Social Work at University of South Alabama

Mobile, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
36
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,771/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #240 of 338 Social Work programs

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 $471K $471K $456K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.2x 12.2x 11.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.3x 6.3x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 36 51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,704
Out-of-state: $74,608 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$60,568
-56% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$28,500
10.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,857
30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $33,771 track close to the $36,554 national median for Social Work programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

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 3% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $28,500 represents roughly 10 months of the $33,771 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #240 of 338 Social Work programs, University of South Alabama falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $33,771 to $43,857 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of South Alabama

With a 65% acceptance rate, University of South Alabama is moderately selective, with a mid-sized student body of 8,540 in Mobile, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Alabama →

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 South Alabama

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 South Alabama?
A score of 36/100 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 →