Illinois · Verified October 2026
Social Work Programs in Illinois
Where Can You Earn a BSW in Illinois, and Can You Be Licensed With It?
19 schools in Illinois offer a CSWE bachelor of social work, including Aurora University, Bradley University and Dominican University. 4 options are online. In-state tuition and fees at Illinois public universities start at $11,320 a year (2023-24). Illinois licenses social workers only from the master's level.
- First years: general education and intro coursesPsychology, sociology, human biology, intro to social work
- Apply to the social work majorUsually in the second year, with a GPA minimum
- Senior field practicumAt least 400 supervised hours in an agency
- MSW to be licensed hereIllinois licenses social workers from the master's level
- CSWE BSW schools
- 19
- BSW options
- 21
- online options
- 4
- lowest public in-state tuition, 2023-24
- $11,320
- BSW license
- None
Does Illinois License BSW Graduates?
No: Illinois licenses social workers from the MSW
The first license is the Licensed Social Worker (LSW), with the none exam. A CSWE BSW shortens the MSW to about a year through advanced standing.
From Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation, reviewed 2026-09-30. Illinois board of social work · BSW license checker
Illinois BSW Schools Compared
| School | Formats | CSWE | Tuition and fees, 2023-24 | Transfer or completion | Own MSW with advanced standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governors State UniversityUniversity Park · Public | Campus | CSWE | $11,320 | Yes | |
| University of Illinois SpringfieldSpringfield · Public | Campus | CSWE | $12,252$22,017 out-of-state | ||
| National Louis UniversityChicago · Private nonprofit | Online, Campus, Hybrid | CSWE | $12,345 | ||
| Northeastern Illinois UniversityChicago · Public | Campus | CSWE | $12,383$22,726 out-of-state | Yes | |
| Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleEdwardsville · Public | Campus | CSWE | $12,922 | Yes | Yes |
| Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale · Public | Campus | CSWE | $13,244 | Yes | |
| Western Illinois UniversityMacomb · Public | Campus | CSWE | $14,952 | ||
| University of IllinoisChampaign · Public | Campus, Online | CSWE | $16,004$34,501 out-of-state | Yes | Yes |
| Illinois State UniversityNormal · Public | Campus | CSWE | $16,021$28,086 out-of-state | Yes | |
| Methodist CollegePeoria · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $18,008 | ||
| Aurora UniversityAurora · Private nonprofit | Campus, Online | CSWE | $28,220 | Yes | Yes |
| Greenville UniversityGreenville · Private nonprofit | Online | CSWE | $30,598 | ||
| University of St FrancisJoliet · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $37,000 | Yes | |
| Lewis UniversityRomeoville · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $37,882 | Yes | Yes |
| Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $37,940 | Yes | |
| Bradley UniversityPeoria · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $39,680 | ||
| Loyola University ChicagoChicago · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $51,716 | Yes | Yes |
| Rockford UniversityRockford · Private nonprofit | Campus | Candidacy | $37,300 | ||
| Dominican UniversityRiver Forest · Private nonprofit | Campus | Candidacy | $37,844 | Yes |
Programs from each school's own pages, reviewed October 2026; CSWE status from CSWE's directory. Tuition and fees are the federal figures for a full-time undergraduate year, 2023-24 (NCES College Navigator).
Every BSW Program in Illinois
21 programs in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW) at Aurora University
Aurora University school profile · AuroraFormatOn campusTuition$15,250per termAccreditationCSWE- FormatOnlineTuition$495per creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$12,383per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 (in-state) · NCESAccreditationCSWE
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at University of Illinois
University of Illinois school profile · ChampaignFormatOn campusTuition$16,004per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 (in-state) · NCESAccreditationCSWEOnline Bachelor of Social Work (iBSW) at University of Illinois
University of Illinois school profile · ChampaignFormatOnlineTuition$16,004per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 (in-state) · NCESAccreditationCSWEBachelor of Social Work (BSW) at Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago school profile · ChicagoFormatOn campusTuition$28,465per termAccreditationCSWE- FormatOn campusTuition$16,021per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 (in-state) · NCESAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campus420-hour practicumTuition$13,244per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 (in-state) · NCESAccreditationCSWE
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville school profile · EdwardsvilleFormatOn campusTuition$12,922per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 (in-state) · NCESAccreditationCSWE- FormatOn campus450-hour practicumTuition$350per creditAccreditationCSWE
Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) at Olivet Nazarene University
Olivet Nazarene University school profile · BourbonnaisFormatOn campusTuition$37,940per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 · NCESAccreditationCSWEBachelor of Social Work (BSW) at University of Illinois Springfield
University of Illinois Springfield school profile · SpringfieldFormatOn campusTuition$10,035per year · resident rateAccreditationCSWESocial Work, B.S.W. at Governors State University
Governors State University school profile · University ParkFormatOn campusTuition$380per creditAccreditationCSWEBachelor of Social Work (BSW) at National Louis University
National Louis University school profile · ChicagoFormatOnline, On campus, Hybrid400-hour practicumTuition$12,420per yearAccreditationCSWE- FormatOn campus480-hour practicumTuition$37,882per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 · NCESAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnlineTuition$30,598per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 · NCESAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$39,680per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 · NCESAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$37,000per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 · NCESAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$18,008per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 · NCESAccreditationCSWE
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at Dominican University
Dominican University school profile · River ForestFormatOn campusTuition$37,844per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 · NCESAccreditationCandidacy- FormatOn campusTuition$37,300per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 · NCESAccreditationCandidacy
No programs match these filters.
Program facts come from each school's own pages, reviewed October 2026. Tuition is the program's own published rate where the school states one; otherwise it's the school's federal undergraduate tuition and fees for a full-time year, 2023-24 (in-state at public universities), from NCES College Navigator. "Resident rate" means the school charges nonresidents more. CSWE status comes from CSWE's directory of accredited programs.
What a BSW Costs in Illinois
By the federal figures for 2023-24, tuition and fees at Illinois's BSW schools run from $11,320 at Governors State University to $51,716 at Loyola University Chicago; the Illinois median is $18,008, against $13,212 nationally. Public universities charge residents less: 8 of 19 schools here are public.
| School | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Governors State University tuitionPublic | $11,320 | $11,320 |
| University of Illinois Springfield tuitionPublic | $12,252 | $22,017 |
| National Louis University tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $12,345 | $12,345 |
| Northeastern Illinois University tuitionPublic | $12,383 | $22,726 |
| Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville tuitionPublic | $12,922 | $12,922 |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale tuitionPublic | $13,244 | $13,244 |
| Western Illinois University tuitionPublic | $14,952 | $14,952 |
| University of Illinois tuitionPublic | $16,004 | $34,501 |
| Illinois State University tuitionPublic | $16,021 | $28,086 |
| Methodist College tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $18,008 | $18,008 |
Full-time undergraduate tuition and required fees, 2023-24 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). Compare schools side by side with the BSW cost comparison.
From a BSW to an MSW in Illinois
11 Illinois schools also run an MSW that admits BSW graduates with advanced standing, usually about a year of study instead of two: Aurora University, Dominican University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Lewis University and Loyola University Chicago and 5 more. Advanced standing is open to graduates of any CSWE BSW, so you can also move to another school.
How BSW-to-MSW advanced standing works · Find a same-school MSW route
Largest BSW Programs in Illinois
By BSWs awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), Aurora University has Illinois's largest program, followed by Northeastern Illinois University and University of Illinois. Size tells you how many classmates and field placement partners to expect, not how good a program is.
Online BSW Options for Illinois Residents
Beyond Illinois's own schools, 128 online BSW options at schools in other states accept students from many states. Before you apply, confirm the school can enroll Illinois residents and arrange your field practicum in Illinois.
| Lowest published per-credit rates, same for every state | Per credit |
|---|---|
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro: Bachillerato en Artes con Concentración en Trabajo Social (BATS)Bachillerato en Artes con Concentración en Trabajo Social (BATS) · Puerto Rico | $207 |
| University of the Cumberlands: Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW), OnlineBachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW), Online · Kentucky | $220 |
| Avila University: Bachelor of Social Work OnlineBachelor of Social Work Online · Missouri | $300 |
| Charter Oak State College: Bachelor of Science in Social WorkBachelor of Science in Social Work · Connecticut | $329 |
| Briar Cliff University: Bachelor of Social Work (online degree completion)Bachelor of Social Work (online degree completion) · Iowa | $340 |
| Capella University: Bachelor of Social WorkBachelor of Social Work · Minnesota | $350 |
Compare every option on the online BSW programs page, or let the program matcher rank them for you.
Pay for BSW Jobs in Illinois
| Occupation | Illinois median | U.S. median | Jobs in Illinois |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $63,220 | $59,550 | 19,860 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $46,950 | $45,930 | 22,220 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $74,390 | $66,270 | 2,590 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $78,380 | $80,390 | 7,520 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. A high median on few jobs describes a small market. What you can do with a BSW.
Social Work Programs Near Illinois Cities
Social Work Majors Without CSWE Accreditation in Illinois
This school offers a social work bachelor's that CSWE doesn't list as accredited or in candidacy (directory checked September 30, 2026). A non-accredited degree doesn't qualify you for a state bachelor's license or MSW advanced standing, so it isn't included in this site's lists: Concordia University-Chicago: Bachelor of Arts in Social Work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many BSW Programs Are in Illinois?
19 schools in Illinois run a BSW that CSWE lists as accredited or in candidacy, 21 options in all, each checked on the school's own site in October 2026.
Can You Be Licensed With a BSW in Illinois?
No. Illinois licenses social workers from the master's level (the LSW), so you'd need an MSW to be licensed. Many BSW jobs, such as case management and child welfare roles, don't require a license; a CSWE BSW also shortens the MSW through advanced standing.
Can Illinois Residents Earn a BSW Online?
Yes. 4 Illinois options are offered online, and 128 online BSW options at schools in other states accept students from many states; confirm each school can enroll Illinois residents and place you in a field practicum in Illinois. Online BSW programs.
What Is the Most Affordable BSW in Illinois?
By federal figures for 2023-24, the lowest in-state tuition and fees at a Illinois public university with a CSWE BSW are at Governors State University ($11,320), University of Illinois Springfield ($12,252) and Northeastern Illinois University ($12,383). Grants lower most students' price further.
Nearby States
Sources
- Official program, tuition and admissions pages of the 19 Illinois schools listed, reviewed October 2026
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), directory of accredited programs
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS: 2022-23 completions and 2023-24 tuition and fees
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025