Social Work at Northeastern State University

At first glance, Northeastern State's social work program shows moderate earnings with manageable debt, but the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. That said, the available data suggests reasonable value: graduates earn slightly above the national median for social work degrees and sit right at Oklahoma's state median, while carrying debt that's notably lower than typical programs nationwide (16th percentile). The 0.81 debt-to-earnings ratio is workable, though it means graduates will need roughly ten months of gross income to cover their educational debt.

The program serves a primarily access-oriented student body—42% receive Pell grants—and produces practitioners who see steady income growth, with earnings jumping 17% by year four to $44,465. For a field like social work, where passion often outweighs salary considerations, these outcomes are respectable. The controlled debt load is particularly important here, since social workers rarely command high salaries regardless of where they train.

The caveat matters: with such a small graduating class, one year's data might look quite different from the next. But if you're an Oklahoma resident seeking an affordable path into social work, this program delivers competitive preparation without the debt burden that can make social service careers financially untenable. Just understand you're entering a modest-paying field, even with solid earnings growth over time.