Social Work at Union Adventist University

Is a bachelor's in social work worth $27,000 in debt when first-year earnings hover around $39,000? Based on similar programs in Nebraska and nationally, this program appears positioned right in the middle of what social work graduates can expect. The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 sits comfortably below the threshold where loan payments become unmanageable, though it's worth noting that Nebraska programs typically carry around $24,000 in debt—suggesting this may run slightly higher than local alternatives.

Social work salaries tend to start modest but remain relatively stable, which means that $39,000 first-year figure isn't likely to surge dramatically in year two or three. This is a field where passion and calling often outweigh financial returns, and the numbers reflect that reality. Peer programs across Nebraska show remarkably similar outcomes, whether at private schools like Nebraska Wesleyan ($40,080) or public universities like UNO ($37,404), indicating the credential itself—not the institution—largely determines earning power.

For parents, the practical question is whether your student can manage roughly $300 monthly loan payments on a $39,000 salary while building a career in a helping profession. That's feasible but leaves little room for financial missteps. If your child is committed to social work, this program delivers comparable outcomes to its peers, though comparing actual debt figures across Nebraska's seven programs would help confirm whether that estimated $27,000 holds up.