U.S. median for this major: $51,748.
College Scorecard field of study; 49 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 49% 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 $23,274. College Scorecard.
NMSU Social Work: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 New Mexico colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 NMSU'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 | $6,648 | $29,650 | 1.5 years |
| $30–48k | $7,424 | $33,111 | 1.7 years |
| $48–75k | $9,861 | $43,980 | 2.2 years |
| $75–110k | $13,146 | $58,631 | 3.0 years |
| $110k+ | $14,049 | $62,659 | 3.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (32% 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 ($50,295) minus $30,723 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NM (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $19,572 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 New Mexico colleges
Every New Mexico 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 | New Mexico State University | $50,295 | $24,500 | $8,889 | 55% |
| 2 | Western New Mexico University | $49,567 | $35,448 | $8,522 | 32% |
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 NMSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NMSU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 55% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $39,067
- Full cost breakdown · all 79 majors · overview
Related majors at NMSU
- Psychology$45,637
- Sociology$48,419
- Community Organization and Advocacy—
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$39,293
NMSU Social Work questions
How much do NMSU Social Work graduates earn?
Social Work graduates of New Mexico State University earn a median $50,295 four years after graduating and $33,510 one year after. The U.S. median for Social Work graduates across 419 colleges is $51,748.
How much debt do NMSU Social Work graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Social Work graduates of New Mexico State University is $24,500, about 49% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,579.
Where does NMSU rank for Social Work in New Mexico?
Of 2 New Mexico colleges reporting Social Work graduate earnings, New Mexico State University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Social Work graduates get?
A common career is social worker, with a median wage of $46,960 in the Las Cruces, NM 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: “New Mexico State University Social Work: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/majors/social-work (College Scorecard and BLS data).