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Social Work at St Olaf College

Northfield, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
44
Optimistic
44
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,146/yr (24% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 2.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #128 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 $510K $510K $488K
Earnings Multiple 2.2x 2.2x 2.1x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 44 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$227,880
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$91,008
60% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
7.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $45,146 per year, Social Work graduates from St Olaf College earn slightly above the $36,554 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The financial case is thin at 2.2x — 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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $45,146 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #128 of 338 Social Work programs, St Olaf College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About St Olaf College

St Olaf College accepts 52% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a smaller student body of 3,049 in Northfield, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $91,008 — 60% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at St Olaf College →

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

Compare this program → View all 338 schools offering Social Work →

Social Work at Other Schools

University of North Dakota ($49,695) San Francisco State University ($48,750) University of Alaska Fairbanks ($48,151) Seton Hall University ($47,734) Metropolitan State University ($47,637) Bemidji State University ($47,192) Viterbo University ($46,384) Southwest Minnesota State University ($46,368)

Other Majors at St Olaf College

Computer Science ($82,278) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($76,078) Mathematics ($58,825) Economics ($56,238) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($47,807) Chemistry ($44,020) Biology, General ($36,429) Religion/Religious Studies ($36,329)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Social Work trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 St Olaf College?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Social Work. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is St Olaf College a hidden gem for Social Work?
After financial aid, the average student pays $91,008 over four years — 60% below the $227,880 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →