Associate+13% vs national median105 grads tracked
Social Work at Palo Alto College
Ranked 13th of 63 associate programs in Social Work by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$30,437
middle 50%: $23,172 – $44,737
Median · 5 years out
$43,497
middle 50%: $31,104 – $58,858
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Social Work (associate) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Graduates of Palo Alto College's associate program in Social Work earn a median $30,437 one year after graduating, rising to $43,497 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 13% above the national median of $38,649 for this field, ranking 13th of 63 reporting programs.
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
10.5 yrs
≈ $12,211 total interest
Same major at other universities
Amarillo College
$45,534 · 5 yrs out
Austin Community College
$44,767 · 5 yrs out
Casper College
$44,700 · 5 yrs out
Sinclair Community College
$44,398 · 5 yrs out
Eastfield College
$44,398 · 5 yrs out
Angelina College
$43,722 · 5 yrs out
College Of DuPage
$43,384 · 5 yrs out
Tulsa Community College
$42,709 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$42,166 · 5 yrs out
Tyler Junior College
$42,073 · 5 yrs out
Lee College
$41,964 · 5 yrs out
University of Rio Grande - Rio Grande Community College
$41,695 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Palo Alto College
Engineering (Associate)
$87,351 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$64,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$62,224 · 5 yrs out
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (Associate)
$58,998 · 5 yrs out
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (Associate)
$56,877 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$56,272 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (Associate)
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Associate)
$55,746 · 5 yrs out
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services (Certificate)
$55,181 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate)
$54,286 · 5 yrs out
Marketing (Associate)
$53,921 · 5 yrs out
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Associate)
$53,793 · 5 yrs out
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