Social Workat St Olaf College
Graduates earn $45,146/yr in their first year — about 24.0% above the national Social Work average. Base-case 10-year earnings $510K; scenarios range from $488K to $510K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at St Olaf College
At $45,146 per year, Social Work graduates from St Olaf College earn slightly above the $36,554 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
The financial case is thin at 2.2x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
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 4% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $45,146 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #128 of 338 Social Work programs, St Olaf College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to St Olaf College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Social Work
How St Olaf College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at St Olaf College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at St Olaf College, 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 →Frequently asked about Social Work at St Olaf College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at St Olaf College?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Social Work. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is St Olaf College a hidden gem for Social Work?
After financial aid, the average student pays $91,008 over four years — 60% below the $227,880 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.