Social Work at Briar Cliff University

Sioux City, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
43
Optimistic
43
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,935/yr (17% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 3.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #142 of 338 Social Work programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Social Work graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $492K $492K $474K
Earnings Multiple 3.5x 3.5x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 43 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$142,136
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$86,360
39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
7.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,935/yr, edging above the $36,554 national average for Social Work — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 3.5x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Social Work's typical career paths, with 24% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $42,935 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #142 of 338 Social Work programs, Briar Cliff University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Briar Cliff University

a smaller institution with 626 students in Sioux City, IA. The average net cost of $86,360 over four years represents a 39% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Briar Cliff University →

Top Career Paths

Social and community service managers $78,240/yr
Social work teachers, postsecondary $76,210/yr
Social workers, all other $69,480/yr
View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Social Work at Other Schools

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Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at Briar Cliff University?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Social Work. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →