Social Work at Marquette University

Marquette's social work graduates start well below Wisconsin's typical outcomes—earning about $4,500 less than the state median while carrying significantly lower debt ($19,500 versus $26,449 statewide). This places the program in the 40th percentile among Wisconsin's 16 social work programs, trailing public universities like UW-Oshkosh and UW-Green Bay by roughly $6,000-7,000 annually.

The debt picture offers a silver lining. At $19,500, graduates carry about 26% less debt than the state median, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52—meaning the typical graduate could theoretically pay off their loans in about seven months of gross salary. Strong earnings growth of 31% by year four brings mid-career income to $49,043, though this still lags behind what many Wisconsin public universities deliver from the start.

One important caveat: these figures come from a small sample of fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary considerably. For families prioritizing lower debt, Marquette delivers, but Wisconsin's public universities appear to offer better earnings potential at comparable or only slightly higher debt levels. If your child is drawn to Marquette's urban Milwaukee setting or Jesuit mission, this program won't burden them with crushing debt—but purely from an earnings standpoint, other Wisconsin options warrant serious consideration.