Social Work at Alabama State University

Alabama State's social work program sits right in the middle of the state's offerings—earning a 60th percentile ranking among Alabama programs—but graduates face a challenging debt burden. With $39,593 in median debt against first-year earnings of $34,792, students are borrowing substantially more than peers at other Alabama schools (state median debt: $30,250). That debt load ranks in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of social work programs nationwide leave students with less debt.

The earnings picture is flat rather than dire. Graduates earn slightly above Alabama's median for social work ($34,128) and stay relatively stable over four years, though income doesn't grow. While earnings trail national averages by about $2,500, they're competitive within the state—beating programs at University of Montevallo and matching Jacksonville State. The university serves a predominantly low-income student body (72% receive Pell grants), and for students already in Montgomery, avoiding out-of-state costs matters.

The key concern is that $10,000 debt gap compared to in-state alternatives. University of North Alabama graduates earn $2,000 more annually while carrying typical debt loads. Small sample sizes here (under 30 graduates) add uncertainty to these figures. For students committed to social work in Alabama and who can manage the debt load, this works—but explore whether comparable programs offer the same outcome with less borrowing.