Looking to start or advance your career as a social worker in the economic hub of the Midwest? Then these rankings of the best MSW programs in Illinois are the perfect place to start.
There are quite a few Master in Social Work degree programs to choose from in this state. In fact, we counted at least 16 different options you can select from. With all those choices, choosing the right one may feel a little overwhelming.
Fortunately, we collected data on every MSW program in Illinois, and ranked them based on their ASWB Master’s Exam pass rates.
Then, we compiled all the key information you need to know about the top MSW programs in Illinois. This includes factors like exam pass rates, degree pathways, admission requirements, tuition, and more.
So, keep reading to discover if one of these programs may be the right fit for you.
Table of Contents
- What Is The Best MSW Program In Illinois?
- 5 Best MSW Programs In Illinois Ranked
- Is An MSW Program In Illinois Right For You?
- Illinois MSW Programs FAQs
Explore Social Work Degrees
What Is The Best MSW Program In Illinois?
The best MSW program in Illinois is Northeastern Illinois University based on our ranking criteria. While only one graduate took the ASWB Master’s Exam in 2022, they passed, giving this school a 100% pass rate.
Meanwhile, graduates attained a 59.1% pass rate on the Clinical Exam, with 13 out of 22 graduates passing the test.
However, just because this school topped our rankings doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best fit for you. For example, while NEIU offers multiple concentrations, they don’t provide any online classes. So, if you’re looking for more flexibility, a school like University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign may be a better choice.
Likewise, while DePaul ranks second in terms of pass rates on the ASWB Master’s Exam, they had one of the lowest Clinical Exam pass rates. Therefore, if you want to eventually pursue clinical licensure, you may be better off with a program like UChigaco, whose graduates attained the highest Clinical Exam pass rate.
Ultimately, choosing the right program depends on your own unique goals, interests, and circumstances. So, to learn more about the top MSW programs in Illinois and what makes each one stand out, keep reading.
5 Best MSW Programs In Illinois Ranked
To rank the best MSW programs in Illinois, we used official exam pass rate data from the Association of Social Work Boards. This way we were able to rank each school using an objective metric.
Since you’ll need to pass the Master’s Exam in order to become a Licensed Master of Social Work, these pass rates are a good measure of how well each school prepares you for social work practice.
Additionally, if more than one program had the same Master’s Exam pass rate, we broke the tie by considering their Clinical Exam pass rate.
The table below ranks every MSW program from the highest ASWB Master’s Exam pass rate to the lowest. To learn more about the top MSW programs in Illinois, keep reading after the table.
| School | Masters Exam Pass Rate | Clinical Exam Pass Rate |
| 1. Northeastern Illinois University | 100.0% | 59.1% |
| 2. DePaul University | 100.0% | 27.3% |
| 3. University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign | 95.0% | 64.2% |
| 4. University of Chicago | 90.9% | 82.4% |
| 5. University of Illinois – Chicago | 90.0% | 60.6% |
| 6. Dominican University | 75.0% | 50.0% |
| 7. Aurora University | 61.4% | 54.9% |
| 8. Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville | 60.0% | 81.0% |
| 9. Southern Illinois University – Carbondale | 54.5% | 48.8% |
| 10. Loyola University of Chicago | 51.1% | 67.4% |
| 11. Illinois State University | 50.0% | 77.8% |
| 12. Chicago State University | 50.0% | 23.7% |
| 13. Governors State University | 50.0% | 18.2% |
| 14. University of St. Francis | 25.0% | 21.7% |
| 15. Erikson Institute | N/A | 66.7% |
| 16. Bradley University (BSW only) | N/A | 50.0% |
| 17. Lewis University | N/A | 20.0% |
| 18. Augustana College (Pre-MSW track only) | N/A | 0.0% |
1. Northeastern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University offers several tracks through which you can earn your Master In Social Work degree, including:
- Two-Year, Full-Time Traditional Standing
- Four-Year, Part-Time Traditional Standing
- Two-Semester, Full-Time Advanced Standing
- Four-Semester, Part-Time Advanced Standing
Additionally, this school offers two different areas of concentration: Micro and Macro.
The Micro concentration focuses on practice with vulnerable populations, including children and families. Meanwhile, the Macro concentration focuses on leadership, advocacy, and change.
Additionally, students in either concentration can opt to pursue a School Social Work specialization. Upon completion of the program, you’ll be eligible to earn a Professional Educator License.
We should also note that all of the classes in this program are on-campus, and no classes are available online. Furthermore, you may only start the program with your cohort in Summer or Fall semesters, not Spring.
Finally, to gain entry into the MSW program at NEIU, you must meet the following admission requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree; Advanced Standing students must have earned their BSW in the last five years
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in all undergraduate coursework
- Three letters of recommendation, with at least one preferably from a former professor; Advanced Standing students must submit one recommendation from a BSW program director, field advisor, or faculty member
- Submission of resume and personal statement
| In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate | ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate |
| $563.53 per credit hour (part-time students taking less than 12 credits per semester); $6,582.36 per semester (full-time students taking 12 or more credits per semester) | $927.96 per credit hour (part-time students taking less than 12 credits per semester); $12,144.72 per semester (full-time students taking 12 or more credits per semester) | 100% | 59.1% |
Explore Social Work Degrees
2. DePaul University
Second in our rankings of the best MSW programs in Illinois is DePaul University. While only one graduate from this school took the ASWB Master’s Exam in 2022, they passed, giving this school a 100% pass rate.
Meanwhile, graduates attained a 27.3% pass rate on the Clinical Exam, with 3 out of 11 passing the test.
DePaul University provides two tracks to earn your MSW degree:
- Two-Year, Full-Time Traditional Standing
- Three- to Four-Year, Part-Time Traditional Standing
Unfortunately, this school does not offer an official Advanced Standing pathway. However, BSW graduates may be able to waive up to 12 credit hours of eligible MSW coursework if they received a grade of B or better in their corresponding undergraduate course. The classes you can potentially waive include:
- Human Behavior and The Social Environment I
- Introduction to Social Work Research
- Social Welfare Policy I
All of the classes occur on weekday afternoons and evenings, while field placements require daytime availability and are offered across the Chicago area.
Like NEIU, DePaul also offers two areas of concentration to choose from: Community Practice and Forensic Social Work.
The Community Practice concentration prepares students to lead human service organizations. Meanwhile, the Forensic Social Work concentration prepares students “for practice and advocacy in settings where human services and the legal system intersect.”
Finally, to gain admission into DePaul University’s MSW program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum 2.7 GPA in all undergraduate coursework
- Two references, with one addressing your professional potential and one addressing your academic potential
- Submission of current resume and personal statement
| In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate | ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate |
| $758 per credit hour | N/A (private university) | 100% | 27.3% |
3. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The third school in our rankings of the top MSW programs in Illinois is University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. An impressive 95% of graduates who took the ASWB Master’s Exam in 2022 passed, with 19 out of 20 passing the test.
Meanwhile, 88 out of 137 graduates passed the Clinical Exam, equating to a 64.2% pass rate.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign provides several tracks through which you can earn your MSW degree, including:
- Full-Time, On-Campus Traditional Standing
- Part-Time, On-Campus Traditional Standing
- Part-Time, Online (iMSW) Traditional Standing
- Full-Time, On-Campus Advanced Standing
- Part-Time, On-Campus Advanced Standing
- Part-Time, Online (iMSW) Traditional Standing
Additionally, you can choose from one of two areas of concentration: Leadership and Social Change and Advanced Clinical.
The Leadership and Social Change concentration develops students’ skills in macro practice. Meanwhile, the Advanced Clinical concentration prepares students with advanced skills in direct practice.
Furthermore, the Advanced Clinical concentration allows you to choose a focus area, such as:
- Children, Youth, and Family Services
- Health Care
- Mental Health
- School Social Work
Finally, to gain entry into the MSW program at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, you must meet the following admission requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree; Advanced Standing students must have earned their BSW in the last seven years
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework
- Paid, volunteer, internship, or research experience in human services, or an undergraduate degree in the behavioral science field
- Completion of 20 hours of coursework in social and behavioral sciences, humanities, and biological sciences
- Three letters of recommendation
- Submission of resume, personal statement, and academic statement
| In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate | ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate |
| $8,342 per semester (students enrolled in 12 or more credits per semester); $5,562 per semester (students enrolled in 6 to 11 credits per semester); $2,781 per semester (students enrolled in 1 to 5 credits per semester); $598 per credit hour (online/iMSW students) | $16,650 per semester (students enrolled in 12 or more credits per semester); $11,100 per semester (students enrolled in 6 to 11 credits per semester); $5,550 per semester (students enrolled in 1 to 5 credits per semester); $598 per credit hour (online/iMSW students; same cost as in-state tuition) | 95.0% | 64.2% |
4. University of Chicago
Fourth in our rankings of the best MSW programs in Illinois is University of Chicago. Graduates from this school attained a 90.9% pass rate on the ASWB Master’s Exam in 2022.
Meanwhile, this school had the highest pass rate in Illinois on the Clinical Exam at 82.4%. Of the 148 graduates who took the test, 122 of them passed.
University of Chicago’s program is called the Master of Arts in Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration. It is the equivalent of an MSW degree, but provides a broader educational and experiential foundation.
This school provides several tracks through which you can earn your Master of Social Work degree, including:
- Two-Year, Full-Time Traditional Standing
- Three-Year, Part-Time, Evening and Weekend Traditional Standing
- One-Year, Full-Time Advanced Standing
Additionally, you can choose from one of five distinct specialization pathways, such as:
- Transforming Justice and Violence Prevention
- Integrating Health, Mental Health, and Social Care
- Disrupting Poverty, Economic Inequality, and Social Exclusion
- Children and Families in System Contexts
- Global Health and Social Development
There are also several joint and dual degree options you can pair with your social work degree, including:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) Joint Degree
- Master of Public Policy (MPP) Joint Degree
- Master of Divinity (MDiv) Joint Degree
- Master of Divinity (MDiv) Dual Degree
Finally, to gain entry into UChicago’s Master In Social Work program, you must meet the following admission requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree; Advanced Standing students must have earned their BSW in the last five years
- No specific GPA requirement is explicitly listed
- Three letters of recommendation, two of which should address your academic ability; Advanced Standing students must also submit one reference from a BSW field instructor who can evaluate your performance in field placement or submit a final field evaluation
- Submission of current resume and personal statement
| In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate | ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate |
| $16,578 per semester (full-time Traditional Standing and Advanced Standing students); $11,052 per semester (part-time students); $5,526 per course | N/A (private university) | 90.9% | 82.4% |
5. University of Illinois at Chicago
The fifth and final school in our rankings of the best MSW programs in Illinois is University of Illinois at Chicago. Graduates from this school attained a 90% pass rate on the ASWB Master’s Exam in 2022, with 18 out of 20 passing the test.
Meanwhile, 131 out of the 216 graduates who took the Clinical Exam passed, equating to a 60.6% pass rate.
University of Illinois Chicago offers three different routes through which you can earn your MSW degree, including:
- One-Year, Full-Time Advanced Standing
- Two-Year, Full-Time Traditional Standing
- Three-Year, Extended-Time Traditional Standing
Additionally, this school offers a wide array of specializations to choose from, such as:
- Child and Family
- Mental Health
- Organization and Community Practice
- School Social Work
- Social Work within Justice Systems
Furthermore, there are two certificates you can pursue to enhance your degree, including:
- Certificate in Evidence-Based Mental Health Practice with Children
- Integrated Behavioral Health Care Training
We should also note that University of Illinois Chicago offers a joint MSW/MPH degree, as well as interdepartmental concentrations, such as:
- Gender and Women’s Studies concentration
- Violence Studies concentration
- Black Studies concentration
- Survey Research Methodology concentration
Finally, to gain admission into this Master of Social Work program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree;
- Minimum 2.75 GPA in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate study
- Completion of 20 semester hour credits in undergraduate social and behavioral science courses
- Completion of a statistics course with a grade of C or better
- Submission of resume and personal statement
- Three letters of reference
Note: No specific additional requirements are explicitly listed for Advanced Standing students. However, if you plan on entering their Advanced Standing track, you may want to contact the school for further details.
| In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate | ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate |
| $6,235 per semester (full-time Traditional Standing, Advanced Standing, and third-year Extended-Time students); $4,157 per semester (year-one and year-two Extended study students) | $12,995 per semester (full-time Traditional Standing, Advanced Standing, and third-year Extended-Time students); $8,663 per semester (year-one and year-two Extended study students) | 90.0% | 60.6% |
Is An MSW Program In Illinois Right For You?
Explore Social Work Degrees
While there are lots of MSW programs in Illinois to choose from, selecting the right one can be a tough choice. Fortunately, any of the schools listed in this article can make a great choice.
While NEIU has the highest ASWB Master’s Exam pass rate and offers several concentrations, DePaul University offers the unique Forensic Social Work concentration.
Additionally, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign provides several online degree options, as well as four different Advanced Clinical concentrations.
Meanwhile, University of Chicago stands out for high Clinical Exam pass rate, as well as its distinct specialization pathways and joint degrees.
Finally, University of Illinois at Chicago may be the right choice for those seeking interdepartmental concentrations, offering courses in subjects like Gender and Women’s Studies, Violence Studies, and Black Studies.
However, if you didn’t see a program you quite fell in love with in this article, you’re not limited to earning your degree in Illinois. In fact, you may want to explore online MSW degree options, which typically offer more flexibility and affordability than traditional universities.
To find a program that suits your goals and interests, fill out this form and we’ll help you get started!
Illinois MSW Programs FAQs
What Is The Salary For An MSW In Illinois?
The average annual MSW salary in Illinois is $74,018. However, salaries typically fall anywhere between $60,616 and $88,428 per year.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Social Worker In Illinois?
The timeline for becoming a social worker in Illinois is the same as it is for all other states in the nation. Overall, you can expect it to take four to six years to become a social worker in Illinois.
If you opt to earn your Bachelor of Social Work degree first, you can typically begin working in entry-level social work jobs in about four years.
Meanwhile, to take on more advanced social work roles, you’ll need to earn your Master In Social Work degree.
If you already earned your BSW, you can obtain your MSW degree in as little as a year through a full-time Advanced Standing program.
On the other hand, if you hold a non-social work Bachelor’s degree, you can earn your MSW in as little as two years of full-time study.
Does The University of Chicago Have An MSW Program?
Yes, the University of Chicago does offer an MSW program. In fact, this school ranks as the fourth-best MSW program in Illinois based on our ranking criteria.
Additionally, UChicago had the highest ASWB Clinical Exam pass rate of any MSW program in Illinois. Of the 148 graduates who took the test in 2022, 122 of them passed, equating to an impressive 82.4% pass rate.
