Social Work at Saint Edward's University

Saint Edward's social work graduates earn roughly $3,000 below the Texas median and nearly $3,200 below the national average in their first year. While the $27,000 debt load matches the state median and sits just above the national figure, the combination creates a concerning starting point—graduates earn about 30 cents less per dollar of debt compared to peers at top Texas programs like Texas Southern or Prairie View A&M. The 13% earnings growth over four years helps somewhat, but four years out, graduates still trail the state's stronger programs by $2,000-$4,000 annually.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, making this data less reliable than at larger programs. That said, social work typically doesn't offer high starting salaries anywhere, and Saint Edward's proximity to Austin's nonprofit sector should theoretically provide networking advantages that aren't showing up in the numbers. If your child is set on social work and Saint Edward's specifically, understand they'll likely face tighter finances than peers at UT Austin or even regional state schools, where the combination of lower tuition and similar outcomes often makes more financial sense. Given the small cohort, it's worth asking the school directly about recent graduate outcomes and whether these figures reflect a temporary dip or an ongoing pattern.