Social Work at Creighton University

A bachelor's in social work is a credential built for service, not high salaries, and the estimated $27,000 in debt here aligns with what similar private institutions typically produce—slightly above the state median but reasonable for the field. Based on comparable social work programs in Nebraska, first-year earnings around $39,200 put this squarely in the middle of the state's range, matching programs at UNK and slightly ahead of the national median of $37,300.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 is manageable, meaning graduates would owe about eight months of their first year's salary. For a helping profession where advancement often requires a master's degree, keeping undergraduate debt contained matters considerably. That Creighton serves primarily students from higher-income families (only 5% receive Pell grants) suggests most students may have additional family support to draw on, though that won't be universal.

The real calculation here is whether Creighton's private university environment—smaller classes, potentially stronger field placement networks—justifies costs that peer programs suggest will be moderately higher than Nebraska's public options. If your child plans to pursue an MSW afterward, which many social workers do for clinical licensure and better pay, minimizing debt now becomes particularly important. For families comfortable with the likely cost structure, this appears workable; for those needing significant aid, carefully compare the actual financial aid package against public alternatives.