Social Work at University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND · Public · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
60
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $49,695/yr (36% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #9 of 338 Social Work programs Top 5%

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 $532K $532K $507K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.2x 12.2x 11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.5x 8.5x 8.1x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 60 62

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,804
Out-of-state: $62,280 (8.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,992
-73% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,250
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,263
9% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $49,695 per year, Social Work graduates from University of North Dakota significantly outpace the $36,554 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Social Work programs nationally.

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.

The median debt load of $22,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #9 of 338 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Work program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $54,263 are relatively flat compared to the $49,695 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of North Dakota

With 77% of applicants admitted, University of North Dakota prioritizes broad access, enrolling 9,296 students in Grand Forks, ND.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Dakota →

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

Compare Social Work

Other Majors at University of North Dakota

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at University of North Dakota?
A score of 60/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Social Work field.
What makes University of North Dakota's Social Work program stand out?
Ranked #9 of 338 programs nationally, University of North Dakota lands in the top 5%. 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 →