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Public Administration · Social Work Rank #129 of 338

Social Workat St Catherine University

Graduates earn $44,257/yr in their first year — about 21.0% above the national Social Work average. Base-case 10-year earnings $618K; scenarios range from $579K to $619K depending on AI disruption.

Saint Paul, MN Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
44 AVERAGE
44
Optimistic
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$44,257
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.1x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$618K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
37% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at St Catherine University

St Catherine University's Social Work graduates start at $44,257/yr — above the $36,554 national average, though not by a wide margin.

At 3.1x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.

The 6% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Social Work career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $28,020 against $44,257/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #129 ranking among 338 Social Work programs places St Catherine University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 41% earnings increase from $44,257 to $62,568 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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
$579K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple2.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$618K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score44/100
Earnings Multiple3.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$619K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score44/100
Earnings Multiple3.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to St Catherine 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 St Catherine 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 St Catherine University

Other top programs at St Catherine University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at St Catherine 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 St Catherine University

What does a 44/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Social Work at St Catherine University?

At 44/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Social Work programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

What do students actually pay for Social Work at St Catherine University?

The 57% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $199,032. At a net cost of $86,252, the earnings multiple improves substantially.