Social Work at University of Michigan-Flint

UM-Flint's social work program outperforms most competitors on earnings while carrying significantly more debt than typical—a tradeoff worth examining closely. First-year graduates earn $40,371, beating both the national median ($37,296) and placing in the 79th percentile nationally. Within Michigan, it ranks 60th percentile and sits just above Wayne State, the state's top earner at $39,774. The 15% earnings growth to $46,279 by year four suggests decent career progression in a field not known for rapid salary increases.

The challenge is debt: at $38,000, graduates carry roughly $10,000 more than typical social work majors nationally and in Michigan. This lands in the 5th percentile for debt nationally—meaning 95% of programs saddle students with less. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.94 isn't catastrophic for social work (many helping professions run higher), but it means nearly a full year's salary goes toward loans. Given social work's modest pay ceiling, that extra debt matters more here than it would in higher-earning fields.

One important caveat: these numbers come from a small sample of fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could swing these figures considerably. For families committed to social work and wanting the UM brand at a regional campus, this program delivers competitive outcomes. Just ensure your student exhausts federal aid options and understands they're taking on above-average debt for the field.