Social Work: Metropolitan State University vs University of Alaska Anchorage
Head-to-Head
| Metropolitan State University | University of Alaska Anchorage | |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.0x | 15.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 13.0x | 5.4x |
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $39,120 | $30,264 |
| Year 1 Earnings | $47,637 | $45,565 |
| 10-Year Earnings | $510K | $470K |
| Median Debt | $17,698 | $31,750 |
| Debt-to-Earnings Ratio | 4.5 months | 8.4 months |
| DegreeWorth Score (In-State) | 71/100 | 72/100 |
| Acceptance Rate | 96.5% | 66.5% |
Both programs have moderate AI automation risk (24% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Social Work graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →
ROI Breakdown
How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Social Work graduates.
| Metropolitan State University | University of Alaska Anchorage | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $39,120 | $30,264 |
| 4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) | $39,120 | $86,772 |
| 10-Year Projected Earnings | $510K | $470K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.0x | 15.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 13.0x | 5.4x |
"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.
AI Disruption Scenarios
Both schools share identical AI exposure for Social Work (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.
| Metropolitan State University | University of Alaska Anchorage | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optim. | Base | Pessim. | Optim. | Base | Pessim. | |
| 10-Year Earnings | $592K | $510K | $420K | $522K | $470K | $402K |
| Earnings Multiple (IS) | 15.1x | 13.0x | 10.7x | 17.3x | 15.5x | 13.3x |
| DegreeWorth Score | 69 | 71 | 70 | 70 | 72 | 71 |
For the full AI analysis of Social Work career paths, see the Metropolitan State University or University of Alaska Anchorage program pages.
Earnings Trajectory Comparison
Projected annual earnings for Social Work graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.
Career Paths
Social Work graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social and community service managers | $78,240 | 18,600 | +6.4% | 39% |
| Social work teachers, postsecondary | $76,210 | 1,300 | +2.3% | 42% |
| Social workers, all other | $69,480 | 7,000 | +3.9% | 0% |
| Healthcare social workers | $68,090 | 18,400 | +7.7% | 34% |
| Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists | $64,520 | 7,900 | +2.6% | 39% |
| Marriage and family therapists | $63,780 | 7,700 | +12.6% | 11% |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers | $60,060 | 13,500 | +9.7% | 27% |
| Child, family, and school social workers | $58,570 | 35,100 | +3.4% | 24% |