Social Work at Mount Saint Mary's University

Mount Saint Mary's delivers solid earnings outcomes for social work graduates—outperforming 63% of programs nationally—but does so at a debt cost that's notably higher than typical California schools. First-year earnings of $38,512 beat both the national median ($37,296) and California median ($37,994), placing graduates in respectable company among the state's 26 social work programs. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78 suggests graduates will manage their loans, with typical monthly payments consuming a reasonable share of take-home pay.

The challenge is context: while $30,000 in debt ranks favorably compared to national programs (19th percentile), it's substantially above California's median of $17,259. Many state schools—including CSU campuses—produce similar or better earnings with far less borrowing. The relatively small sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual circumstances could be skewing these figures up or down.

For families committed to Mount Saint Mary's mission and campus community, the financial picture is workable—graduates earn slightly more than state peers and carry manageable debt loads. However, parents should understand they're likely paying a premium compared to public alternatives that serve similar student populations. If minimizing debt is the priority, California's public university system offers competitive outcomes with typically half the borrowing.