Compare 21 Social Work. programs in Pennsylvania. Average earnings: $42,620.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Social Work tells a different story. Across 21 programs in Pennsylvania, earnings range from $35,235 to $51,614—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Elizabethtown College's Social Work program leads with graduates earning $51,614, compared to the state average of $42,620. At second place, Cabrini University produces graduates earning $50,450, proving that smaller programs can compete with larger institutions when program-specific factors drive outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates borrow $23,500 and face just a 12.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, graduates can pay off their loans with about 6 months of salary.
Highest program earnings: $51,614
Strong outcomes with 77% acceptance
12.5% payment burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
28.1% family burden | High burden - payment over 25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Elizabethtown CollegePrivate | $51,614 | 10 | $27,000 | Manageable | $51,299 | High |
| #2 | Cabrini UniversityPrivate | $50,450 | 8 | $26,000 | Manageable | $33,000 | High |
| #3 | Widener UniversityPrivate | $48,456 | 10 | $27,000 | Manageable | $33,146 | High |
| #4 | $48,288 | 60 | $23,500 | Manageable | $25,362 | High | |
| #5 | Temple UniversityPublic | $46,307 | 54 | $24,395 | Manageable | $36,495 | High |
| #6 | $44,842 | 23 | $24,218 | Manageable | $25,252 | High | |
| #7 | Alvernia UniversityPrivate | $44,090 | 7 | $27,000 | Manageable | $36,500 | High |
| #8 | Cedar Crest CollegePrivate | $43,696 | 12 | $27,000 | Manageable | $28,620 | High |
| #9 | $42,946 | 69 | $23,507 | Manageable | $29,193 | High | |
| #10 | Eastern UniversityPrivate | $42,847 | 19 | $25,000 | Manageable | $17,070 | High |
| #11 | $42,481 | 53 | $26,000 | Manageable | $26,233 | High | |
| #12 | $42,457 | 35 | $25,000 | Manageable | $28,373 | High | |
| #13 | Carlow UniversityPrivate | $41,909 | 12 | $25,500 | Challenging | $19,684 | High |
| #14 | $40,913 | 45 | $24,250 | Challenging | $35,031 | High | |
| #15 | $39,856 | 23 | $23,725 | Challenging | $17,794 | High | |
| #16 | $39,647 | 65 | $26,000 | Challenging | $26,389 | High | |
| #17 | $39,475 | 35 | $25,000 | Challenging | $23,528 | High | |
| #18 | La Salle UniversityPrivate | $37,568 | 30 | $25,000 | Challenging | $31,871 | High |
| #19 | Cairn University-LanghornePrivate | $37,129 | 21 | $26,926 | High | $20,393 | High |
| #20 | Lancaster Bible CollegePrivate | $35,235 | 22 | $20,500 | Challenging | $23,000 | High |
| #21 | Messiah UniversityPrivate | $34,818 | 23 | $25,621 | High | $37,908 | High |
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 →
