Social Work at Loras College

The $27,000 debt load sits right in the middle of what social work graduates across Iowa typically carry, but it comes with an important caveat: first-year earnings here are estimated from other Iowa programs, not Loras's actual outcomes. Based on comparable programs in the state, graduates can expect around $38,000 in their first year—enough to make the debt manageable with a 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio, though hardly comfortable given social work's modest salary trajectory.

What's telling is how much variation exists among Iowa's social work programs. Schools like Briar Cliff and Grand View report graduates earning $3,000-$5,000 more in their first year, suggesting that program quality and employer connections matter considerably in this field. Without Loras's actual earnings data, it's unclear whether their graduates trend toward the higher or lower end of Iowa's range. The school's 92% admission rate and lower-than-average Pell enrollment (25%) don't necessarily predict outcomes, but they do raise questions about whether Loras provides the intensive fieldwork placements and professional networks that boost early-career earnings in social work.

For a field where most practitioners need a master's degree to advance, starting with $27,000 in undergraduate debt means your child will be layering on more loans later. If they're committed to social work, consider whether Loras offers clear pathways to those higher-earning positions or if a less expensive option might preserve financial flexibility for graduate school.