Social Work at Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
45
Optimistic
44
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,774/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (24% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (116,900 openings/yr)
ROI 9.0x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #127 of 338 Social Work programs Top 50%

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 $512K $512K $490K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.0x 9.0x 8.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 4.2x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 69% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 45 44 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,188
Out-of-state: $121,676 (4.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,092
-3% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,000
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,933
26% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,774/yr, edging above the $36,554 national average for Social Work — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 $23,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $39,774 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #127 of 338 Social Work programs, Wayne State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $39,774 to $49,933 over five years — a 26% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Wayne State University

Wayne State University has a 82% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 15,676 students in Detroit, MI. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Wayne State University →

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 Wayne State University

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 Wayne State University?
A score of 44/100 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 →