Social Work at Indiana University-South Bend

Indiana University-South Bend's social work graduates earn exactly at the state median ($37,812), but rack up notably less debt than most Indiana peers—$24,263 versus $27,000 statewide. That $2,700 difference matters: with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.64, graduates carry manageable loan burdens compared to the typical social worker. While earnings trail IU-Indianapolis by nearly $4,000, the lower debt partially offsets this gap. The 16% earnings growth to nearly $44,000 by year four suggests reasonable career progression, though social work remains a modestly-paying field regardless of where you study.

The broader context here is important: social work is a calling that doesn't generate high salaries anywhere. At $37,812 in year one, these graduates earn right at the national median for the field. Among Indiana's 23 social work programs, this lands in the 60th percentile—solidly middle-of-the-pack performance. The school serves a significant population of Pell grant recipients (41%), and the relatively contained debt load suggests it's fulfilling its access mission without overleveraging students.

For families committed to social work, IU-South Bend offers reasonable value: typical earnings for the field, below-average debt, and room for growth. You're not getting the earnings premium of the flagship Bloomington campus, but you're also not gambling on an outlier program that might leave your child financially strained in an already low-paying profession.