Cheapest Social Work Colleges in Indiana

Indiana University-Northwest delivers social work education at just $5,970 net cost, making it the state's most affordable option by a significant margin. This Gary campus beats the next cheapest program by over $2,000 annually, though graduates earn $29,832 on average. The cost divide between public and private institutions reaches dramatic proportions, with some private colleges charging net prices exceeding $19,000. Indiana's healthcare sector, anchored by major employers like Indiana University Health and Eli Lilly's pharmaceutical operations, creates steady demand for social workers across clinical, community, and corporate wellness roles. Earnings for social work graduates range from $25,967 to $35,374, with Indiana University-Indianapolis producing the highest-earning graduates despite charging $11,408 in net costs. The state's 21st Century Scholars program can eliminate tuition barriers entirely for qualifying students, making already affordable public programs even more accessible.

Programs

$5,970 – $28,552

Net Price Range

$31,135

Avg. Program Earnings

56.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

23 Social Work Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Indiana University-Northwest Gary, Indiana	$5,970	$8,179	36.9%	80.3%
2	Indiana University-South Bend South Bend, Indiana	$8,364	$8,179	35.7%	86.9%
3	Purdue University Northwest Hammond, Indiana	$8,463	$8,419	44.0%	72.8%
4	Indiana University-East Richmond, Indiana	$9,082	$8,179	45.4%	77.6%
5	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$11,408	$10,449	53.9%	82.9%
6	Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana	$12,188	$9,992	41.1%	92.3%
7	Purdue University Global West Lafayette, Indiana	$12,267	$10,110	47.6%
8	University of Southern Indiana Evansville, Indiana	$12,621	$10,136	52.0%	94.4%
9	Huntington University Huntington, Indiana	$13,710	$29,982	68.2%	77.5%
10	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana	$15,342	$11,790	81.2%	82.4%
11	Goshen College Goshen, Indiana	$15,725	$37,760	60.5%	93.5%
12	Ball State University Muncie, Indiana	$15,898	$10,758	63.3%	69.0%
13	Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Marion, Indiana	$16,767	$8,216	37.2%
14	University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$18,748	$36,136	55.8%	76.1%
15	Manchester University North Manchester, Indiana	$19,268	$37,090	44.8%	66.4%
16	University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$20,361	$35,420	60.7%	98.1%
17	Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana	$21,583	$46,588	67.0%	94.2%
18	Anderson University Anderson, Indiana	$22,144	$35,640	49.4%	51.8%
19	Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion Marion, Indiana	$23,069	$31,168	66.3%	86.7%
20	Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana	$23,594	$39,100	60.9%	93.8%
21	Taylor University Upland, Indiana	$24,327	$39,104	76.6%	74.6%
22	Earlham College Richmond, Indiana	$24,516	$51,840	67.9%	73.2%
23	Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, Indiana	$28,552	$51,430	76.5%	83.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Indiana University-Northwest so much cheaper than other social work programs?

Indiana University-Northwest charges just $5,970 in net costs, compared to the state average of over $12,000. As a regional public campus serving the Gary area, it operates with lower overhead costs while maintaining the academic standards of the broader IU system. The campus accepts 80.31% of applicants and graduates earn $29,832 annually, providing solid career preparation at minimal cost.

How do graduation rates compare between affordable and expensive programs?

Huntington University achieves the highest graduation rate at 68.20% despite charging $13,710 in net costs. Indiana University-Bloomington reaches 81.20% graduation rates but costs $15,342 annually. Interestingly, some of the most affordable options like Indiana University-Northwest have lower graduation rates around 36.90%, suggesting cost and completion success don't always correlate directly.

Does attending a more expensive social work program lead to higher earnings?

Not necessarily in Indiana's social work field. Indiana University-Indianapolis graduates earn the highest salaries at $35,374 while charging $11,408 in net costs. Meanwhile, University of Indianapolis charges $18,748 but produces graduates earning just $25,967. The data shows that program cost and graduate earnings follow independent patterns rather than direct correlations.

What debt levels should students expect from Indiana social work programs?

Student debt varies dramatically, from $13,250 at Indiana University-East to $38,020 at Purdue University Global. Most public universities keep debt below $25,000, while private institutions often push debt above $26,000. Indiana University-South Bend offers particularly strong value with just $18,000 in average debt and graduates earning $31,848 annually.

Where do the most affordable programs accept the highest percentage of students?

University of Southern Indiana accepts 94.44% of applicants while charging $12,621 in net costs, making it highly accessible. Indiana State University admits 92.30% of students at $12,188 annually. Among the cheapest options, Indiana University-South Bend accepts 86.88% of applicants at just $8,364 net cost, offering both affordability and reasonable admission chances.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.