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Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
45 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
45
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,437/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 11.8x earnings multiple (3.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #118 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 $550K $549K $521K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.8x 11.8x 11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.2x 3.2x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 46 45 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$46,712
Out-of-state: $171,112 (3.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$78,712
-69% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,125
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,239
42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,437/yr, roughly in line with the $36,554 national median for Social Work. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 11.8x 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 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,125 debt-to-$37,437 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #118 out of 338 programs, The University of Texas at Austin's Social Work offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $37,437 to $53,239 shows 42% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About The University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin accepts 29% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, one of the larger campuses at 42,100 students in Austin, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Austin →

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 The University of Texas at Austin

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($111,587) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($96,997) Business/Commerce, General ($94,041) Chemical Engineering ($87,365) Petroleum Engineering ($86,761) Management Information Systems and Services ($86,622) Mechanical Engineering ($82,227) Finance and Financial Management Services ($81,844)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Social Work trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Texas at Austin's Social Work program score?
This program scores 45/100 — 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 →