Best Online Social Work Programs in Carbondale, IL (2026)

Carbondale, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs, with tuition ranging from $9,496 to $43,713 per year for indexed programs. Carbondale has a population of about 21,813. Median household income is $29,670 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 46.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Illinois, the top-earning social work-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $78,380 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Social Work Schools to Carbondale

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer social work programs near Carbondale. Distances are calculated from Carbondale city center.

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois social work page.

Social Work Wages Near Carbondale

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Carbondale at a Glance

Other Carbondale-Area Cities With Social Work Programs

• Cape Girardeau, MO – 33.9 mi away (55,253 pop)
• Paducah, KY – 55.1 mi away (49,027 pop)
• Farmington, MO – 66.0 mi away (44,494 pop)
• Belleville, IL – 68.7 mi away (41,906 pop)
• O’Fallon, IL – 71.2 mi away (29,031 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited social work schools are near Carbondale, IL?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs near Carbondale. The closest is Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in Carbondale, IL (0.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Saint Louis University (84.4 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying social work roles in Illinois?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles in Illinois are: Social and Community Service Manager ($78,380), Healthcare Social Worker ($64,270), Social Worker, All Other ($64,030). Wages for Carbondale workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Cape Girardeau instead of Carbondale?

Cape Girardeau, MO is 33.9 miles from Carbondale and has its own set of local social work programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Carbondale an affordable place to study social work?

Carbondale’s median household income of $29,670 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Carbondale while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Social Work Programs

• Social Work accreditation: what to look for
• Social Work concentrations and specializations
• Is a Social Work degree worth it?
• Main Social Work degree guide
• Online Social Work programs in Illinois
• Social Work programs by state

Other Programs Available in Carbondale

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Carbondale:

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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.