Social Work at Lewis University

A $27,000 debt load positions Lewis's social work program slightly above the Illinois median of $26,000, while estimated first-year earnings of $38,382—drawn from the state's other bachelor's programs—land right at the typical Illinois starting point. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 suggests manageable repayment, but the modest growth to $41,021 by year four raises questions about long-term earning potential in this field.

The challenge here is that we're working with estimated figures because Lewis's graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. Looking at Illinois schools with reported data, Governors State University's graduates start at $44,133, while several other programs cluster in the $39,000-$41,000 range—suggesting Lewis could land anywhere within that spread. Nationally, social work bachelor's programs produce fairly consistent outcomes around $37,000, so geographic factors and specific program connections matter more than national averages.

For parents, the key consideration is whether $27,000 in debt makes sense for a career that typically starts in the high $30,000s. Social work demands passion and purpose more than high earnings, so if your child is committed to the field, Lewis's debt level won't create crushing burden. But without actual graduate outcomes, you're making this investment decision based on what happens at peer programs rather than Lewis-specific results.