Social Work at Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,660/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #148 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 $486K $486K $469K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.6x 10.6x 10.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.2x 5.2x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,800
Out-of-state: $92,840 (5.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,752
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,000
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,787
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,660 at Texas State University come in 6% above the national median of $36,554 for Social Work programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.6x 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 $21,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $38,660 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #148 of 338 Social Work programs, Texas State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $38,660 to $46,787 over five years — a 21% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Texas State University

Texas State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 34,547 in San Marcos, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas State University?
A score of 43/100 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 →