Chicago, IL · Verified October 2026
BSW Programs Near Chicago, Illinois
Where Can You Earn a Social Work Degree Near Chicago?
11 schools offer a campus or hybrid BSW within 50 miles of Chicago, the closest being National Louis University (4 miles), Dominican University (8 miles) and Northeastern Illinois University (10 miles). Illinois licenses social workers from the master's level. Online BSW programs from schools elsewhere are open to Illinois residents too.
- schools within 50 miles
- 11
- closest: National Louis University
- 4 mi
- transfer or completion options
- 4
- with their own advanced standing MSW
- 9
- median tuition and fees nearby, 2023-24
- $37,000
Campus and Hybrid BSW Programs Within 50 Miles of Chicago
| School and program | Distance | Format | CSWE | Tuition and fees, 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Louis University: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) · Chicago, IL | 4 mi | Online, On campus, Hybrid | CSWE | $12,345 |
| Dominican University: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) · River Forest, IL | 8 mi | On campus | Candidacy | $37,844 |
| Northeastern Illinois University: Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) · Chicago, IL | 10 mi | On campus | CSWE | $12,383 |
| Loyola University Chicago: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) · Chicago, IL | 11 mi | On campus | CSWE | $51,716 |
| Purdue University Northwest: Bachelor of Arts in Social WorkBachelor of Arts in Social Work · Hammond, IN | 21 mi | – | CSWE | $8,419 |
| Lewis University: Social Work, Bachelor of ArtsSocial Work, Bachelor of Arts · Romeoville, IL | 26 mi | On campus | CSWE | $37,882 |
| Governors State University: Social Work, B.S.W.Social Work, B.S.W. · University Park, IL | 27 mi | On campus | CSWE | $11,320 |
| University of St Francis: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) · Joliet, IL | 30 mi | On campus | CSWE | $37,000 |
| Aurora University: Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW)Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW) · Aurora, IL | 35 mi | On campus | CSWE | $28,220 |
| Valparaiso University: Social Work (BSW)Social Work (BSW) · Valparaiso, IN | 42 mi | On campus | CSWE | $46,588 |
| Olivet Nazarene University: Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) · Bourbonnais, IL | 48 mi | On campus | CSWE | $37,940 |
Straight-line distance from the center of Chicago (U.S. Census Gazetteer) to each school's main campus (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS); some programs meet at other sites. Tuition and fees are the federal figures for a full-time undergraduate year, 2023-24, in-state at public universities (NCES College Navigator).
Transfer, Cost and MSW Routes Near Chicago
Starting at a community college or bringing credits? 4 programs within 50 miles name a transfer pathway or runs a degree-completion option: Loyola University Chicago's transfer pathway (11 mi), Lewis University's transfer pathway (26 mi), Aurora University's transfer pathway (35 mi) and Olivet Nazarene University's transfer pathway (48 mi).
The lowest in-state tuition and fees nearby are at Purdue University Northwest, $8,419 a year (2023-24), followed by Governors State University at $11,320.
Planning on an MSW? Dominican University, Northeastern Illinois University, Loyola University Chicago and Purdue University Northwest also run MSWs that admit BSW graduates with advanced standing, usually about a year instead of two. How BSW-to-MSW advanced standing works.
Online BSW Options for Chicago Residents
| 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 |
Online programs still place you in a supervised field practicum, so confirm the school can arrange one near Chicago. Compare all of them on the online BSW programs and most affordable online BSW pages.
Getting Licensed in Illinois
- 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
Illinois BSW license from its board · Every BSW program in Illinois
BSW Programs Near Other Illinois Cities
- BSW programs near Niles15 mi away · 10 within 50 mi
- BSW programs near Matteson23 mi away · 11 within 50 mi
- BSW programs near Decatur152 mi away · 3 within 50 mi
- BSW programs near Edwardsville243 mi away · 4 within 50 mi
Sources
- Official program pages of each school listed, reviewed October 2026
- CSWE directory of accredited programs
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Gazetteer places file
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS: institutional characteristics and 2023-24 tuition and fees