Social Work at Minot State University

Minot State graduates social workers into the workforce earning nearly $7,500 more than the national median—placing this program in the 95th percentile nationally. That's impressive relative to the broader field, but the North Dakota context reveals a more nuanced picture: these graduates earn about $3,000 less than the state median for social work programs, ranking in just the 40th percentile locally.

The concerning pattern here is earnings stability. Graduates see essentially flat wages between year one and year four, hovering around $44,000. For reference, University of North Dakota's social work program produces graduates earning nearly $50,000. The $27,000 debt load is reasonable at 60% of first-year earnings, but when wages don't grow, every dollar of debt matters more. North Dakota's social services market clearly pays well compared to national standards, but Minot State graduates aren't capturing the top end of those opportunities.

For families comparing in-state options, this program offers solid national performance and manageable debt, but it's not the strongest choice within North Dakota. If your student is set on social work and Minot State for other reasons (location, campus fit), the debt-to-earnings ratio won't derail their finances. But if graduate school is on the horizon—common in social work—starting with lower earnings and stagnant wage growth could complicate that path.