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Social Work at University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,692/yr (11% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)

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

ROI 11.9x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #56 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	$521K	$521K	$497K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.9x	11.9x	11.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.8x	4.8x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	69%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	50	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)

$43,680

Out-of-state: $108,416 (4.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$46,916

-7% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,693

4.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,132

26% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $40,692 per year, Social Work graduates from University of Southern Maine earn slightly above the $36,554 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.9x 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.

The median debt load of $16,693 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #56 of 338 nationally, this is a top-5% Social Work program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $40,692 to $51,132 over five years — a 26% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Southern Maine

With 79% of applicants admitted, University of Southern Maine prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 4,245 in Portland, ME.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Southern Maine →

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 Southern Maine

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Social Work at University of Southern Maine?

A score of 50/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Social Work field.

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

Ranked #56 of 338 programs nationally, University of Southern Maine 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 →