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Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,178/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)

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

ROI 10.3x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #105 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	$511K	$511K	$489K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.3x	10.3x	9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.6x	5.6x	5.4x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	69%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	46	45	54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$49,532

Out-of-state: $90,904 (5.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$54,200

-9% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,324

4.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$49,644

27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,178 at Northeastern Illinois University come in 7% above the national median of $36,554 for Social Work programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.3x 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 $39,178 far exceeding the $15,324 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #105 of 338 Social Work programs, Northeastern Illinois University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $39,178 to $49,644 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University accepts 70% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 3,869 in Chicago, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 54% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern Illinois 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 Northeastern Illinois 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 Northeastern Illinois University?

A score of 45/100 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 →