Social Work at Delaware State University

Dover, DE · Public · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,413/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 13.7x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #153 of 338 Social Work programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Social Work graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $566K $565K $535K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.7x 13.7x 13.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.0x 7.0x 6.6x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 42 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,256
Out-of-state: $81,000 (7.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,980
-53% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,503
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,288
59% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $33,413/yr, roughly in line with the $36,554 national median for Social Work. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Social Work programs nationally.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,503 represents roughly 8 months of the $33,413 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #153 of 338 Social Work programs, Delaware State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $53,288 show a 59% jump from the $33,413 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Delaware State University

A 62% admission rate makes Delaware State University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 4,630 in Dover, DE. 43% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Delaware State University →

Top Career Paths

Social and community service managers $78,240/yr
Social work teachers, postsecondary $76,210/yr
Social workers, all other $69,480/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Social Work at Other Schools

Other Majors at Delaware State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at Delaware State University?
A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Social Work. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →