Social Work (Bachelor's Degree) at Iona University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$38,126

Est. from NY median (15 programs)

Median Debt

$25,749

2% below national median

Analysis

Similar programs in New York suggest first-year earnings around $38,000 for social work bachelor's graduates, placing this field squarely in service-oriented territory where passion often outweighs paycheck. What makes Iona's program worth examining is that four-year earnings jump to $53,700—well above both the state median and what top CUNY programs report. If that trajectory holds, graduates are looking at meaningful income growth that changes the debt calculation considerably.

The $25,749 in typical debt sits right at New York's median for social work programs, translating to a 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio based on estimated first-year figures. That's manageable territory, particularly given the strong four-year number. For context, CUNY schools produce similar or slightly higher starting salaries with generally lower debt loads, but Iona's mid-career outcomes appear competitive. The question is whether Iona's specific program truly delivers that $53,700 figure or if it's pulling from a broader dataset.

The bottom line: If your child is committed to social work and the four-year earnings prove reliable, Iona offers a reasonable path with debt that won't dominate their budget. But given that we're working with estimated starting figures and the CUNY system shows strong alternatives nearby, visit campus and ask pointed questions about where recent graduates actually land jobs and at what salaries. The mid-career number looks promising—just verify it reflects actual Iona outcomes before committing.

Where Iona University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all social work bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Iona University	—	$53,702	—
New York University	$26,837	$64,289	+140%
CUNY York College	$44,742	$58,778	+31%
College of Staten Island CUNY	$31,021	$56,620	+83%
University at Albany	$32,913	$54,302	+65%

Compare to Similar Programs in New York

Social Work bachelors's programs at peer institutions in New York (31 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Iona UniversityNew Rochelle	$45,880	$38,126*	$53,702	$25,749	—
CUNY York CollegeJamaica	$7,358	$44,742*	$58,778	$9,500	0.21
CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeBrooklyn	$7,352	$44,311*	—	$15,096	0.34
CUNY Lehman CollegeBronx	$7,410	$42,300*	$50,858	$12,690	0.30
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York	$7,382	$42,227*	—	$9,608	0.23
Keuka CollegeKeuka Park	$38,000	$40,642*	$46,999	$40,593	1.00
National Median	—	$37,296*	—	$26,362	0.71

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with social work graduates

Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in social work. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Social and Community Service Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.

$78,240/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.

$64,520/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Marriage and Family Therapists

Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.

$63,780/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Healthcare Social Workers

Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Social Workers, All Other

All social workers not listed separately.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Counselors, All Other

All counselors not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Iona University, approximately 26% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 15 similar programs in NY. Actual outcomes may vary.