Best Online Social Work Programs in East Lansing, MI (2026)

East Lansing, Michigan has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs, with tuition ranging from $32,580 to $43,178 per year for indexed programs. East Lansing has a population of about 45,394. Median household income is $43,547 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 67.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area, the top-earning social work-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $110,570 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Social Work Schools to East Lansing

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

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

Social Work Wages Near East Lansing

East Lansing is part of the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area (BLS area code 29620). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Michigan statewide.

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.

East Lansing at a Glance

Other East Lansing-Area Cities With Social Work Programs

• Lansing, MI – 4.5 mi away (318,278 pop)
• Owosso, MI – 23.1 mi away (21,653 pop)
• Jackson, MI – 35.1 mi away (88,394 pop)
• Flint, MI – 44.3 mi away (338,616 pop)
• South Lyon, MI – 46.7 mi away (123,555 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited social work schools are near East Lansing, MI?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs near East Lansing. The closest is Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI (1.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Concordia University Ann Arbor (52.4 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying social work roles near East Lansing?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles near East Lansing are: Social and Community Service Manager ($110,570), Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker ($64,080), Healthcare Social Worker ($64,040). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Michigan statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Lansing instead of East Lansing?

Lansing, MI is 4.5 miles from East Lansing 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 East Lansing an affordable place to study social work?

East Lansing’s median household income of $43,547 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in East Lansing while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Michigan 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 Michigan
• Social Work programs by state

Other Programs Available in East Lansing

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

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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.