Social Work at University of Maine

University of Maine's social work program delivers solid national outcomes but trails other Maine options—an important distinction for in-state students. Graduates earn $38,824 in their first year, placing them above the national median but below Maine's state median of $39,758. This matters because most students likely qualify for in-state tuition, and University of Southern Maine produces better-earning graduates while charging similar debt loads. At the 40th percentile among Maine programs, this isn't the state's strongest social work option.

The financial fundamentals are workable: $26,154 in debt against first-year earnings creates a manageable 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio, nearly identical to national norms for the field. Earnings do grow modestly to $40,842 by year four, though that 5% increase barely keeps pace with inflation. Social work isn't a high-earning field anywhere—the 75th percentile nationally is just $39,695—so these outcomes reflect the profession's reality rather than program-specific weakness.

For Maine families, the calculation is straightforward: this program won't burden graduates with unmanageable debt, but if in-state tuition costs are comparable across Maine's public universities, USM's social work program shows meaningfully better earning outcomes. If your student is committed to social work and UMaine offers a better financial aid package or preferred campus environment, the roughly $1,800 first-year earnings gap won't derail their career. Otherwise, comparison shopping within Maine makes sense.