Social Work at Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,288/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 14.0x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #125 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 $450K $450K $438K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.0x 14.0x 13.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.7x 5.7x 5.6x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 44 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$32,032
Out-of-state: $78,768 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,556
-136% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,513
6.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,422
11% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,288 track close to the $36,554 national median for Social Work programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.0x 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 3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,513 represents roughly 7 months of the $38,288 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #125 of 338 Social Work programs, Pittsburg State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $42,422 are relatively flat compared to the $38,288 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg State University has a 88% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 4,162 students in Pittsburg, KS.

See all programs and financial aid at Pittsburg 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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at Pittsburg State University?
A score of 44/100 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 →