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Social Work at University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,257/yr (2% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)

ROI 12.5x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #143 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	$486K	$486K	$468K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.5x	12.5x	12.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.7x	5.7x	5.5x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	69%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	44	43	54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,912

Out-of-state: $85,088 (5.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,436

-50% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,388

5.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$46,416

25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,257 track close to the $36,554 national median for Social Work programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.5x 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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

At $15,388 in median debt against $37,257 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #143 of 338 Social Work programs, University of Northern Iowa scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $37,257 to $46,416 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Northern Iowa

University of Northern Iowa has a 94% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 7,599 students in Cedar Falls, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Northern Iowa →

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 Northern Iowa

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 Northern Iowa?

A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Social Work. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →