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Public Administration · Social Work Rank #34 of 338

Social Workat Southwest Minnesota State University

Graduates earn $46,368/yr in their first year — about 27.0% above the national Social Work average. Base-case 10-year earnings $483K; scenarios range from $466K to $483K depending on AI disruption.

Marshall, MN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
54 AVERAGE
54
Optimistic
57
Pessimistic
Earnings
$46,368
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.6x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$483K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
37% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Southwest Minnesota State University

Graduates of Southwest Minnesota State University's Social Work program earn $46,368/yr in their first year — 27% above the $36,554 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The 11.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 24% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

A #34 ranking out of 338 Social Work programs nationally puts Southwest Minnesota State University in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth is modest: $46,368 to $47,740 over five years (3% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$466K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score57/100
Earnings Multiple11.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$483K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple11.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$483K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple11.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Southwest Minnesota State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Social Work graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Social and community service managers
+6.4% 10-yr growth · 18,600 openings/yr
$78,240/yr
Moderate
2
Social work teachers, postsecondary
+2.3% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$76,210/yr
Moderate
3
Social workers, all other
+3.9% 10-yr growth · 7,000 openings/yr
$69,480/yr
Low
4
Healthcare social workers
+7.7% 10-yr growth · 18,400 openings/yr
$68,090/yr
Moderate
5
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists
+2.6% 10-yr growth · 7,900 openings/yr
$64,520/yr
Moderate
6
Marriage and family therapists
+12.6% 10-yr growth · 7,700 openings/yr
$63,780/yr
Low
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Social Work

How Southwest Minnesota State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of North Dakota
ND · Public
60
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
11.4x
ROI
Top score
San Francisco State University
CA · Public
69
DW Score
$49K
1-yr earn
21.5x
ROI
University of Alaska Fairbanks
AK · Public
54
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
11.4x
ROI
Seton Hall University
NJ · Private nonprofit
42
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
1.5x
ROI
Same state (MN)
Metropolitan State University
MN · Public
62
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
13.6x
ROI
Also at Southwest Minnesota State University

Other top programs at Southwest Minnesota State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southwest Minnesota State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Social Work offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Social Work trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Social Work at Southwest Minnesota State University

How does Southwest Minnesota State University's Social Work program score?

This program scores 54/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Social Work graduates.