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SAME FIELD · SAME CREDENTIAL · ONE STATE

Social Work bachelor's degree programs in Illinois

Compare 16 reporting programs using the same federal field and bachelor's degree credential definition. Earnings are observed four years after completion.

16Programs reporting earnings

$53,715Median year-4 earnings

$25,000Median federal debt

15Programs reporting debt

OUTCOME SPREAD

Highest reported earnings in Illinois

Each bar uses the same field, credential, state and earnings year.

1Loyola University ChicagoChicago · $21,133 federal debt$59,206 2University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign · $19,344 federal debt$56,917 3University of St FrancisJoliet · $25,000 federal debt$56,259 4Governors State UniversityUniversity Park · $33,983 federal debt$56,123 5Aurora UniversityAurora · $27,000 federal debt$55,546 6Illinois State UniversityNormal · $25,000 federal debt$55,089 7Western Illinois UniversityMacomb · $29,850 federal debt$54,063 8Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicago · $17,500 federal debt$53,848 9Bradley UniversityPeoria · $25,000 federal debt$53,715 10Millikin UniversityDecatur · $27,000 federal debt$52,870

CAREER CONTEXT IN IL

What related occupations pay in Illinois

These are common occupational matches for this field, ranked by the strength of the federal education-to-occupation match.

11-9151Social and Community Service Managers

State median wage: $78,380
Middle 50% wage range: $63,730–$95,900
State employment: 7,520
Projected growth: +7.2%
Annual openings: 18,500

10th–90th percentile: $50,840–$118,170

21-1021Child, Family, and School Social Workers

State median wage: $63,220
Middle 50% wage range: $52,320–$81,650
State employment: 19,860
Projected growth: +4.4%
Annual openings: 33,900

10th–90th percentile: $47,120–$105,660

25-1113Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary

State median wage: $77,010
Middle 50% wage range: $60,360–$99,900
State employment: 510
Projected growth: +2.6%
Annual openings: 1,100

10th–90th percentile: $42,690–$129,450

21-1022Healthcare Social Workers

State median wage: $64,270
Middle 50% wage range: $54,270–$78,610
State employment: 4,910
Projected growth: +8.5%
Annual openings: 16,900

10th–90th percentile: $47,290–$96,970

21-1029Social Workers, All Other

State median wage: $64,030
Middle 50% wage range: $48,540–$93,850
State employment: 1,910
Projected growth: +2.3%
Annual openings: 5,800

10th–90th percentile: $45,460–$111,320

21-1023Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

State median wage: $49,960
Middle 50% wage range: $46,290–$69,210
State employment: 3,460
Projected growth: +10.3%
Annual openings: 12,500

10th–90th percentile: $39,910–$79,050

21-1092Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

State median wage: $74,390
Middle 50% wage range: $59,510–$98,390
State employment: 2,590
Projected growth: +3.0%
Annual openings: 7,900

10th–90th percentile: $49,330–$107,710

21-1013Marriage and Family Therapists

State median wage: $60,970
Middle 50% wage range: $55,420–$78,070
State employment: 860
Projected growth: +13.5%
Annual openings: 6,900

10th–90th percentile: $51,420–$104,900

Career wages and employment are BLS estimates for everyone working in each occupation in Illinois; they are not earnings or placement rates for graduates of these programs. Wage ranges show the distribution across workers, not an entry-to-experienced career path. Growth and annual openings are national 2025–35 projections. BLS reports openings in thousands; DegreeVerdict displays the corresponding job count. These figures provide labor-market context and are not used in DegreeVerdict payoff or ROI calculations.

ALL REPORTING PROGRAMS

Compare every available outcome

Sorted by observed year-4 earnings. Open a row for its exact college-and-degree profile.

#	College	City	Median year-4 earnings	Median federal debt
1	Loyola University Chicago	Chicago	$59,206	$21,133
2	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	Champaign	$56,917	$19,344
3	University of St Francis	Joliet	$56,259	$25,000
4	Governors State University	University Park	$56,123	$33,983
5	Aurora University	Aurora	$55,546	$27,000
6	Illinois State University	Normal	$55,089	$25,000
7	Western Illinois University	Macomb	$54,063	$29,850
8	Northeastern Illinois University	Chicago	$53,848	$17,500
9	Bradley University	Peoria	$53,715	$25,000
10	Millikin University	Decatur	$52,870	$27,000
11	Southern Illinois University Edwardsville	Edwardsville	$52,480	$25,000
12	Trinity Christian College	Palos Heights	$52,382	Not available
13	Olivet Nazarene University	Bourbonnais	$52,114	$27,000
14	Lewis University	Romeoville	$51,859	$27,000
15	University of Illinois Springfield	Springfield	$50,516	$24,810
16	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale	Carbondale	$49,952	$27,000

This is an observed-outcomes comparison, not a universal quality ranking. Missing and privacy-suppressed programs are excluded.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

A quick read on Social Work in Illinois

What do Social Work bachelor's degree graduates earn in Illinois?

Across 16 reporting programs, the median observed earnings figure is $53,715 four years after completion.

How much federal debt is reported for these programs?

The median is $25,000 among the 15 programs reporting federal debt.

Which Illinois colleges report the highest earnings for this degree?

The table compares the same federal field, credential and earnings year. Loyola University Chicago has the highest reported figure among the programs shown.