Social Work at California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
59
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,986/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 20.2x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #120 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 $565K $565K $534K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.2x 20.2x 19.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.5x 7.5x 7.1x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 44 59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,920
Out-of-state: $75,440 (7.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$25,920
7% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,345
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,602
64% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $31,986/yr, Social Work graduates from California State University-Fresno land near the $36,554 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 20.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 24% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $12,345 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #120 out of 338 programs, California State University-Fresno's Social Work offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $31,986 to $52,602 over five years (64% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Fresno

With 96% of applicants admitted, California State University-Fresno prioritizes broad access, with 21,070 students enrolled in Fresno, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Fresno →

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

Other Majors at California State University-Fresno

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Fresno's Social Work program score?
This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Social Work. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →