Illinois has 18 CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work programs, the authoritative count from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. The longest-accredited is Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which has held CSWE accreditation since 1974. 6 of the 18 record an online option; the rest are campus-based. 3 are hosted at a Carnegie R1 (very high research) university and 1 at a Carnegie R2 (high research) university.
Each program below is scored on the same five-factor model used in our national ranking, so the order reflects accreditation longevity, delivery and schedule flexibility, program breadth, and the institution's Carnegie research tier, all applied identically nationwide.
Illinois BSW programs at a glance
18
CSWE-accredited BSW programs
1974
Oldest, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, accredited since
6
Offer an online option
4
At an R1 or R2 research university
Illinois's 18 programs span CSWE accreditation from 1974 to 2021, and the highest-scoring on our five-factor model is Aurora University at 8.0 out of 10. The newest, National Louis University, earned accreditation in 2021. Among the Illinois programs we have verified tuition for, published in-state tuition runs from $7,872 to $50,270 a year. A child, family, and school social worker in Illinois earns a median of $63,220 a year, 6% above the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
All 18 CSWE-Accredited BSW Programs in Illinois
Accreditation status, dates, locations, online option, and program details are sourced directly from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. Tuition is shown for reference only and is not factored into the score.
- #1
Aurora University
Aurora, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1987 · Online or On-Campus
8.0
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 3 campuses + online 2 certificates Accred. since 1987Why it ranks here
Aurora University has held CSWE accreditation since 1987, 39 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Aurora, IL; Woodstock, IL; Williams Bay, WI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 2 embedded certificates (Addictions, Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
$29,600 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2025-26 tuition (12-18 hrs) · aurora.edu
Locations
Aurora, IL (1969-1982; 1987-present); Woodstock, IL (1969-1982; 1987-present); Williams Bay, WI (1969-1982; 1987-present); Online (2018-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 8.2
- Delivery (22%) 9.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #2
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.9
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
Southern Illinois University Carbondale has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Carbondale, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $9,638 · Out-of-state $9,638 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Carbondale, IL (1974-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #3
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1976 · On-Campus
7.4
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1976Why it ranks here
Loyola University Chicago has held CSWE accreditation since 1976, 50 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Chicago, IL). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$50,270 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Chicago, IL (1976-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #4
The University of St. Francis
Joliet, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1982 · On-Campus
7.0
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1982Why it ranks here
The University of St. Francis has held CSWE accreditation since 1982, 44 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Joliet, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
$37,000 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Joliet, IL (1982-Present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #5
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1979 · On-Campus
7.0
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1979Why it ranks here
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has held CSWE accreditation since 1979, 47 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Edwardsville, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $8,846 · Out-of-state $8,846 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Edwardsville, IL (1979-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.5
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #6
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 2010 · Online or On-Campus
6.8
Online or On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full & part-time 1 campus + online 2 certificates Accred. since 2010Why it ranks here
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has held CSWE accreditation since 2010, 16 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Urbana, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 2 embedded certificates (Child Welfare, Gerontology). Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $12,992 · Out-of-state $33,344 / year
2025-26 tuition & fees, base rate · illinois.edu
Locations
Urbana, IL (2010-present); Online (2022-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 4.6
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #7
Illinois State University
Normal, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1980 · On-Campus
6.8
On-Campus Carnegie R2 Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1980Why it ranks here
Illinois State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1980, 46 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Normal, IL). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $11,000 · Out-of-state $20,358 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Normal, IL (1980-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.4
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 7.5
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #8
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1988 · On-Campus
6.6
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1988Why it ranks here
Northeastern Illinois University has held CSWE accreditation since 1988, 38 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Chicago, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $10,343 · Out-of-state $20,686 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Chicago, IL (1988-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 8.1
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #9
Governors State University
University Park, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1993 · On-Campus
6.3
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1993Why it ranks here
Governors State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1993, 33 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (University Park, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $7,872 · Out-of-state $7,872 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
University Park, IL (1993-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.3
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #10
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 2002 · Online or On-Campus
6.2
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 2002Why it ranks here
Trinity Christian College has held CSWE accreditation since 2002, 24 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Palos Heights, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$19,800 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Palos Heights, IL (2002-Present); Online (2022-Present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 5.8
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #11
Greenville University
Greenville, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 2015 · Online or On-Campus
6.1
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 2015Why it ranks here
Greenville University has held CSWE accreditation since 2015, 11 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor's of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Greenville, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 6 dual-degree options.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$29,998 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Greenville, IL (2015-present); Online (2021-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 3.8
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 10.0
- #12
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 2009 · Online or On-Campus
5.9
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online 1 certificate Accred. since 2009Why it ranks here
Lewis University has held CSWE accreditation since 2009, 17 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (2025-present); Bachelor of Arts (2009-2025) is offered both online and on campus (Romeoville, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
$37,592 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Romeoville, IL (2009-present); Online (2025-present); Chicago, IL (2025-2026)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 4.7
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #13
University of Illinois at Springfield
Springfield, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1996 · On-Campus
5.9
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1996Why it ranks here
University of Illinois at Springfield has held CSWE accreditation since 1996, 30 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Springfield, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $9,865 · Out-of-state $16,853 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Springfield, IL (1996-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.8
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #14
Bradley University
Peoria, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1999 · On-Campus
5.7
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1999Why it ranks here
Bradley University has held CSWE accreditation since 1999, 27 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Peoria, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$39,248 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Peoria, IL (1999-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.3
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #15
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1994 · On-Campus
5.5
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1994Why it ranks here
Olivet Nazarene University has held CSWE accreditation since 1994, 32 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Bourbonnais, IL). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$36,950 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Bourbonnais, IL (1994-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.1
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #16
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1995 · On-Campus
5.5
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1995Why it ranks here
Western Illinois University has held CSWE accreditation since 1995, 31 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Macomb, IL). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $9,359 · Out-of-state $9,359 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Macomb, IL (1995-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #17
National Louis University
Chicago, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 2021 · Online or On-Campus
5.2
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 2 campuses + online Accred. since 2021Why it ranks here
National Louis University has held CSWE accreditation since 2021, 5 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Chicago, IL; Wheeling, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$13,776 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Chicago, IL (2021-present); Wheeling, IL (2021-present); Online (2021-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 2.8
- Delivery (22%) 8.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #18
Methodist College
Peoria, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 2017 · On-Campus
4.5
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 2017Why it ranks here
Methodist College has held CSWE accreditation since 2017, 9 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Peoria, IL). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$16,248 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Peoria, IL (2017-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 3.4
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
The Social Work Industry in Illinois
A Bachelor of Social Work is the entry credential for Illinois's front-line social-service workforce. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET, social workers are employed across public human-services and child-welfare agencies, hospitals and health systems, K-12 schools, community mental-health and substance-use programs, aging and disability services, and nonprofit and faith-based organizations. BSW-level roles are generalist and direct-practice: case manager, child and family caseworker, community and behavioral-health worker, and social and human-service assistant. Supervisory, therapeutic, and independent clinical positions generally require a master's. If you plan to pursue graduate education, BestMSWPrograms.org covers the best MSW programs to help you take that next step.
Per the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs, Illinois's 18 accredited programs are based across 18 cities, including Aurora, Woodstock, Williams Bay, Carbondale, Chicago, Joliet, and others, 6 offering an online option. 4 are hosted at a Carnegie research university (R1 or R2), which adds research and teaching-hospital placements to the local training pipeline. CSWE standards require supervised field education, so programs build placement partnerships with local agencies, hospitals, schools, and nonprofits, which makes the state's campuses a training and hiring pipeline into the surrounding Illinois social-service economy. Online-capable programs extend that access to students in rural and remote parts of the state, areas the federal government (HRSA) frequently designates as mental-health workforce shortage areas.
Nationally, the BLS projects social-worker employment will grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 67,300 openings projected each year, many from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation. The BLS projects faster-than-average growth for healthcare social workers and for mental health and substance abuse social workers, specialties that hire at both the bachelor's and master's levels.
Child, family, and school social workers, the most common BSW-level specialty, have a location quotient of 1.29 in Illinois, meaning the occupation is 29% more concentrated than the national average. The state supports roughly 3.3 of these jobs per 1,000 jobs statewide.
In Illinois, social workers held about 30,140 jobs across the four social work occupations as of May 2025, per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. Employment, annual wages, and pay range by specialty:
| Occupation | Employed in IL | Median | Mean | 10th to 90th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child, family, and school social workers | 19,860 | $63,220 | $70,670 | $47,120 to $105,660 |
| Healthcare social workers | 4,910 | $64,270 | $68,190 | $47,290 to $96,970 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers | 3,460 | $49,960 | $58,130 | $39,910 to $79,050 |
| Social workers, all other | 1,910 | $64,030 | $72,410 | $45,460 to $111,320 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025. Wages cover all workers in each occupation; BLS does not break wages out by degree, and BSW-level roles typically fall toward the lower end of each range. Location quotient compares the state's job concentration to the national average (1.0 = the national rate). O*NET reports tasks, skills, and local outlook by occupation.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Social Workers; BLS state wage data for Illinois; O*NET: Child, Family, and School Social Workers; CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs; HRSA health workforce shortage areas.
Social Work Licensure in Illinois
Licensing data from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the body that develops the social work licensing exams, captured 2026.
Illinois licenses social workers at the bachelor level, so a CSWE-accredited BSW is the degree requirement for an entry-level license here. That makes program accreditation, the basis of our ranking, a direct licensing prerequisite.
| License | Name | Exam | CSWE BSW required |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSW2 | Licensed Social Worker 2 | No ASWB exam required | Not specified |
The license ladder continues to the master's level (LSW1), and the clinical, independent-practice level (LCSW1, LCSW2, LCSW3). A CSWE-accredited BSW also qualifies graduates for Advanced Standing admission to a master's program.
How We Ranked These Programs
Every program is scored on the same five-factor model used in the national ranking, with no state-specific adjustments. Four factors are drawn from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs; prestige uses the institution's 2025 Carnegie research classification.
- Accreditation longevity (40%): years of continuous CSWE accreditation.
- Delivery flexibility (22%): online option and number of approved campus locations.
- Prestige (15%): 2025 Carnegie research tier (R1, R2, or baseline).
- Schedule flexibility (12%): full-time and part-time plans of study.
- Program breadth (11%): embedded certificates and dual-degree options.
For the full model, see our ranking methodology.