Best Online Social Work Programs in Traverse City, MI (2026)

Traverse City, Michigan has 2 accredited schools offering social work programs. Traverse City has a population of about 15,491. Median household income is $71,731 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 47.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Traverse City, MI metro area, the top-earning social work-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $78,420 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Social Work Schools to Traverse City

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer social work programs near Traverse City, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Traverse City city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Traverse City. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI 74.3 miles from Traverse City BOC Score 64.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,735
Avg net price $8,624/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 95

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI 90.7 miles from Traverse City BOC Score 60.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 90%
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,874
Avg net price $17,597/yr
Tuition
In‑state$14,760
Out‑of‑state$14,760
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 91

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, MI 118.1 miles from Traverse City BOC Score 56.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,955
Avg net price $10,775/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 34

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Kuyper College

Grand Rapids, MI 119.7 miles from Traverse City BOC Score 30.4
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,066
Avg net price $15,644/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 64%
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids, MI 122.5 miles from Traverse City BOC Score 56.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,314
Avg net price $20,301/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 37

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, MI 124.4 miles from Traverse City BOC Score 65.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,118
Avg net price $16,317/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 58

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Calvin University

Grand Rapids, MI 125.9 miles from Traverse City BOC Score 71.1
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 71%
Graduation rate 76%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,375
Avg net price $22,992/yr
Tuition
In‑state$39,350
Out‑of‑state$39,350
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Lake Superior State University

Sault Ste Marie, MI 134.1 miles from Traverse City BOC Score 55.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,045
Avg net price $12,822/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 43

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Social Work Wages Near Traverse City

Traverse City is part of the Traverse City, MI metro area (BLS area code 45900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Michigan statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Child, Family, and School Social Worker$59,550Traverse City, MI$63,758
Healthcare Social Worker$63,360Traverse City, MI$67,837
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$55,260Traverse City, MI$59,165
Social Worker, All Other$66,880Traverse City, MI$71,606
Social and Community Service Manager$78,420Traverse City, MI$83,961
Social and Human Service Assistant$38,690Traverse City, MI$41,424
Community Health Worker$62,160Traverse City, MI$66,552

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.


Traverse City at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population15,491Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$71,731Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+47.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)93.4 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Social Work-related employment in Grand Traverse County1,461 workers, 141 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Traverse City-Area Cities With Social Work Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited social work schools are near Traverse City, MI?

Accredited schools offering social work programs near Traverse City are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying social work roles near Traverse City?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles near Traverse City are: Social and Community Service Manager ($78,420), Social Worker, All Other ($66,880), Healthcare Social Worker ($63,360). 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 Mount Pleasant instead of Traverse City?

Mount Pleasant, MI is 89.9 miles from Traverse City 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 Traverse City an affordable place to study social work?

Traverse City’s median household income of $71,731 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Traverse City 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

Other Programs Available in Traverse City

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

Data verified: July 23, 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.