Social Work: San Francisco State University vs University of Alaska Anchorage

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA
In-State
18.9x
$29,696 tuition
15.5x
$30,264 tuition
Out-of-State
7.3x
$77,216 tuition
5.4x
$86,772 tuition
$48,750/yr starting · Public
$45,565/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

San Francisco State University University of Alaska Anchorage
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.9x 15.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.3x 5.4x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $29,696 $30,264
Year 1 Earnings $48,750 $45,565
10-Year Earnings $562K $470K
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 75/100 72/100
Acceptance Rate 96.2% 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.

San Francisco State University University of Alaska Anchorage
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $29,696 $30,264
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $77,216 $86,772
10-Year Projected Earnings $562K $470K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.9x 15.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.3x 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.

San Francisco State University University of Alaska Anchorage
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $711K $562K $430K $522K $470K $402K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 23.9x 18.9x 14.5x 17.3x 15.5x 13.3x
DegreeWorth Score 76 75 72 70 72 71

For the full AI analysis of Social Work career paths, see the San Francisco 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.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$568
San Francisco State University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$3,185/yr
San Francisco State University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
18.9x / 15.5x
Out-of-state: 7.3x / 5.4x

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%

Explore Each Program

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Social Work Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Social Work: San Francisco State University or University of Alaska Anchorage?
San Francisco State University scores 75/100 while University of Alaska Anchorage scores 72/100. San Francisco State University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Social Work?
San Francisco State University has an in-state earnings multiple of 18.9x vs University of Alaska Anchorage's 15.5x. That means San Francisco State University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do San Francisco State University and University of Alaska Anchorage compare on Social Work earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $48,750 at San Francisco State University vs $45,565 at University of Alaska Anchorage. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $561,774 vs $470,439 — a difference of $91,335.
How much does Social Work cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $29,696 at San Francisco State University and $30,264 at University of Alaska Anchorage. Both programs lead to the same Social Work career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.