Most Diverse BSW Colleges in Illinois 2026

22 ranked BSW programs in Illinois

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All 22 Ranked Colleges in Illinois

1
University of Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private · 18,566 students

National #14
85.8 / 100
70.3%
Minority Students
High
Diversity Level
$63,801
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Coming in at #14 on our diversity list, University of Chicago offers a BSW program where you'll encounter a range of perspectives. For social work students, that matters.

With 70.3% minority enrollment, University of Chicago offers one of the most diverse student populations among BSW programs. With a "High" diversity designation, this campus offers the kind of inclusive environment that social work education benefits from. With a 0.84 gender balance ratio, University of Chicago maintains one of the more equitable male-to-female splits among BSW programs.

2
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public · 59,238 students

National #22
83.4 / 100
63.4%
Minority Students
High
Diversity Level
$14,768
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

At #22 for diversity in 2026, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign brings together students from different backgrounds in a way that strengthens the social work learning experience.

With 63.4% minority enrollment, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers one of the most diverse student populations among BSW programs. With a "High" diversity designation, this campus offers the kind of inclusive environment that social work education benefits from. A gender ratio of 0.86 means you'll study in a program with a healthier gender mix than most social work schools.

3
Lewis University

Romeoville, IL · Private · 7,011 students

National #44
79.3 / 100
56.0%
Minority Students
High
Diversity Level
$37,592
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Lewis University ranks #44 on our 2026 diversity list for BSW programs. The school has moderate diversity, which contributes to a reasonably varied learning environment.

Nearly 56.0% of the student body identifies as a racial or ethnic minority, creating a richly diverse learning environment. The school earns our highest diversity classification, reflecting strong demographic breadth across the student body. The gender balance ratio of 0.93 shows a nearly even split between male and female students — unusual and refreshing in social work.

4
University of Illinois Springfield

Springfield, IL · Public · 4,628 students

National #80
73.2 / 100
51.2%
Minority Students
Moderate
Diversity Level
$9,865
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

University of Illinois Springfield ranks #80 on our diversity list for 2026. While the numbers are modest, some students prioritize other qualities like location, cost, or specific fieldwork opportunities.

With 51.2% minority enrollment, University of Illinois Springfield offers one of the most diverse student populations among BSW programs. University of Illinois Springfield earns a "Moderate" diversity rating — there's meaningful variety in the student body, with room to improve. The gender balance ratio of 0.89 shows a nearly even split between male and female students — unusual and refreshing in social work.

5
Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public · 5,734 students

National #86
72.4 / 100
78.2%
Minority Students
High
Diversity Level
$10,343
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

At #86 for diversity, Northeastern Illinois University's BSW program has room to grow in this area. That said, diversity is just one factor — the program may offer other strengths that matter to you.

With 78.2% minority enrollment, Northeastern Illinois University offers one of the most diverse student populations among BSW programs. Northeastern Illinois University achieves a "High" diversity rating, meaning you'll interact with students from a wide variety of backgrounds. At 0.68 for gender balance, the school falls in the middle of the pack among BSW programs.

6
Governors State University

University Park, IL · Public · 4,397 students

National #117
67 / 100
73.1%
Minority Students
High
Diversity Level
$7,872
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Governors State University ranks #117 on our diversity list for 2026. While the numbers are modest, some students prioritize other qualities like location, cost, or specific fieldwork opportunities.

Nearly 73.1% of the student body identifies as a racial or ethnic minority, creating a richly diverse learning environment. The school earns our highest diversity classification, reflecting strong demographic breadth across the student body. A gender ratio of 0.55 reflects the typical lean in social work programs, though it's not extreme.

7
Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, IL · Private · 854 students

National #128
66 / 100
49.6%
Minority Students
High
Diversity Level
$19,800
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Trinity Christian College comes in at #128 on our 2026 diversity list. The student body is less diverse than many BSW programs, which is worth considering given the profession's emphasis on cultural competence.

With 49.6% minority enrollment, Trinity Christian College offers more diversity than many programs, though there's room to grow. Trinity Christian College achieves a "High" diversity rating, meaning you'll interact with students from a wide variety of backgrounds. At 0.72 for gender balance, the school falls in the middle of the pack among BSW programs.

8
Bradley University

Peoria, IL · Private · 4,777 students

National #167
62 / 100
39.8%
Minority Students
Moderate
Diversity Level
$39,248
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Bradley University comes in at #167 on our 2026 diversity list. The student body is less diverse than many BSW programs, which is worth considering given the profession's emphasis on cultural competence.

The student body is 39.8% minority, which adds some diversity to classroom discussions and group projects. Bradley University earns a "Moderate" diversity rating — there's meaningful variety in the student body, with room to improve. The gender balance ratio of 0.83 shows a nearly even split between male and female students — unusual and refreshing in social work.

9
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public · 11,790 students

National #168
61.9 / 100
38.4%
Minority Students
Moderate
Diversity Level
$9,638
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale comes in at #168 on our 2026 diversity list. The student body is less diverse than many BSW programs, which is worth considering given the profession's emphasis on cultural competence.

With 38.4% minority enrollment, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale offers more diversity than many programs, though there's room to grow. The school carries a "Moderate" diversity classification, reflecting a reasonably mixed student population. The gender balance ratio of 0.89 shows a nearly even split between male and female students — unusual and refreshing in social work.

10
Greenville University

Greenville, IL · Private · 1,104 students

National #173
61.5 / 100
37.4%
Minority Students
Moderate
Diversity Level
$29,998
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Greenville University ranks #173 on our diversity list for 2026. While the numbers are modest, some students prioritize other qualities like location, cost, or specific fieldwork opportunities.

With 37.4% minority enrollment, Greenville University offers more diversity than many programs, though there's room to grow. A "Moderate" diversity level means you'll encounter some demographic variety, though not as much as top-ranked programs. The gender balance ratio of 0.97 shows a nearly even split between male and female students — unusual and refreshing in social work.

11
National Louis University

Chicago, IL · Private · 8,915 students

National #174
61.5 / 100
72.0%
Minority Students
High
Diversity Level
$13,776
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

At #174 for diversity, National Louis University's BSW program has room to grow in this area. That said, diversity is just one factor — the program may offer other strengths that matter to you.

Nearly 72.0% of the student body identifies as a racial or ethnic minority, creating a richly diverse learning environment. The school earns our highest diversity classification, reflecting strong demographic breadth across the student body. A gender ratio of 0.28 shows this program has the typical gender imbalance found in social work education.

12
Concordia University-Chicago

River Forest, IL · Private · 4,770 students

National #207
58.4 / 100
48.0%
Minority Students
High
Diversity Level
$35,200
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

At #207 for diversity, Concordia University-Chicago's BSW program has room to grow in this area. That said, diversity is just one factor — the program may offer other strengths that matter to you.

The student body is 48.0% minority, which adds some diversity to classroom discussions and group projects. With a "High" diversity designation, this campus offers the kind of inclusive environment that social work education benefits from. A gender ratio of 0.59 reflects the typical lean in social work programs, though it's not extreme.

13
Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private · 17,384 students

National #241
55.4 / 100
50.0%
Minority Students
High
Diversity Level
$50,270
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Loyola University Chicago comes in at #241 on our 2026 diversity list. The student body is less diverse than many BSW programs, which is worth considering given the profession's emphasis on cultural competence.

Nearly 50.0% of the student body identifies as a racial or ethnic minority, creating a richly diverse learning environment. The school earns our highest diversity classification, reflecting strong demographic breadth across the student body. The gender balance ratio of 0.45 indicates a significant gender skew, which is common in social work but worth noting.

14
Aurora University

Aurora, IL · Private · 5,923 students

National #257
53.7 / 100
52.5%
Minority Students
High
Diversity Level
$28,000
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Aurora University comes in at #257 on our 2026 diversity list. The student body is less diverse than many BSW programs, which is worth considering given the profession's emphasis on cultural competence.

Nearly 52.5% of the student body identifies as a racial or ethnic minority, creating a richly diverse learning environment. Aurora University achieves a "High" diversity rating, meaning you'll interact with students from a wide variety of backgrounds. At 0.39 for gender balance, the student population skews heavily in one direction — not unusual for BSW programs, but noticeable.

15
Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public · 21,546 students

National #261
53.7 / 100
36.1%
Minority Students
Moderate
Diversity Level
$11,000
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Illinois State University ranks #261 on our diversity list for 2026. While the numbers are modest, some students prioritize other qualities like location, cost, or specific fieldwork opportunities.

The student body is 36.1% minority, which adds some diversity to classroom discussions and group projects. A "Moderate" diversity level means you'll encounter some demographic variety, though not as much as top-ranked programs. At 0.72 for gender balance, the school falls in the middle of the pack among BSW programs.

16
Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public · 6,332 students

National #267
53.4 / 100
41.5%
Minority Students
Moderate
Diversity Level
$9,359
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

At #267 for diversity, Western Illinois University's BSW program has room to grow in this area. That said, diversity is just one factor — the program may offer other strengths that matter to you.

About 41.5% of students identify as racial or ethnic minorities, providing a moderately diverse campus experience. A "Moderate" diversity level means you'll encounter some demographic variety, though not as much as top-ranked programs. The gender balance ratio of 0.68 is moderate — there's some skew, but less than many social work programs.

17
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL · Public · 11,893 students

National #286
51.7 / 100
36.3%
Minority Students
Moderate
Diversity Level
$8,846
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

At #286 for diversity, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's BSW program has room to grow in this area. That said, diversity is just one factor — the program may offer other strengths that matter to you.

The student body is 36.3% minority, which adds some diversity to classroom discussions and group projects. The school carries a "Moderate" diversity classification, reflecting a reasonably mixed student population. A gender ratio of 0.73 reflects the typical lean in social work programs, though it's not extreme.

18
Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, IL · Private · 3,339 students

National #292
51.4 / 100
32.4%
Minority Students
Moderate
Diversity Level
$36,950
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Olivet Nazarene University comes in at #292 on our 2026 diversity list. The student body is less diverse than many BSW programs, which is worth considering given the profession's emphasis on cultural competence.

With 32.4% minority enrollment, Olivet Nazarene University offers more diversity than many programs, though there's room to grow. A "Moderate" diversity level means you'll encounter some demographic variety, though not as much as top-ranked programs. At 0.74 for gender balance, the school falls in the middle of the pack among BSW programs.

19
Millikin University

Decatur, IL · Private · 1,586 students

National #308
49.7 / 100
30.7%
Minority Students
Moderate
Diversity Level
$42,778
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Millikin University comes in at #308 on our 2026 diversity list. The student body is less diverse than many BSW programs, which is worth considering given the profession's emphasis on cultural competence.

The student body is 30.7% minority, which adds some diversity to classroom discussions and group projects. A "Moderate" diversity level means you'll encounter some demographic variety, though not as much as top-ranked programs. A gender ratio of 0.83 means you'll study in a program with a healthier gender mix than most social work schools.

20
University of St Francis

Joliet, IL · Private · 3,074 students

National #386
42.5 / 100
40.8%
Minority Students
Moderate
Diversity Level
$37,000
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

University of St Francis comes in at #386 on our 2026 diversity list. The student body is less diverse than many BSW programs, which is worth considering given the profession's emphasis on cultural competence.

About 40.8% of students identify as racial or ethnic minorities, providing a moderately diverse campus experience. A "Moderate" diversity level means you'll encounter some demographic variety, though not as much as top-ranked programs. At 0.37 for gender balance, the student population skews heavily in one direction — not unusual for BSW programs, but noticeable.

21
Methodist College

Peoria, IL · Private · 267 students

National #450
36.4 / 100
36.1%
Minority Students
Moderate
Diversity Level
$16,248
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

Methodist College comes in at #450 on our 2026 diversity list. The student body is less diverse than many BSW programs, which is worth considering given the profession's emphasis on cultural competence.

With 36.1% minority enrollment, Methodist College offers more diversity than many programs, though there's room to grow. The school carries a "Moderate" diversity classification, reflecting a reasonably mixed student population. The gender balance ratio of 0.13 indicates a significant gender skew, which is common in social work but worth noting.

22
St. Augustine College

Chicago, IL · Private · 810 students

National #500
32.6 / 100
98.7%
Minority Students
Low
Diversity Level
$12,888
In-State Tuition (excl. fees)

St. Augustine College comes in at #500 on our 2026 diversity list. The student body is less diverse than many BSW programs, which is worth considering given the profession's emphasis on cultural competence.

With 98.7% minority enrollment, St. Augustine College offers one of the most diverse student populations among BSW programs. With a "Low" diversity designation, the campus lacks the demographic breadth you'd find at higher-ranked programs. The gender balance ratio of 0.15 indicates a significant gender skew, which is common in social work but worth noting.