Location: Whitewater, WI•In-State Tuition: $8,250•Out-of-State Tuition: $17,916•Admission Rate: 83%•Avg SAT: 1090
Median Earnings (1yr)
$37,952
57th percentile
40th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Debt
$25,912
2% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.68 ManageableSample: 91 graduates

Analysis

UW-Whitewater's social work graduates earn slightly above the national median but lag behind most other Wisconsin programs—ranking in just the 40th percentile statewide at $37,952. This matters because several comparable UW System schools produce graduates earning $6,000-8,000 more annually, including UW-River Falls and UW-Oshkosh. Given that Wisconsin's median for social work graduates is $42,034, families paying in-state tuition here are getting below-average state outcomes despite reasonable access to the program.

The debt load of $25,912 is manageable relative to first-year earnings, creating a debt-to-income ratio of 0.68 that won't be crushing for most graduates. However, social work salaries typically start modest and grow slowly, so that four-thousand-dollar earnings gap compared to the state median compounds significantly over a career. The program's moderate sample size suggests stable data, not an outlier year.

For Wisconsin families specifically: if your student is committed to social work and considering UW schools, it's worth examining why peer institutions in the system are producing stronger employment outcomes. Unless Whitewater offers specific advantages like location or program features that matter to your family, this data suggests exploring UW-River Falls or UW-Oshkosh first.

Where University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Stands

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

University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterOther social work programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduates compare to all programs nationally

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater earns $38k — 57th percentile among social work bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Social Work bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (16 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater$8,250$37,952—$25,9120.68
Viterbo UniversityLa Crosse$32,350$46,384$49,400$31,0000.67
University of Wisconsin-River FallsRiver Falls$8,606$45,870$50,045$26,3030.57
University of Wisconsin-Green BayGreen Bay$8,342$44,135$43,930$25,2370.57
University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkosh$8,212$43,948$47,420$26,7500.61
University of Wisconsin-SuperiorSuperior$8,487$42,487$43,399$29,1660.69
National Median—$37,296—$26,3620.71

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 Wisconsin-Whitewater, approximately 25% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 91 graduates with reported earnings and 166 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.