Program Analysis
At $28,032 per year, Social Work graduates from University of South Carolina-Columbia earn below the $36,554 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.9x 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 4% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $21,467 represents roughly 9 months of the $28,032 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #307 of 338 Social Work programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $45,169 show a 61% jump from the $28,032 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.