Program Analysis
Graduates earn $36,815/yr, roughly in line with the $36,554 national median for Social Work. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
At 9.6x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.
AI risk is moderate — 24% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $36,815 far exceeding the $17,850 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #123 out of 338 programs, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Social Work offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $36,815 to $59,589 over five years (62% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.