Social Work at Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, OK · Public · Bachelor's Degree
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,168/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 17.2x earnings multiple (7.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #63 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 $518K $518K $495K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.2x 17.2x 16.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.8x 7.8x 7.4x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,052
Out-of-state: $66,532 (7.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$47,200
-57% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,193
32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Northeastern State University's Social Work program produces graduates earning $38,168/yr — within striking distance of the $36,554 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.2x 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.

Median debt of $23,250 represents roughly 7 months of the $38,168 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #63 of 338 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Work program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $38,168 to $50,193 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Northeastern State University

A 99% acceptance rate means Northeastern State University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 4,636 students in Tahlequah, OK. With 42% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern State 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 State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at Northeastern State University?
A score of 50/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Social Work field.
What makes Northeastern State University's Social Work program stand out?
Ranked #63 of 338 programs nationally, Northeastern State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →