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Social Work at Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,695/yr (9% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)

ROI 11.3x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #80 of 338 Social Work programs Top 25%

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	$535K	$535K	$509K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.3x	11.3x	10.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.3x	3.3x	3.1x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	69%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	48	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)

$47,160

Out-of-state: $161,928 (3.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$61,368

-30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,000

4.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,384

32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,695 at Indiana University-Bloomington come in 9% above the national median of $36,554 for Social Work programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.3x 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.

With first-year pay of $39,695 far exceeding the $14,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #80 of 338 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Work program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $39,695 to $52,384 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Indiana University-Bloomington

Indiana University-Bloomington accepts 80% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 36,571 students in Bloomington, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Indiana University-Bloomington →

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 Indiana University-Bloomington

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 Indiana University-Bloomington?

A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Social Work. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

What makes Indiana University-Bloomington's Social Work program stand out?

Ranked #80 of 338 programs nationally, Indiana University-Bloomington lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →