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Social Work at CUNY York College

Jamaica, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,742/yr (22% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)

ROI 21.3x earnings multiple (10.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #2 of 338 Social Work programs Top 1%

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	$627K	$626K	$586K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.3x	21.3x	19.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.2x	10.2x	9.6x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	69%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	65	65	69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$29,432

Out-of-state: $61,232 (10.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$18,936

36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$8,080

2.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$63,534

42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $44,742 per year, Social Work graduates from CUNY York College earn slightly above the $36,554 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 21.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Social Work programs nationally.

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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $8,080 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #2 of 338 Social Work programs nationally, CUNY York College sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $44,742 to $63,534 over five years — a 42% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About CUNY York College

CUNY York College accepts 59% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a smaller student body of 4,439 in Jamaica, NY. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $18,936 over four years — 36% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY York College →

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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at CUNY York College?

A score of 65/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Social Work field.

What makes CUNY York College's Social Work program stand out?

Ranked #2 of 338 programs nationally, CUNY York College lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →