Social Work Degree Programs in Kankakee, IL (2026)

Quick answer: The Kankakee metro employs about 140 child, family, and school social workers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state social work licensing board.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Social work licensure is tiered, and both the tier names and what each permits differ by state. The national constants are CSWE accreditation of the degree - required at both bachelor’s and master’s level - and the ASWB examinations. Clinical practice requires the master’s plus supervised post-graduate experience.

See the Illinois licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state social work licensing board.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 55 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL 49.3 miles away BOC Score 93.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 95.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 332
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $127,757 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, IL 54.3 miles away BOC Score 79.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 15
  • Annual completions: 716
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $72,839 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#3

University of St Francis

Joliet, IL 32.1 miles away BOC Score 74.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 65.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 18
  • Annual completions: 105
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $75,229 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Lewis University

Romeoville, IL 36.5 miles away BOC Score 73.8
Tuition $39,200 - $47,313
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 71.3%
  • Graduation rate: 64.6%
  • Programs offered: 30
  • Annual completions: 440
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $66,586 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#5

DePaul University

Chicago, IL 55.0 miles away BOC Score 66.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 68.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 29
  • Annual completions: 1826
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $73,466 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Aurora University

Aurora, IL 51.6 miles away BOC Score 66.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 59.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 212
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $64,521 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#7

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, IL 3.7 miles away BOC Score 54.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 60.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 119
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $64,769 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Governors State University

University Park, IL 25.2 miles away BOC Score 51.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 17
  • Annual completions: 287
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,405 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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#9

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, IL 39.3 miles away BOC Score 51.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 9
  • Annual completions: 29
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,170 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Chicago State University

Chicago, IL 44.6 miles away BOC Score 36.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 16.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 9
  • Annual completions: 48
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,486 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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What Child, Family, and School Social Workers Earn in Kankakee

Child, Family, and School Social Workers in the Kankakee area earn a median $58,180 per year, below the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Social Work Pay in Kankakee, IL

MetricKankakee metroIllinoisNational
Median annual wage$58,180$63,220$59,550
10th percentile$35,710$47,120$42,280
25th percentile$46,380$52,320$48,270
75th percentile$75,470$81,650$76,070
90th percentile$93,590$105,660$95,530
Employment14019,860392,550
Location quotient1.33-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Kankakee, IL metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Kankakee median of $58,180 is below the national median of $59,550, and below the Illinois statewide median of $63,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 1.33 means child, family, and school social workers are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Social work demand follows local school districts, hospital systems, county agencies and nonprofit providers.

Other Illinois Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Chicago$64,79013,550
Springfield$76,330830
Peoria$56,740790
Rockford$61,940450
Champaign$60,360400
Bloomington$58,440320
Decatur$57,270160

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do child, family, and school social workers make in Kankakee?

The median annual wage for child, family, and school social workers in the Kankakee, IL metro area is $58,180, below the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many child, family, and school social workers work in the Kankakee area?

The Kankakee, IL metro area employs about 140 child, family, and school social workers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do child, family, and school social workers in Kankakee need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Social work licensure is tiered, and both the tier names and what each permits differ by state. The national constants are CSWE accreditation of the degree - required at both bachelor's and master's level - and the ASWB examinations. Clinical practice requires the master's plus supervised post-graduate experience. Confirm current requirements with your state social work licensing board.

Can I study social work online from Kankakee?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state social work licensing board.

Is Kankakee a better market than the rest of Illinois?

The Kankakee metro median is $58,180 against a statewide median of $63,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Child, Family, and School Social Workers (SOC 21-1021), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.