Social Work at University of Massachusetts-Boston

Boston, MA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
52 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
52
Optimistic
52
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,227/yr (24% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 8.6x earnings multiple (3.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #43 of 338 Social Work programs Top 25%

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 $535K $534K $509K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.6x 8.6x 8.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.6x 3.6x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 52 52 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)
$61,984
Out-of-state: $148,696 (3.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,128
-18% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,072
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,689
19% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $45,227 at University of Massachusetts-Boston come in 24% above the national median of $36,554 for Social Work programs.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,072 represents roughly 7 months of the $45,227 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #43 of 338 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Work program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $53,689 are relatively flat compared to the $45,227 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Massachusetts-Boston

University of Massachusetts-Boston accepts 83% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 11,848 in Boston, MA. Pell Grant recipients make up 43% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Massachusetts-Boston →

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

Social Work at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Massachusetts-Boston

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at University of Massachusetts-Boston?
A score of 52/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Social Work field.
What makes University of Massachusetts-Boston's Social Work program stand out?
Ranked #43 of 338 programs nationally, University of Massachusetts-Boston lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →