Social Work at Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
56 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
56
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,912/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 26.2x earnings multiple (7.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #18 of 338 Social Work programs Top 5%

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 $511K $511K $489K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 26.2x 26.2x 25.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.4x 7.4x 7.1x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 56 56 64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$19,516
Out-of-state: $69,296 (7.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$32,004
-64% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,744
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,864
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,912 at Florida Atlantic University come in 9% above the national median of $36,554 for Social Work programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 26.2x 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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $39,912 far exceeding the $17,744 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #18 of 338 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Work program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $39,912 to $49,864 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University accepts 73% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 23,458 students enrolled in Boca Raton, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at Florida Atlantic 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

Compare Social Work

Other Majors at Florida Atlantic University

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 Florida Atlantic University?
A score of 56/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Social Work field.
What makes Florida Atlantic University's Social Work program stand out?
Ranked #18 of 338 programs nationally, Florida Atlantic University lands in the top 5%. 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 →