Social Work (Bachelor's Degree) at University of Rio Grande

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,990

Est. from OH median (23 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,337

Est. from OH median (6 programs)

Analysis

Social work programs in Ohio cluster tightly around $38,000 in first-year earnings, and this program's estimated outcomes fall right in that middle ground. Based on comparable bachelor's programs across the state, graduates here can expect starting pay of roughly $37,990—nearly identical to the state and national medians for social work degrees. The estimated debt load of $27,337 is also typical for Ohio social work programs, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 that signals manageable repayment for most graduates.

What limits this analysis is the small graduate cohort—the Department of Education suppresses data when too few students complete a program, which means we're working entirely from peer program estimates rather than this university's actual track record. The figures suggest this program produces outcomes consistent with Ohio's social work training overall, but we can't verify whether Rio Grande's specific curriculum, field placement network, or faculty mentoring creates better or worse results than the state average. Some Ohio programs do push graduates noticeably higher: Capital University's social work grads, for instance, earn $44,000 in their first year.

For families comfortable with mid-$20,000s in debt to launch a helping profession career, these estimated outcomes suggest reasonable value. Just understand you're making this decision based on what similar programs deliver, not what this specific school has demonstrated.

Where University of Rio Grande Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all social work bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Social Work bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (41 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
University of Rio GrandeRio Grande	$20,560	$37,990*	—	$27,337*	—
Capital UniversityColumbus	$41,788	$44,344*	$44,174	$43,038*	0.97
Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green	$14,081	$40,959*	$45,206	$27,000*	0.66
Wright State University-Main CampusDayton	$11,188	$39,926*	$44,078	$28,250*	0.71
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati	$13,570	$39,292*	$41,234	$29,125*	0.74
University of ToledoToledo	$12,377	$39,254*	$42,056	$31,000*	0.79
National Median	—	$37,296*	—	$26,362*	0.71

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with social work graduates

Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in social work. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Social and Community Service Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.

$78,240/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.

$64,520/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Marriage and Family Therapists

Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.

$63,780/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Healthcare Social Workers

Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Social Workers, All Other

All social workers not listed separately.

$61,330/yrJobs growth:

Counselors, All Other

All counselors not listed separately.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Rio Grande, approximately 36% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 23 similar programs in OH. Actual outcomes may vary.