Social Work at La Sierra University

Riverside, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,213/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 4.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #121 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 $591K $590K $555K
Earnings Multiple 4.1x 4.1x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 44 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$143,640
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$104,868
27% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$35,167
10.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,985
40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

La Sierra University's Social Work graduates start at $42,213/yr — above the $36,554 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 4.1x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $35,167 represents roughly 10 months of the $42,213 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #121 of 338 Social Work programs, La Sierra University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $42,213 to $58,985 over five years — a 40% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About La Sierra University

A 93% acceptance rate means La Sierra University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 1,155 students in Riverside, CA. With 47% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at La Sierra 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

Other Majors at La Sierra 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 La Sierra University?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Social Work. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →