Home › University of Alaska Anchorage › Social Work

Social Work at University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage, AK · Public · Bachelor's Degree
56 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
56
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,565/yr (25% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 17.0x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #17 of 338 Social Work programs Top 5%

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 $513K $513K $491K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.0x 17.0x 16.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.9x 5.9x 5.7x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 56 56 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)
$30,264
Out-of-state: $86,772 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$55,120
-82% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$31,750
8.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$46,921
3% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $45,565 per year, Social Work graduates from University of Alaska Anchorage earn slightly above the $36,554 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.0x 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 $31,750 represents roughly 8 months of the $45,565 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #17 of 338 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Work program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

About University of Alaska Anchorage

University of Alaska Anchorage accepts 67% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, serving 6,916 students in Anchorage, AK.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Alaska Anchorage →

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)

Compare Social Work

University of Alaska Anchorage vs University of North Dakota → University of Alaska Anchorage vs San Francisco State University → University of Alaska Anchorage vs Metropolitan State University → University of Alaska Anchorage vs Bemidji State University →

Other Majors at University of Alaska Anchorage

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($86,823) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($81,203) Civil Engineering ($72,140) Mechanical Engineering ($71,501) Accounting and Related Services ($65,560) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($60,222) Finance and Financial Management Services ($52,706) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($51,451)

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 University of Alaska Anchorage?
A score of 56/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Social Work field.
What makes University of Alaska Anchorage's Social Work program stand out?
Ranked #17 of 338 programs nationally, University of Alaska Anchorage lands in the top 5%. 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 →