Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $31,687 track close to the $36,554 national median for Social Work programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 10.8x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $17,990 debt-to-$31,687 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
At #238 out of 338 programs, James Madison University's financial outcomes for Social Work trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $31,687 to $54,376 over five years (72% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.