Social Work at Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
29 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
30
Optimistic
29
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,303/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 2.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #319 of 338 Social Work programs

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 $413K $414K $408K
Earnings Multiple 2.6x 2.6x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 29 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$156,280
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$93,740
40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,750
8.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$37,826
1% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,303/yr, roughly in line with the $36,554 national median for Social Work. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The financial case is thin at 2.6x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 1% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,750 represents roughly 8 months of the $37,303 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #319 of 338 Social Work programs, Mount Mercy University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $37,826 are relatively flat compared to the $37,303 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Mount Mercy University

Mount Mercy University accepts 79% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 1,135 students in Cedar Rapids, IA. The average net cost of $93,740 over four years represents a 40% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Mount Mercy 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 Mount Mercy University

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at Mount Mercy University?
A score of 29/100 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 →