Social Work at University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

A $27,296 debt load for a social work degree is close to the state median, but the earnings trajectory tells an important story about this field's financial realities. Based on comparable programs across Texas, first-year earnings around $37,400 climb to about $41,750 by year four—a modest 12% increase that reflects social work's compressed salary structure. While the 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper, that's a calculated figure relying on state-level estimates, not tracked outcomes from UMHB graduates specifically.

Looking across Texas, UMHB's estimated performance sits near the middle of the pack. The top-performing programs—Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M, Texas Woman's—push graduates into the low $40,000s within their first year, suggesting that school selection matters even within a field known for standardized licensing requirements. The $4,000-$5,000 gap between peer programs might not sound dramatic, but for social workers facing student loan payments, that difference compounds over years of public service careers.

For families considering this path, the key question is whether the debt load aligns with your child's career goals in social work. If they're planning to pursue loan forgiveness through public service employment—where many social workers end up—the debt becomes more manageable. But if they're unsure about the field or weighing it against other helping professions, they should know that peer programs in Texas offer similar or slightly better starting points with comparable debt burdens.