Home › University of Iowa › Social Work

Social Work at University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,285/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)

ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #81 of 338 Social Work programs Top 25%

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	$536K	$536K	$510K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.2x	12.2x	11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.1x	4.1x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	69%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	48	57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,856

Out-of-state: $131,708 (4.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$85,592

-95% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,427

6.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,381

33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,285 at University of Iowa come in 7% above the national median of $36,554 for Social Work programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.2x 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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,427 represents roughly 7 months of the $39,285 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #81 of 338 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Work program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $39,285 to $52,381 over five years — a 33% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Iowa

University of Iowa accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 21,691 in Iowa City, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Iowa →

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 University of Iowa

Consider the Trade Route?

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 Iowa?

A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Social Work. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

What makes University of Iowa's Social Work program stand out?

Ranked #81 of 338 programs nationally, University of Iowa lands in the top 25%. 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 →