Social Work at Austin Community College District

Austin Community College's social work associate program punches well above its weight in Texas, with graduates earning $46,281 four years out—nearly double the state median of $26,170 for this degree. That 80th percentile ranking among Texas schools matters because most students will attend community college close to home, and ACC is clearly outperforming its peers.

The 36% earnings jump from year one to year four suggests graduates are successfully moving into better positions or completing bachelor's degrees, which is often necessary for licensed social work roles. Starting at $34,003 is modest but reasonable for an associate degree, and the $17,922 in debt—just over half of first-year earnings—is manageable compared to what many four-year programs require.

The catch: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these figures might not represent what future students will experience. Still, the pattern is encouraging. For a student planning to continue their education or enter social services work in the Austin area, this program appears to provide solid preparation at a reasonable cost. The real question is whether your child plans to stop at the associate level or use this as a stepping stone to a bachelor's—earnings potential increases significantly with additional credentials in social work.