Compare 17 Social Work. programs in Michigan. Average earnings: $44,484.
Social Work programs produce graduates earning between $34,729 and $49,259—a $14K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 17 ranked programs in Michigan, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
Michigan State University's Social Work program leads with graduates earning $49,259, well above the state average of $44,484. Hope College follows at $48,054, while Saginaw Valley State University rounds out the top three at $47,583—proving that program-level factors drive outcomes across different institutional types.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Michigan State graduates borrow $23,250 and face an 11.9% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47, graduates can pay off their student debt with about 6 months of salary, making loan payments manageable.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $49,259 | 43 | $23,250 | Good | $37,401 | High | |
| #2 | Hope CollegePrivate | $48,054 | 24 | $26,800 | Manageable | $48,059 | High |
| #3 | $47,583 | 90 | $25,000 | Manageable | $18,264 | High | |
| #4 | $46,946 | 65 | $26,188 | Manageable | $22,488 | High | |
| #5 | Oakland UniversityPublic | $46,925 | 95 | $22,750 | Manageable | $17,858 | Challenging |
| #6 | $46,705 | 47 | $27,000 | Manageable | $23,103 | High | |
| #7 | $46,279 | 30 | $25,000 | Manageable | $12,953 | Challenging | |
| #8 | Adrian CollegePrivate | $45,949 | 6 | $27,000 | Manageable | $38,405 | High |
| #9 | Spring Arbor UniversityPrivate | $44,456 | 69 | $26,375 | Manageable | $18,988 | High |
| #10 | Calvin UniversityPrivate | $44,349 | 21 | $23,250 | Manageable | $33,900 | High |
| #11 | Ferris State UniversityPublic | $43,864 | 67 | $21,000 | Manageable | $14,849 | Challenging |
| #12 | $43,692 | 90 | $24,500 | Manageable | $26,392 | High | |
| #13 | $43,619 | 160 | $25,000 | Manageable | $16,878 | High | |
| #14 | $42,896 | 20 | $21,474 | Manageable | $17,287 | High | |
| #15 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $41,817 | 122 | $21,250 | Manageable | $16,378 | High |
| #16 | Madonna UniversityPrivate | $39,113 | 22 | $23,000 | Challenging | $23,657 | High |
| #17 | Kuyper CollegePrivate | $34,729 | 8 | $21,389 | Challenging | $0 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
