Social Work at Barton College

Barton College's social work program sits in an interesting middle ground: its graduates earn about $6,600 more than the typical social work graduate in North Carolina, landing in the 60th percentile statewide. At roughly $38,300 annually, these graduates outpace both state and national benchmarks, though they trail Mars Hill's program by about $3,300. The $27,000 in median debt is manageable relative to starting salary, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70—better than many helping professions.

The concern here is what happens next. Earnings essentially flatline between year one and year four, showing zero growth during a period when many graduates see meaningful salary increases. For social work, this pattern isn't unusual—the field has notoriously compressed wage scales—but it does mean your child should understand they're choosing purpose over paycheck trajectory. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty to these figures, though the consistency with broader social work earnings patterns suggests they're realistic.

For families considering Barton, the calculation is straightforward: if your child is committed to social work, this program delivers slightly above-average outcomes for North Carolina at a debt level that won't become crushing. Just don't expect the salary to grow much beyond that initial $38,000—what you see in year one is likely what you'll see in year five.