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Social Work at Purdue University Global

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,324/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 11.3x earnings multiple (7.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #151 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 $456K $456K $443K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.3x 11.3x 11.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.9x 7.9x 7.7x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 43 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,440
Out-of-state: $57,684 (7.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$49,068
-21% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$38,020
11.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,324 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 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 3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $38,020 represents roughly 12 months of the $38,324 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #151 of 338 Social Work programs, Purdue University Global scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Purdue University Global

with 31,502 students enrolled in West Lafayette, IN. With 48% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University Global →

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

Compare this program → View all 338 schools offering Social Work →

Social Work at Other Schools

University of North Dakota ($49,695) San Francisco State University ($48,750) University of Alaska Fairbanks ($48,151) Seton Hall University ($47,734) Metropolitan State University ($47,637) Bemidji State University ($47,192) Viterbo University ($46,384) Southwest Minnesota State University ($46,368)

Other Majors at Purdue University Global

Fire Protection ($89,622) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($78,468) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($61,977) Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($61,344) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($57,308) Accounting and Related Services ($51,355) Human Resources Management and Services ($50,810) Natural Resources Conservation and Research ($48,361)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Social Work trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Purdue University Global?
A score of 43/100 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 →