Social Work at St. Augustine College

The estimated $27,000 debt load for this bachelor's in social work sits right at the state median, but the earnings picture tells a more complex story. Based on comparable Illinois programs, first-year social workers typically earn around $38,000—which would make the debt manageable at 70% of first-year income. However, this program's actual four-year earnings figure of $32,634 falls well below both that estimate and what graduates from top Illinois programs achieve. That $6,000 gap matters significantly when you're paying off loans on a social worker's salary.

The disconnect between estimated first-year earnings and reported four-year outcomes deserves attention. While it's possible graduates start strong and then pursue lower-paying but mission-driven roles, it's also possible the initial estimate doesn't reflect this program's actual outcomes. With 73% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on solid post-graduation employment to justify the investment.

For a field where earnings are inherently limited—social work pays what it pays across Illinois—the question becomes whether St. Augustine adequately prepares graduates for competitive positions. The gap between this program's four-year earnings and those at Governors State or even Illinois State suggests families should directly ask about job placement rates and starting salaries for recent graduates before committing.