Social Work at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

UTC's social work program starts graduates at just $27,923—about $10,000 below the Tennessee median and nearly $6,000 below what neighboring Austin Peay State achieves. While the program carries manageable debt at $20,043, that's cold comfort when first-year earnings barely clear minimum wage territory. Among Tennessee's 19 social work programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of students choosing other in-state options earn more from day one.

The earnings do improve substantially to $39,336 by year four, reaching competitive levels with UT-Knoxville and exceeding the state median. That 41% growth suggests graduates gain valuable experience and credentials over time. However, starting at $28,000 means three years of financial strain that affects everything from loan payments to housing choices—particularly challenging in a helping profession already known for modest pay.

The small sample size here is worth noting, so these numbers could shift with more data. But for now, Tennessee families should recognize that other in-state programs deliver stronger starting salaries without meaningfully higher debt. If your child is committed to social work at UTC specifically, understand they'll likely need family support or side income during those lean early years before their earnings catch up to peers who started elsewhere.