Home › Indiana University-South Bend › Social Work

Social Work at Indiana University-South Bend

South Bend, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,812/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)

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

ROI 16.0x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #70 of 338 Social Work programs Top 25%

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	$523K	$522K	$499K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.0x	16.0x	15.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.9x	5.9x	5.7x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	69%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	49	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)

$32,716

Out-of-state: $88,172 (5.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$33,456

-2% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,000

5.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,547

34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,812/yr, roughly in line with the $36,554 national median for Social Work. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 16.0x 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.

With first-year pay of $37,812 far exceeding the $18,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #70 out of 338 programs, Indiana University-South Bend's Social Work program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $37,812 to $50,547 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Indiana University-South Bend

Indiana University-South Bend accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 3,807 students in South Bend, IN. 41% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Indiana University-South Bend →

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 Indiana University-South Bend

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 Indiana University-South Bend's Social Work program score?

This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Social Work. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Why does Indiana University-South Bend rank so high for Social Work?

The #70 ranking out of 338 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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