Program Analysis
At $39,695 per year, Social Work graduates from SUNY Buffalo State University earn slightly above the $36,554 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.0x 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 $20,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $39,695 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #57 of 338 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Work program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $39,695 to $49,513 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.