Social Work at Gallaudet University

Gallaudet's social work program starts graduates at $31,903—well below both the national median of $37,296 and the DC average of $38,938. With only three social work programs in DC, this ranks at the bottom quartile, trailing the University of the District of Columbia's $45,973 substantially. The $23,017 in median debt sits below national norms, which helps, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 still means graduates spend nearly nine months of their first year's salary just covering what they borrowed.

The saving grace here is the 42% earnings jump to $45,171 by year four, which represents strong mid-career momentum and eventually catches up to market rates. This trajectory suggests the program may serve students entering the field through non-traditional paths or specialized populations (Gallaudet primarily serves deaf and hard-of-hearing students, which may influence both initial job placement and career development). However, the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—means one or two outliers could skew these numbers significantly in either direction.

For families considering this program, the first-year earnings gap is real and substantial. If your child is specifically drawn to Gallaudet's unique mission and community, understand they'll likely start $7,000-$14,000 behind peers at other DC programs, though that gap narrows considerably with experience. If cost and immediate earning potential are primary concerns, other options deliver better initial returns.