Bachelor's-5% vs national median610 grads tracked
Social Work at Western Carolina University
Ranked 124th of 197 bachelor's programs in Social Work by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$34,891
middle 50%: $25,791 – $43,176
Median · 5 years out
$49,265
middle 50%: $38,916 – $58,242
Median · 10 years out
$53,397
middle 50%: $42,196 – $63,305
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Social Work (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Social work graduates from Western Carolina University earn a $35k median in year one. By year 10, salaries reach $53k.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,195 total interest
Same major at other universities
Southwest Minnesota State University
$49,855 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
$49,842 · 5 yrs out
Norfolk State University
$49,815 · 5 yrs out
Bowling Green State University
$49,680 · 5 yrs out
Radford University
$49,609 · 5 yrs out
Mary Baldwin University
$49,281 · 5 yrs out
Cleveland State University
$49,254 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$49,185 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$49,171 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Northwest
$49,143 · 5 yrs out
Southern University at New Orleans
$49,073 · 5 yrs out
Wright State University
$48,983 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Carolina University
Education (Doctorate)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$95,724 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$88,779 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$88,474 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$86,622 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$86,216 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$85,927 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$85,430 · 5 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctorate)
$84,494 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$81,907 · 5 yrs out
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