Program Analysis
At $42,925 per year, Social Work graduates from California State University-Long Beach earn slightly above the $36,554 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
With a 22.9x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 7% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Social Work career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
The median debt load of $11,716 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Among 338 Social Work programs nationally, California State University-Long Beach ranks #3 — elite territory by any measure of graduate financial outcomes.
The $42,925-to-$64,415 earnings arc over five years reflects a 50% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.