Social Work at University of Alaska Anchorage

With first-year earnings of $45,565, UAA's social work program significantly outperforms the national median of $37,296—that's over $8,000 more than the typical social work graduate earns. However, within Alaska itself, this program sits at the 40th percentile, trailing the University of Alaska Fairbanks program by about $2,600 annually. For a social work degree, though, the earnings picture is relatively strong, and the debt load of $31,750 translates to a manageable 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio, well below the concerning threshold of 1.0.

The notable caveat here is sample size: with fewer than 30 recent graduates in this dataset, a few outliers could be skewing these numbers in either direction. That said, the fundamentals look reasonable. Social work is rarely a path to high earnings, but graduates here earn enough to service their debt without severe financial strain. The modest 3% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests incomes plateau quickly, which is typical for public sector social services roles that dominate this field.

If your child is committed to social work and planning to stay in Alaska, this program delivers functional preparation without burying them in debt. Just understand you're looking at mid-40s earnings as the likely ceiling, and verify these numbers align with a larger cohort before making final decisions.