Social Work at North Carolina A & T State University

North Carolina A&T's social work program lands right in the middle of the state's offerings—at the 40th percentile—but significantly trails the national median by nearly $10,000 in first-year earnings. Starting at $27,508, graduates earn about $4,200 less than the typical North Carolina social work graduate and fall in just the 5th percentile nationally. The $30,000 debt burden, while not catastrophic, creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.09, meaning graduates owe more than their first year's salary—a challenging position in a field known for modest compensation.

The good news is meaningful earnings growth: salaries jump 38% to $38,014 by year four, finally surpassing both state and national medians. This suggests the program adequately prepares graduates for career advancement, though the initial years will be financially tight. With over half of students receiving Pell grants, many graduates are entering the workforce already managing limited resources, making that first-year salary particularly important for financial stability.

For families considering this program, understand that you're accepting several years of financial strain in exchange for entering a meaningful but modestly-paid profession. If your child is committed to social work, stronger in-state options like UNC Wilmington or Western Carolina start graduates $10,000+ higher while charging similar debt loads. A&T serves its mission well, but this particular program requires realistic expectations about early-career finances.