Home Schools Briar Cliff University Social Work
Public Administration · Social Work Rank #142 of 338

Social Workat Briar Cliff University

Graduates earn $42,935/yr in their first year — about 17.0% above the national Social Work average. Base-case 10-year earnings $492K; scenarios range from $474K to $492K depending on AI disruption.

Sioux City, IA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
43 AVERAGE
43
Optimistic
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$42,935
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.0x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$492K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
37% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Briar Cliff University

Graduates earn $42,935/yr, edging above the $36,554 national average for Social Work — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 3.5x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $42,935 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #142 of 338 Social Work programs, Briar Cliff University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$474K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$492K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$492K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score43/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Briar Cliff University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Social Work graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Social and community service managers
+6.4% 10-yr growth · 18,600 openings/yr
$78,240/yr
Moderate
2
Social work teachers, postsecondary
+2.3% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$76,210/yr
Moderate
3
Social workers, all other
+3.9% 10-yr growth · 7,000 openings/yr
$69,480/yr
Low
4
Healthcare social workers
+7.7% 10-yr growth · 18,400 openings/yr
$68,090/yr
Moderate
5
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
+2.6% 10-yr growth · 7,900 openings/yr
$64,520/yr
Moderate
6
Marriage and family therapists
+12.6% 10-yr growth · 7,700 openings/yr
$63,780/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Social Work

How Briar Cliff University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of North Dakota
ND · Public
60
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
11.4x
ROI
Top score
San Francisco State University
CA · Public
69
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
21.5x
ROI
University of Alaska Fairbanks
AK · Public
54
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
11.4x
ROI
Seton Hall University
NJ · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
1.5x
ROI
Metropolitan State University
MN · Public
62
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
13.6x
ROI
Also at Briar Cliff University

Other top programs at Briar Cliff University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Briar Cliff University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Social Work offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Social Work trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Social Work at Briar Cliff University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at Briar Cliff University?

A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Social Work. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.