Social Work at University of North Dakota

University of North Dakota social work graduates earn $49,695 in their first year—a remarkable 33% above the national median for the field and substantially higher than competing programs like Minot State ($44,731). This places UND in the 95th percentile nationally, making it one of the top-performing bachelor's social work programs in the country by graduate earnings. The debt load of $26,000 is exactly in line with national averages, creating a 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio that should be manageable on a social worker's salary.

The wrinkle here is earnings stagnation—graduates see virtually no income growth between years one and four. While this might reflect the compressed wage structure common in social services rather than a program-specific issue, it means the strong starting salary is essentially the ceiling. Within North Dakota, this program ranks in the 60th percentile, suggesting other in-state options might offer similar outcomes, though none appear to match UND's absolute earnings level based on available data.

For a parent whose child is committed to social work, this program delivers exceptional value—starting salaries that far exceed typical expectations for the field with manageable debt. The lack of earnings growth is worth understanding, but starting at nearly $50,000 in a profession where national medians sit around $37,000 is a significant advantage that shouldn't be dismissed.