Social Work at Henderson State University

Henderson State's social work program shows first-year earnings of just $22,458—barely half the national median for social work graduates and $10,000 below what other Arkansas social work programs typically produce. While the debt load is slightly lower than average at $22,239, that still means graduates owe nearly a full year's salary right out of college. This ranks in the bottom 10% of social work programs both nationally and within Arkansas, where even mid-tier options like Arkansas State and UA-Fort Smith deliver 50% higher starting salaries.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could fluctuate significantly from year to year, but the earnings gap is too wide to dismiss. Social work is already a modestly-paying field nationally, with median starting salaries around $37,000. Starting at $22,000 creates real financial strain, particularly when managing student loan payments. Compare this to Harding University's social work program just 30 miles away, where graduates earn nearly double at $41,835.

For parents whose child is committed to social work, this program's cost-benefit equation doesn't add up when Arkansas offers multiple stronger alternatives at similar price points. The university's 48% Pell grant enrollment suggests it serves many students seeking affordable options, but affordable only matters if graduates can support themselves afterward.