Social Work

9 schools compared · Average earnings $30,861/yr

What Social Work Graduates Do

Your day could start in a hospital, helping a family navigate a new diagnosis and plan for post-discharge care, then end in a school, creating a support plan for a student in crisis. As a new social worker, you’ll begin in these frontline roles, acting as a critical link connecting people to resources like housing, food assistance, and counseling. You'll be their advocate in courtrooms, clinics, and government offices.

With experience and often a master’s degree, you can advance to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), providing therapy and managing complex cases independently, or even opening a private practice. Many also progress into leadership as social and community service managers, where you’ll shift from direct client work to overseeing programs, writing grants, and supervising staff. Demand is particularly strong in the healthcare and mental health fields. This is deeply human work, requiring in-person connection and empathy that can't be automated, ensuring your skills remain essential and your career brings greater responsibility and earnings over time.

Schools Offering
9
Avg Grad Earnings
$30,861/yr
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
43/100
AI-Proof Rating
Resilient
63% of tasks AI-shielded

Best Schools for Social Work

9 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

# School Score EarningsEarn ROI
1 Austin Community College District
Austin, TX
64
58–65
$34,003/yr 93.1x
2 Indiana University-Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
58
57–59
$41,561/yr 38.8x
3 Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus
Vineland, NJ
57
54–58
$37,250/yr 43.5x
4 Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus
Sewell, NJ
57
54–58
$37,250/yr 43.5x
5 Connecticut State Community College
Hartford, CT
52
46–53
$29,555/yr 41.8x
6 Clark State College
Springfield, OH
50
48–50
$29,981/yr 34.7x
7 Camden County College
Blackwood, NJ
50
43–51
$24,616/yr 50.6x
8 Iowa Central Community College
Fort Dodge, IA
44
40–45
$25,197/yr 28.8x
9 South Texas College
McAllen, TX
41
35–41
$18,336/yr 36.8x

Highest Earning Social Work Programs

Schools where Social Work graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

Best ROI for Social Work

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Social Work.

School ROI Multiple Earnings Score
Austin Community College District 93.1x $34,003/yr 64
Camden County College 50.6x $24,616/yr 50
Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus 43.5x $37,250/yr 57
Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus 43.5x $37,250/yr 57
Connecticut State Community College 41.8x $29,555/yr 52
Indiana University-Indianapolis 38.8x $41,561/yr 58
South Texas College 36.8x $18,336/yr 41
Clark State College 34.7x $29,981/yr 50
Iowa Central Community College 28.8x $25,197/yr 44

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Social Work degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Social Work graduates make in their first year?
The median first-year salary across 9 Social Work programs is $30,861. School selection matters — the gap between the lowest ($18,336) and highest ($41,561) earning programs is significant.
How safe is Social Work from automation and AI?
Social Work is rated "Resilient" for AI resilience — 63% of job tasks involve hands-on work shielded from AI automation. That means most career tasks in this field rely on skills AI cannot replicate.
Which school has the best Social Work program?
Austin Community College District leads all 9 programs with a TradeSchoolOutlook Score of 64/100. Graduates earn $34,003/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.
What's the ROI on a Social Work program?
Typical graduates earn 45.7 times what they paid in tuition within a decade. This is a strong return on investment. Look at per-school ROI in the table above — averages can mask significant variation.
Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, DOL RAPIDS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →