Social Work at Ohio University-Southern Campus

Ohio University-Southern's social work program hits right at the state median for earnings while managing to keep debt about $3,400 lower than typical Ohio programs. For a regional campus, that's a solid combination—graduates start at $37,990 and see healthy growth to $43,103 by year four, a 14% bump that suggests steady career progression in the field.

The debt picture deserves attention here. While $23,570 is manageable relative to first-year earnings (0.62 ratio), this program carries more debt than 75% of social work programs nationally. That's the tradeoff for attending this campus: you're getting outcomes that match the state median but taking on debt levels that exceed most comparable programs. The relatively low Pell grant rate (12%) suggests this campus may serve a different demographic than typical regional institutions.

For families weighing this option, the question comes down to geography and alternatives. If staying near Ironton makes this degree feasible when it otherwise wouldn't be, the debt-to-earnings math works. But students who can access programs at Bowling Green ($40,959 starting salary) or Cincinnati ($39,292) without significantly higher costs should consider those options. This isn't a standout program, but it delivers predictable social work outcomes at regional campus convenience.