Illinois · Verified October 2026

DSW and PhD in Social Work Programs in Illinois

Where Can You Earn a Doctorate in Social Work in Illinois?

4 schools in Illinois offer 5 social work doctorates: 1 practice doctorate (DSW) and 4 PhDs, at Loyola University Chicago, University of Chicago, UIC and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 1 can be completed online. 2 PhDs state full funding. Illinois residents can also choose from 26 online DSW programs at schools in other states.

Researched and edited by · Updated

schools in Illinois
4
DSW programs
1
PhD programs
4
offered online
1
online DSWs open to residents
26

Illinois Schools Compared

SchoolDegreesFormatsCSWE (DSW)Est. DSW tuitionPhD funding
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign · PublicDSW and PhDOn campus, Online
Loyola University ChicagoChicago · Private nonprofitPhDOn campusFunded
UICChicago · PublicPhDOn campus
University of ChicagoChicago · Private nonprofitPhDOn campusFunded

From each school's own pages, reviewed October 2026. CSWE status from CSWE's practice doctorate directory, captured September 30, 2026; CSWE doesn't accredit PhD programs. Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.

Every Social Work Doctorate in Illinois

PhD in Social Work at Loyola University Chicago

Chicago · Private nonprofit

PhDOn campusFunded
Credits
48 credit hours
Length
2 years of coursework (no summer classes); 8-year limit (6 years with a relevant master's from another institution)
Final project
Dissertation
GRE
GRE neither required nor considered
Funding
Tuition waivers for the first three years plus health insurance; the school may match the waiver with a $28,000 annual stipend tied to 10 hours per week of faculty research work

PhD in Social Work at University of Chicago

Chicago · Private nonprofit

PhDOn campusFunded
Final project
Dissertation, after a qualifying exam and pre-dissertation project
Funding
All entering doctoral students offered a package with a stipend, full tuition, health insurance and fees

PhD in Social Work at UIC

Chicago · Public

PhDOn campus
Length
Full-time students expected to finish coursework within 3 years at 14 hours per term
Final project
Dissertation
GRE
GRE no longer required; scores optional

Online DSW Programs Open to Illinois Residents

26 online practice doctorates at schools outside Illinois are open to new students nationwide. These are the 8 with the lowest estimated tuition, one per school; programs without an estimate follow alphabetically. Confirm that the school can enroll Illinois residents before you apply.

ProgramCreditsEst. tuitionCSWE
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at University of AlabamaAlabama · Residency45$19,800
Online Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Social Welfare at University at BuffaloNew York39$31,200
Online Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) at University of KentuckyKentucky · Residency42$33,180Candidacy
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at Millersville University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania · Residency48$33,312
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at Barry UniversityFlorida · Live online classes50$35,000
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania · Residency48$36,864
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at University of KansasKansas · Live online classes42$41,790
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Leadership in Community Practices at Spalding UniversityKentucky · Residency50$42,500

Compare every online DSW program

Online and Hybrid Social Work PhDs for Illinois Residents

10 social work PhDs at schools outside Illinois are offered online or in a hybrid format. Funded programs are listed first.

ProgramFormatCreditsFunding
PhD in Social Work at Baylor UniversityTexasOnlineFunded
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (Ph.D.) at Norfolk State UniversityVirginiaOnline and on campus54Funded
Online PhD in Social Work at Our Lady of the Lake UniversityTexasOnline54Funded
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work at University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOklahomaOnline40Funded
PhD in Social Work at West Virginia UniversityWest VirginiaHybrid53Funded
PhD in Social Work (Hybrid) at Adelphi UniversityNew YorkHybrid
Ph.D. in Social Work at Alabama A & M UniversityAlabamaOnline58
Online PhD in Social Work at Simmons UniversityMassachusettsOnline45

Social Work Doctorates in States Bordering Illinois

Social Work Doctorates Near Illinois Cities

Social Work Doctorates in Illinois: Common Questions

How Many Social Work Doctorate Programs Are in Illinois?

5 at 4 schools: Loyola University Chicago (PhD), University of Chicago (PhD), UIC (PhD) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (PhD and DSW).

Are Illinois's DSW Programs CSWE-Accredited?

None of Illinois's practice doctorates is in CSWE's practice doctorate directory (captured September 30, 2026). CSWE began accrediting practice doctorates only recently, and most DSWs nationally haven't completed the process.

Can Illinois Residents Earn a DSW Online?

Yes. 26 online DSW programs at schools outside Illinois accept students nationwide; the lowest estimated tuition among them is $19,800 at University of Alabama. Confirm the school can enroll Illinois residents before you apply. Compare online DSW programs.

Can You Earn a PhD in Social Work Online From Illinois?

10 social work PhDs at schools elsewhere are offered online or in a hybrid format. The other 67 of the 77 social work PhDs on this site are campus-based, and campus PhDs are the ones most likely to state full funding. Compare online PhD programs.

Compare Programs Beyond Your State

Sources

  1. Official program pages of the 4 Illinois schools listed, reviewed October 2026
  2. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), practice doctorate program directory, captured September 30, 2026

Every program on this site was checked on the school's own website in October 2026. CSWE status for practice doctorates comes only from the Council on Social Work Education's own directory, and program size from U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS) doctoral completions. Sponsored listings are labeled as ads and never change which programs we list or how we rank them. How we verify programs