In Illinois, the title of social worker is protected. If you’re planning on becoming one, you don’t just need a degree. You need a degree that meets the state’s rigorous licensing regulations. According to the Illinois chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, all Licensed Social Workers (LSWs) and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) must have a degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
But just as importantly, you need a Master of Social Work (MSW) program that meets your own needs, one designed with your goals in mind.
However, finding the right MSW program is easier said than done. Each one of Illinois’ CSWE-accredited MSW programs offers different degree concentrations, fieldwork opportunities, and class formats. If you’re not sure where to begin, start with our Editor’s Picks of the best MSW programs in Illinois. They offer the high-quality social work education you and the people you serve deserve.
MSW FAQ: Why Is CSWE Accreditation Such a Big Deal?
Since 1952, the CSWE has been responsible for upholding rigorous and consistent standards in social work education. To become a CSWE-accredited program, schools must undergo regular reviews, teach students fundamental social work competencies, and offer valuable fieldwork experiences. For this reason, state regulatory boards across the nation require social workers to have a degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
On a personal level, having a degree from a CSWE-accredited program means you’re prepared to help the most vulnerable people through the most dire circumstances. After graduation, you can enter the workforce with confidence.
Finding the Right MSW Program in Illinois
Before you start reviewing our Editor’s Picks, you have one important question to answer: “What exactly am I looking for?” As a future social worker, a lot goes into answering that question.
As you review our list of MSW programs in Illinois, consider:
- Your desired specialty. The schools on our list offer an impressive variety of degree specializations like child welfare, gerontology, mental health, substance abuse, and more. Some programs even have international social work options. However, many offer an advanced generalist option that teaches advanced techniques you can use at any agency.
- Time commitments. Not long ago, MSW programs were largely offered on-campus and on a full-time basis. They were designed to be completed in two years. Today, you can find part-time MSW programs that can be completed in three to four years, hybrid programs, and totally online options. In that sense, MSWs are more accessible than ever.
- Budget. According to our estimates, the average cost of an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program in Illinois is about $37,000. This number comes from information on each school’s website and may vary. Fees and other costs are not included in this calculation.
- Other certifications you may need. In general, the programs on this list are designed to prepare students for social work licensure in Illinois. However, specialists who work in schools, medical settings, or in mental health and substance abuse may need other certifications. Many schools of social work in Illinois offer certifications or prepare students to earn extra professional licenses.
- If you qualify for an Advanced Standing program. In most MSW programs, the first year is dedicated to social work fundamentals and the second year is dedicated to advanced principles. If you already have a bachelor’s in social work (BSW), you may qualify for a one-year Advanced Standing program and save time and money. Most programs on our list offer an Advanced Standing option. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree yet, many schools have accelerated BSW to MSW tracks.
The programs on our Editor’s Picks list approach these considerations in an impressive variety of ways. They’re designed for all types of students. With their resources and your talents and drive, you stand to become the informed, impassioned advocate so many people in Illinois so desperately need.
If this list doesn’t have a program that fits your needs, check out our list of the most affordable MSW programs in Illinois. Then, be sure to review the many financial options available to the state’s social work students.
Our Editor’s Picks for the Top MSW Programs in Illinois
Aurora University
George Williams School of Social Work
Aurora, IL
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus, hybrid, and online)
Estimated Tuition: $37,080
- AU has been in social work education since the 1970s, making it one of the most recognized names in Illinois.
- Students can begin classes in the spring, summer or fall. With evening and online classes available, this might be a great choice for working students and parents.
- Also offers:
- Bachelor of Social Work (available on-campus, online, and at either the main campus or the University Center at McHenry County College).
- Post-MSW Illinois Professional Educator License with School Social Work Endorsement.
- Dual degrees: MSW/Master of Business Administration and MSW/Master of Public Administration (both available online).
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor program (available online and on-campus).
- Co-Occuring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorder Professionals (COPD I) Board Registration program.
While AU’s MSW program focuses on clinical practice, students can choose one of nine concentrations: addiction, child welfare, school social work (all three of which include additional certifications), forensics, generalist practice, gerontology, healthcare, leadership administration, and military and veteran social work. If that’s not impressive enough, AU works closely with over 50 organizations to provide enriching fieldwork experiences. The school also emphasizes employment-based internships, meaning students can use their current employers as fieldwork sites or find a new full-time employer. This unique approach to internships, the research-and-practice-based curriculum, and flexible schedule options make AU’s MSW program one of the best in the state.
Chamberlain University
College of Health Professions
Online
Website
Master of Social Work (Online)
Estimated Tuition: $41,700
- MSW students at Chamberlain can apply for the school’s Social Impact Grant and save up to 20% on total tuition costs.
- All of Chamberlain University’s degree programs are focused on helping professions (social work, nursing, and public health) meaning their faculty have plenty of hands-on experience.
- Also offers: Master of Public Health.
Chamberlain University’s 100% online MSW program balances convenience with innovative educational techniques. Like with other online programs, Chamberlain students can access classes and other resources 24/7. However, they can also practice their skills with virtual clients in simulation exercises. But perhaps the most unique thing about this program is its three issue-driven degree tracks. Students in the Crisis and Response Interventions concentration learn about de-escalation and therapeutic techniques. On the Trauma degree track, future social workers dive into psychotherapy so they can help clients process their most scarring experiences. The Medical Social Work track prepares students to guide patients through the intimidating world of healthcare and life after grave diagnoses. But no matter which concentration you choose, you’ll learn from experienced faculty who can also help students find local fieldwork opportunities.
DePaul University
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Chicago, IL
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus)
Estimated Tuition: $66,704
- This MSW program is offered at the Loop Campus in the heart of downtown Chicago.
- DePaul is home to a passionate social work faculty that help local organizations serve families affected by violence, the homeless population, and more.
- Also offers:
- MSW/MA in Women’s and Gender Studies dual degree.
- Master of Nonprofit Management.
- Master of Public Health. Master’s in Public Policy.
- Master’s in Sustainable Urban Development
- Certificates in global health, social research, community development, healthcare administration, sustainable urban food systems and critical ethnic studies
The MSW program at DePaul University isn’t just a rigorous, nationally-recognized social work program — it’s a symbol of the school’s Vincentian tradition of social justice. While students take classes about advanced social work principles, they also learn how to manage their organizations’ resources, garner public support, and enact widespread, impactful change. The school’s two advocacy-focused concentrations (community practice and forensic social work) help students tailor their skills to the at-risk populations they’re most passionate about serving. And with an 88 credit hour graduation requirement, DePaul University has one of the most in-depth curriculums on this list.
Dominican University
School of Social Work
River Forest, IL
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus or online)
Estimated Tuition: $51,000
- With a completely online option, campuses in River Forest and Grayslake, and a number of MSW-specific scholarships, Dominican’s MSW program could be a great option for all types of students.
- Even in the online option, students are organized into small cohorts that connect and cooperate frequently.
- Also offers:
- BSW
- Dual degree programs that pair an MSW with a Master of Business Administration, Master of Library and Information Sciences, or Master of Arts in Mediation and Conflict Resolution.
- Certificate in gerontology.
- Professional Educator License with School Social Work Endorsement prep program.
At Dominican University, the MSW experience is all about options. First, students have multiple degree tracks to choose from. Along with gerontology, military, child and family, and school social work, Dominican also offers unique options like global social work practice for immigrants and refugees and health and wellbeing. When it comes to fieldwork placements, students have over 350 partner organizations to choose from. But the most exciting part of Dominican’s fieldwork program is that it also includes international placements for students who want to study abroad. This human-centered approach to social work education makes Domincan’s MSW program one of the most unique in the state.
Erikson Institute
Chicago, IL
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus or online)
*Online option is for part-time students only
Estimated Tuition: $61,800
- The Erikson Institute is completely dedicated to early childhood professionals making it a great choice for future child welfare and school social workers.
- The school’s numerous child advocacy and research initiatives put faculty and students at the center of policy reform in Illinois.
- Also offers:
- Numerous policy leadership programs on topics like racial equity, early childhood, and data literacy.
- Certificates in child and family studies, child development, early childhood leadership and advocacy, early childhood social and emotional learning, and infant and early childhood mental health.
While the Erikson Institute specializes in early childhood development, its MSW program is designed for social workers of all kinds. Both of the program’s degree tracks (children, adolescents, and adults and infant and early childhood mental health) approach social work in a uniquely developmentally-focused way. For instance, in addition to classes about social work foundations like trauma-informed care, students can also take courses on psychosocial development across the lifespan, cognition, and language development — all topics that can inform social work practice in agencies of all kinds. The Erikson Institute expertly combines this clinical curriculum with a social justice ethos so their graduates can use their evidence-based skills to create equity in communities across the state.
Lewis University
College of Education and Social Sciences
Romeoville, IL
Website
MA in Social Work (On-campus)
Estimated Tuition: $39,000
- Lewis University has partnerships with two area community colleges that allow associate degree holders to earn their bachelor and Master’s Social Work degrees in just four years.
- Future school social workers and behavioral health professionals can participate in grant programs that provide additional training and up to $25,000 in financial support.
- Also offers:
- BA in social work.
- MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
- MA in School Counseling.
- Professional Educator License with School Social Work Endorsement prep program.
In Lewis University’s clinically-focused MSW program, students learn how to serve individual clients, address community-wide issues, and become leaders in their organizations. But despite the robust 45-hour core curriculum, students get plenty of room to tailor their education to their goals. As they take courses on policy, practice, and research, students also take classes about serving specific populations like children, people battling substance abuse, victims of violence, and K-12 students. To bring these concepts to life, Lewis requires students to complete two clinical internships at agencies that serve their chosen population. And with electives focused on everything from organizational leadership to cognitive behavioral therapy, MSW students can graduate from Lewis University with a comprehensive understanding of their calling.
Loyola University Chicago
School of Social Work
Chicago, IL
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus and online)
*Online is part-time only
Estimated Tuition: $51,205
- Beginning in spring 2024, Loyola University’s social work students can enroll in a new Supervision Training and Education Program (STEP).
- To make its program more equitable and accessible, Loyola offers an online bilingual (English/Spanish) MSW program.
- Also offers:
- Bachelor of social work.
- BSW/MSW five-year program.
- Dual MSW degrees with Law, Child and Family Law, Social Justice, Women’s Studies, and Public Health options.
- PhD in Social Work.
- Advanced School Mental Health Practice certificate.
- Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselors program.
- Certificate in Empowering Women: South Asian Women and Girls.
- Certificate in Advanced Psychotherapy.
- Post-MSW Professional Educator License with School Social Work Endorsement prep program.
Loyola’s MSW program frequently makes national “best of” lists. And with all of the options available to its students, it’s easy to see why. The school offers two concentration tracks, Micro Practice and Leadership, Mezzo, and Macro Practice (LMMP), but each one can be tailored to students specific goals. On the Micro track, students can choose subspecialties like advanced clinical practice, substance abuse intervention, school social work, and migration studies. The LMMP program emphasizes informed, equitable policy-making and leadership and also offers a community-building subspecialty for students interested in community advocacy. Due to its laser-focused curriculum, this program only has a 49-credit-hour graduation requirement. As impressive as this programming is, what really sets Loyola apart is its commitment to developing its student resources and community partnerships. The school is home to grants, scholarships, and events that help students get the most out of their experience. Its partnerships with local agencies and nearby schools keep the program grounded in the philosophy that sharing resources makes for a stronger, more equitable community.
Northeastern Illinois University
College of Arts and Sciences
Chicago, IL
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus)
Estimated Tuition for full-time in-state students: $27,811
Estimated Tuition for full-time out-of-state students: $55,620
- To ensure working students get a chance to advance their careers, NEIU offers MSW classes in the late afternoon and evening.
- As a public university, NEIU offers one of the most affordable MSW programs on this list.
- Also offers:
- Bachelor of social work.
- Post-MSW Professional Educator License with School Social Work Endorsement prep program.
If you’re looking for a streamlined MSW program in Illinois that teaches advanced principles you can use in just about any type of agency, NEIU has the program for you. Students interested in working directly with clients can choose the micro social work pathway which prepares students to assess, diagnose, and serve clients in a culturally-relevant context. This path also includes a children and families specialization. The second option is the macro social work pathway. In this program, students learn how to assess community needs, lead organizational initiatives, and guide public policy. Students on this path can choose the advocacy and change specialization and learn how to promote effective, long-lasting community reform. NEIU is also home to the Alliance of Student Social Workers, an active club that plans community events, hosts guest speakers, and gives students the chance to build their support networks.
University of Chicago College
Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice
Chicago, IL
Website
Master of Arts in Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration (On-campus)
Estimated Tuition: $99,468
- Along with degree concentrations, U of C also offers programs of study about topics like substance abuse counseling, behavioral intervention, social policy, and criminal justice. Some programs can lead to additional certifications and licenses.
- U of C participates in international social work student exchange programs with schools in China and Hong Kong.
- Also offers:
- Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor training program.
- Post-MSW Professional Educator License with School Social Work Endorsement prep program.
- Master’s in Social Sector Leadership.
- Dual Master’s in Social Work and Social Sector Leadership and Nonprofit Management.
- PhD in Social Work
U of C’s Master of Arts program (also called an AM or Artium Magister program) is equivalent to an MSW but takes an invaluable multidisciplinary approach to social work education. Whether students choose the clinical or social administration specialty, they learn a combination of evidence-based practices, research principles, and social theories that prepare them to critically assess and address issues on the individual and social level. However, experiential learning takes a front seat in this process. For instance, those in the clinical concentration follow a streamlined, highly regimented path. They take classes on specific practice methods, learn more about them in research and human behavior classes, then take those skills into the field in a clinical placement. U o C’s rigorous programming is only rivaled by the options the school offers including multiple certification options and international fieldwork placements.
University of St. Francis
College of Arts and Sciences
Joliet, IL
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus or online)
Estimated Tuition for full-time in-state students: $37,138
- This program offers online, evening, and weekend classes — perfect for working students.
- At just above the estimated average tuition for all CSWE-accredited programs in Illinois, this is one of the most affordable programs on our list.
- Also offers:
- Bachelor’s of social work and BA in substance abuse counseling.
- Certificates in forensic social work and gerontology.
- Post-MSW Professional Educator License with School Social Work Endorsement prep program.
Instead of dividing students into frontline professionals and administrators, the University of St. Francis cleverly designed its curriculum to prepare all students for micro, macro, and mezzo social work. But that doesn’t mean students can’t specialize. Within the advanced generalist concentration, they can choose from one of thirteen specialties like child welfare, gerontology, healthcare, and mental health. The University also offers more unique specialties like developmental disabilities, immigration, and international concerns. Future schools social workers have their own degree concentration program that includes additional courses. Through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the University of St. Francis also offers a unique career and competency-focused child welfare curriculum. This extremely accessible program can be completed fully online from anywhere in the nation.