Social Work at Indiana University-East

Indiana University-East's social work program manages to keep debt exceptionally low at $15,300—among the best in the state—but graduates earn substantially less than they would at most other Indiana programs. First-year earnings of $32,748 trail the state median by $5,000 and rank in just the 22nd percentile nationally. Within Indiana, this program sits at the 40th percentile, meaning graduates from IU-Indianapolis, Ball State, and even regional competitors like IU-Northwest typically out-earn IU-East graduates by $6,000-$9,000 annually.

The positive news is that the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 remains manageable, and earnings do grow 11% over four years to reach $36,369. For students committed to staying in Richmond or the surrounding area where cost of living is lower, these earnings may stretch further than in Indianapolis. However, social work is already among the lower-paying helping professions, and starting nearly $5,000 below the state average compounds that challenge—especially if graduates need to relocate to larger metro areas for job opportunities.

This program makes financial sense primarily if you're confident about local employment and prioritize minimizing debt above all else. Students with geographic flexibility should examine the state's stronger-performing programs, which offer both higher earnings and comparable or only moderately higher debt loads.