Social Work at University of North Texas

UNT's social work program lands right in the middle of the pack—earning slightly less than both the national and Texas medians—but what matters more is the debt burden. At $22,500, graduates leave with about $5,000 less debt than typical Texas BSW holders, and that lighter load makes this program more manageable than the numbers initially suggest. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 means graduates owe roughly seven months of their first year's salary, a reasonable starting point for a helping profession known for modest but stable pay.

The 24% earnings growth over four years is solid, pushing graduates from $36,167 to nearly $45,000 by their mid-twenties. While programs like Texas Southern and Prairie View produce stronger early earners, UNT's combination of lower debt and steady progression creates a workable financial path. For students committed to social services—where salary caps are real but job security and purpose often compensate—this represents a straightforward value proposition.

If your child is choosing UNT over higher-earning alternatives purely for cost reasons, they're making a sensible calculation. The lower debt provides flexibility to pursue graduate education or nonprofit work without crushing loan payments. Just understand they'll start behind peers at the state's top programs and may never fully close that gap.