other strengths justify the price. With average aid of $28,816, the school clearly prioritizes making education accessible. The borrowing rate of 45.0% is moderate — you may need loans, but you won't be alone in that.

Millikin University comes in at #135 on our 2026 best value BSW list. The value proposition is more modest here, but cost isn't everything — location and program fit matter too.

After aid, students still pay around $22,813 per year — more than many comparable programs. The school is generous with financial aid, averaging $34,733 per student. Around 56.0% of students take out loans here, putting the borrowing rate in the middle of the pack.

At #154 for value, Western Illinois University's BSW program isn't the most budget-friendly option. Still, it's worth checking if other factors like fieldwork placements or campus resources tip the scale.

At $14,208 net cost, this isn't the most affordable option. Make sure the program's other strengths justify the price. Western Illinois University provides an average of $14,994 in aid per student — well above what most programs offer. The borrowing rate of 32.0% is moderate — you may need loans, but you won't be alone in that.

Bradley University comes in at #159 on our 2026 best value BSW list. The value proposition is more modest here, but cost isn't everything — location and program fit matter too.

The net price of $23,787 per year is on the higher side, even after financial aid. You'll want to explore additional scholarship opportunities. With average aid of $30,808, the school clearly prioritizes making education accessible. With 63.0% of students taking out loans, debt is a common part of the experience here.

University of Illinois Springfield ranks #162 on our value list for 2026. While more expensive relative to outcomes, the right student may find what they're looking for here.

Expect to pay around $10,809 per year after aid, which is in line with the average for BSW programs. With average aid of $14,666, the school clearly prioritizes making education accessible. About 37.0% of students borrow to fund their education, which is typical for programs in this price range.

Illinois State University ranks #173 on our value list for 2026. While more expensive relative to outcomes, the right student may find what they're looking for here.

The net price of $21,369 per year is on the higher side, even after financial aid. You'll want to explore additional scholarship opportunities. The school is generous with financial aid, averaging $12,974 per student. Around 43.0% of students take out loans here, putting the borrowing rate in the middle of the pack.

St. Augustine College comes in at #196 on our 2026 best value BSW list. The value proposition is more modest here, but cost isn't everything — location and program fit matter too.

The net price of $8,310 is moderate. Combined with financial aid, the total cost stays manageable. The school is generous with financial aid, averaging $14,748 per student. Only 5.0% of students take out loans, suggesting most can manage costs without heavy borrowing.

At #269 for value, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's BSW program isn't the most budget-friendly option. Still, it's worth checking if other factors like fieldwork placements or campus resources tip the scale.

After aid, students still pay around $17,115 per year — more than many comparable programs. With average aid of $11,602, the school clearly prioritizes making education accessible. About 38.0% of students borrow to fund their education, which is typical for programs in this price range.

Greenville University ranks #270 on our value list for 2026. While more expensive relative to outcomes, the right student may find what they're looking for here.

After aid, students still pay around $20,799 per year — more than many comparable programs. The school is generous with financial aid, averaging $24,281 per student. About 57.0% of students borrow to fund their education, which is typical for programs in this price range.

Trinity Christian College comes in at #271 on our 2026 best value BSW list. The value proposition is more modest here, but cost isn't everything — location and program fit matter too.

After aid, students still pay around $19,655 per year — more than many comparable programs. Trinity Christian College provides an average of $14,966 in aid per student — well above what most programs offer. About 56.0% of students borrow to fund their education, which is typical for programs in this price range.

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale comes in at #287 on our 2026 best value BSW list. The value proposition is more modest here, but cost isn't everything — location and program fit matter too.

After aid, students still pay around $13,473 per year — more than many comparable programs. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale provides an average of $13,610 in aid per student — well above what most programs offer. The borrowing rate of 45.0% is moderate — you may need loans, but you won't be alone in that.

At #295 for value, Northeastern Illinois University's BSW program isn't the most budget-friendly option. Still, it's worth checking if other factors like fieldwork placements or campus resources tip the scale.

At $14,140 net cost, this isn't the most affordable option. Make sure the program's other strengths justify the price. With average aid of $12,876, the school clearly prioritizes making education accessible. With just 19.0% of students borrowing, the loan burden here is lighter than at most schools.

At #340 for value, National Louis University's BSW program isn't the most budget-friendly option. Still, it's worth checking if other factors like fieldwork placements or campus resources tip the scale.

The net price of $13,150 per year is on the higher side, even after financial aid. You'll want to explore additional scholarship opportunities. National Louis University provides an average of $11,056 in aid per student — well above what most programs offer. Only 22.0% of students take out loans, suggesting most can manage costs without heavy borrowing.

At #370 for value, Concordia University-Chicago's BSW program isn't the most budget-friendly option. Still, it's worth checking if other factors like fieldwork placements or campus resources tip the scale.

After aid, students still pay around $19,073 per year — more than many comparable programs. The school is generous with financial aid, averaging $26,361 per student. Around 57.0% of students take out loans here, putting the borrowing rate in the middle of the pack.

Governors State University ranks #399 on our value list for 2026. While more expensive relative to outcomes, the right student may find what they're looking for here.

At $12,756 net cost, this isn't the most affordable option. Make sure the program's other strengths justify the price. The school is generous with financial aid, averaging $11,455 per student. The borrowing rate of 38.0% is moderate — you may need loans, but you won't be alone in that.

Olivet Nazarene University comes in at #403 on our 2026 best value BSW list. The value proposition is more modest here, but cost isn't everything — location and program fit matter too.

At $21,281 net cost, this isn't the most affordable option. Make sure the program's other strengths justify the price. Olivet Nazarene University provides an average of $30,817 in aid per student — well above what most programs offer. The borrowing rate of 63.0% is high — factor potential loan payments into your post-graduation plans.

Methodist College comes in at #601 on our 2026 best value BSW list. The value proposition is more modest here, but cost isn't everything — location and program fit matter too.

At $41,787 net cost, this isn't the most affordable option. Make sure the program's other strengths justify the price. Financial aid averages $5,087 per student, which helps offset the sticker price. With 82.0% of students taking out loans, debt is a common part of the experience here.