Home › University of California-Berkeley › Social Work

Social Work at University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
60
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,906/yr (23% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #7 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 $679K $678K $629K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.4x 11.4x 10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.7x 3.7x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 60 64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,400
Out-of-state: $182,508 (3.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,916
-1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,779
53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $44,906/yr, edging above the $36,554 national average for Social Work — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 11.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 24% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $13,000 in median debt against $44,906 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #7 out of 338 programs, University of California-Berkeley's Social Work program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $44,906 to $68,779 over five years (53% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Berkeley

University of California-Berkeley admits 12% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, one of the larger campuses at 33,073 students in Berkeley, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Berkeley →

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 California-Berkeley vs University of North Dakota → University of California-Berkeley vs San Francisco State University → University of California-Berkeley vs Metropolitan State University → University of California-Berkeley vs Bemidji State University →

Other Majors at University of California-Berkeley

Computer Science ($149,866) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($137,295) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($90,008) Operations Research ($88,685) Mechanical Engineering ($88,497) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($88,030) Statistics ($83,227) Chemical Engineering ($81,553)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Social Work trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does University of California-Berkeley's Social Work program score?
This program scores 60/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Social Work graduates.
Why does University of California-Berkeley rank so high for Social Work?
The #7 ranking out of 338 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →