Compare 170 Social Work. programs in the South. Average earnings: $40,025.
With top graduates earning $57,255, Social Work stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $17K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Texas Christian University's Social Work program leads with graduates earning $57,255, while the average across 170 Southern programs is $40,025. Close behind, Oral Roberts University delivers $56,203 with 99% acceptance—demonstrating that accessible programs can compete with selective ones on outcomes.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Texas Christian University graduates borrow $21,500 and face just an 8.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. That means loan payments take a manageable bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.38.
Highest program earnings: $57,255
Strong outcomes ($56,203) with 99% acceptance
8.5% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
18.0% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | $57,255 | 34 | $21,500 | Good | $54,925 | High |
| #2 | Oral Roberts UniversityPrivate | $56,203 | 16 | $27,000 | Good | $28,450 | Challenging |
| #3 | $53,147 | 20 | $26,000 | Good | $50,215 | High | |
| #4 | $52,571 | 112 | $19,500 | Good | $26,987 | Challenging | |
| #5 | Clark Atlanta UniversityPrivate | $52,521 | 23 | $27,000 | Manageable | $61,803 | High |
| #6 | Abilene Christian UniversityPrivate | $51,741 | 25 | $24,250 | Good | $26,542 | High |
| #7 | Bowie State UniversityPublic | $51,598 | 41 | $22,985 | Good | $23,158 | Challenging |
| #8 | Salisbury UniversityPublic | $51,043 | 137 | $21,000 | Good | $33,815 | High |
| #9 | Mcdaniel CollegePrivate | $50,559 | 18 | $25,000 | Manageable | $31,791 | High |
| #10 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $50,549 | 58 | $19,500 | Good | $25,142 | Challenging |
| #11 | $50,286 | 17 | $25,000 | Manageable | $44,122 | High | |
| #12 | $49,897 | 14 | $20,500 | Good | $25,645 | High | |
| #13 | Morgan State UniversityPublic | $49,525 | 61 | $27,250 | Manageable | $22,000 | High |
| #14 | Lubbock Christian UniversityPrivate | $49,439 | 16 | $20,948 | Good | $14,664 | Challenging |
| #15 | $49,035 | 12 | $17,831 | Good | $14,731 | Challenging | |
| #16 | $48,423 | 48 | $24,999 | Manageable | $13,025 | Challenging | |
| #17 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $48,309 | 41 | $20,093 | Good | $37,285 | High |
| #18 | Texas Woman's UniversityPublic | $48,113 | 53 | $19,218 | Good | $13,471 | Challenging |
| #19 | $47,219 | 31 | $26,000 | Manageable | $42,541 | High | |
| #20 | $47,151 | 68 | $20,500 | Good | $26,632 | High | |
| #21 | $47,085 | 56 | $18,750 | Good | $10,000 | Manageable | |
| #22 | $47,084 | 30 | $22,934 | Manageable | $14,224 | Challenging | |
| #23 | $46,872 | 36 | $22,000 | Manageable | $10,492 | Challenging | |
| #24 | $46,756 | 25 | $15,531 | Good | $13,835 | Manageable | |
| #25 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | $46,575 | 41 | $23,000 | Manageable | $50,786 | 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 →
