Social Work at The University of Texas Permian Basin

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 sits right at the threshold where a bachelor's in social work becomes financially manageable—assuming the Texas median estimates hold true. Social work graduates from comparable programs in the state typically earn around $37,400 in their first year, which aligns almost exactly with the national median for this field. The estimated $26,631 in debt falls slightly below the Texas median, suggesting this program doesn't overburden students compared to peer institutions across the state.

What's worth noting is that several Texas schools with actual reported data show first-year earnings in the $38,000-$42,000 range, indicating there's room for variation in outcomes. Social work is a field with relatively compressed earnings nationally—the difference between median and 75th percentile programs is only about $2,400—so the career path itself matters more than the specific school. The work is meaningful but consistently modest-paying in early years, regardless of where you earn the degree.

For a parent, the takeaway is straightforward: if your child is committed to social work, these estimated figures suggest UT Permian Basin won't put them in a worse position than most Texas programs. The debt appears reasonable for the likely earnings, though you should confirm actual graduate outcomes with the school directly given the limited sample size in the federal data.