Social Work at Saint Leo University

Saint Leo's social work program faces a significant debt problem that overshadows otherwise reasonable outcomes. While graduates carry $33,457 in debt—ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally and far exceeding Florida's $21,875 median—they earn slightly below both state and national averages. That debt load is nearly equal to first-year earnings, creating immediate financial pressure that comparable Florida programs largely avoid.

The earnings trajectory shows modest but steady growth, moving from $34,463 to $37,362 over four years. However, this still lags behind what graduates earn at Florida's public universities, where programs like FIU and FAU place students $4,000-$7,000 ahead annually with typically lower debt burdens. Within Florida's social work landscape, Saint Leo sits right at the median for earnings but carries roughly 50% more debt than the state norm.

For families considering this program, the math is straightforward: you'll pay private school tuition and take on private school debt for outcomes that mirror—or fall slightly below—what Florida's public universities deliver. Unless Saint Leo offers compelling non-financial advantages like location, class size, or fit that justify the premium, exploring Florida's public options would likely provide a clearer path to managing student loans on a social worker's salary. The 37% Pell grant population suggests many families here are price-sensitive, making that debt differential particularly consequential.