Social Work at Salem State University

Salem State's social work graduates start strong, earning $45,450 in their first year—well above both the national median ($37,296) and Massachusetts average ($40,161) for the field. That puts this program in the 95th percentile nationally and solidly above the state median, competing directly with UMass Boston's outcomes. The $27,000 in typical debt is manageable at just 0.59 times first-year earnings, meaning graduates could reasonably pay it off within a few years even on social work salaries.

The challenge is what happens next: earnings drop to $41,045 by year four, a 10% decline that's unusual but not uncommon in social work as graduates move between roles or sectors with varying pay scales. Still, even with this dip, graduates remain competitive with other Massachusetts programs. The accessible admissions (96% acceptance rate) and moderate sample size suggest this data reflects real program outcomes, not a handful of exceptional cases.

For families concerned about debt in a helping profession, this program makes the math work. Your child would start with earnings that exceed most social work graduates nationally while taking on debt typical for the field. The salary trajectory deserves a conversation about career planning, but the fundamentals—strong starting point, manageable debt, clear labor market demand—are sound.