U.S. median for this major: $51,748.
College Scorecard field of study; 46 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 65% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,579.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $35,258. College Scorecard.
Columbia College Social Work: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Social Work nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Columbia College's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $17,541 | $72,269 | 6.7 years |
| $30–48k | $17,017 | $70,110 | 6.5 years |
| $48–75k | $16,816 | $69,282 | 6.4 years |
| $75–110k | $22,928 | $94,463 | 8.8 years |
| $110k+ | $20,399 | $84,044 | 7.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (48% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Social Work graduates 4 years after graduating ($44,276) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in SC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $10,760 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Social Work at South Carolina colleges
Every South Carolina college we cover that reports Social Work graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | $49,401 | $24,000 | $22,811 | 79% |
| 2 | Winthrop University | $46,548 | $27,000 | $15,343 | 57% |
| 3 | Columbia College | $44,276 | $28,674 | $18,408 | 37% |
3 more South Carolina colleges offer Social Work but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Social Work graduates
Social worker
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Social and Community Service Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +7.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Columbia College, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Columbia College
- Acceptance rate: 94% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 37% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $41,338
- Full cost breakdown · all 53 majors · overview
Related majors at Columbia College
- Psychology$32,207
- Human Services—
- Community Organization and Advocacy—
Columbia College Social Work questions
How much do Columbia College Social Work graduates earn?
Social Work graduates of Columbia College earn a median $44,276 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Social Work graduates across 419 colleges is $51,748.
How much debt do Columbia College Social Work graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Social Work graduates of Columbia College is $28,674, about 65% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,579.
Is Columbia College a good school for Social Work in South Carolina?
On pay, Social Work graduates of Columbia College earn $44,276 four years out, $2,272 below the median for the same major across 3 South Carolina colleges ($46,548) and $7,472 below the U.S. median ($51,748). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Columbia College rank for Social Work in South Carolina?
Of 3 South Carolina colleges reporting Social Work graduate earnings, Columbia College ranks 3rd. The highest is University of South Carolina-Columbia at $49,401.
What jobs do Social Work graduates get?
A common career is social worker, with a median wage of $50,610 in the Columbia, SC area and $59,550 nationally. Others include social and community service managers and probation officers and correctional treatment specialists.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Columbia College Social Work: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/columbia-college-sc/majors/social-work (College Scorecard and BLS data).