Social Work at Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Social work programs in Ohio cluster tightly around $38,000 in first-year earnings, with Aultman's estimated outcomes landing squarely in the middle of that range. The estimated $27,337 in debt—derived from comparable private nonprofit programs in Ohio—produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72, suggesting graduates would need to dedicate roughly three-quarters of their first year's salary to pay off loans if they could somehow live expense-free. In practice, this translates to manageable but sustained loan payments over the standard decade-long repayment period.

What's harder to gauge is whether Aultman's smaller scale and specialized focus deliver advantages that justify similar costs to larger state universities. Top programs in Ohio like Capital University show graduates can earn $6,000 more annually in this field, though it's unclear whether that premium reflects program quality, geographic placement, or selection effects. Given that social work salaries compress into a narrow band regardless of school prestige, the difference between borrowing $27,000 versus $22,000 matters more than brand recognition.

The practical question: Can your child enter social work with around $27,000 in debt and build a sustainable career? Peer programs suggest yes, though not comfortably. Budget for lean early years, and consider whether your child's commitment to social work is strong enough to sustain them through that period—because the earnings ceiling in this field remains relatively fixed.