Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $45,259 at Bethel University come in 24% above the national median of $36,554 for Social Work programs.
The financial case is thin at 2.9x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Social Work's typical career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 4% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $45,259 far exceeding the $22,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #174 of 338 Social Work programs, Bethel University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $50,324 are relatively flat compared to the $45,259 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.