Social Work at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,730/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk
Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI
9.1x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)
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 | $491K | $491K | $472K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.1x | 9.1x | 8.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.8x | 3.8x | 3.7x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 70% | 69% | 58% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 41 | 40 | 51 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,936
Out-of-state: $127,896 (3.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,750
7.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,083
25% growth from Year 1
About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
A 46% admission rate makes The University of Tennessee-Knoxville accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 28,763 students in Knoxville, TN.
See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville →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
Compare & Explore
Social Work at Other Schools
Other Majors at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Social Work program score?
This program scores 40/100 — on the lower end for Social Work. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →