Social Work at Brigham Young University-Idaho

BYU-Idaho's social work program sits at an uncomfortable intersection: earnings that lag significantly behind national standards, yet the debt burden appears manageable only because of the university's low tuition model. Starting at $29,355, graduates earn about $8,000 less than the national median for social work programs—placing this in just the 5th percentile nationally. Within Idaho, it ranks at the 40th percentile, trailing Boise State by more than $10,000 annually. That gap persists even after four years, when earnings reach only $35,827.

The silver lining is debt. At $14,460, graduates carry roughly half the national median for social work programs, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49—quite reasonable for a helping profession. This reflects BYU-Idaho's institutional mission of keeping education affordable, particularly for LDS students. The 22% earnings growth over four years shows some career progression, though graduates never catch up to where peers at other programs started.

For families, this presents a clear tradeoff: exceptionally low debt in exchange for below-average earnings potential. If your child is committed to social work and comfortable with the campus environment, the minimal debt provides breathing room that matters in a lower-paying field. However, if maximizing earning potential is important, other Idaho programs deliver $5,000-$10,000 more annually without dramatically higher debt. The program works financially, but only if you're willing to accept being at the lower end of an already modestly-paid profession.