U.S. median for this major: $51,748.
College Scorecard field of study; 140 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 64% 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 $19,725. College Scorecard.
NKU 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 NKU'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 | $2,603 | $11,375 | 1.0 years |
| $30–48k | $3,630 | $15,863 | 1.4 years |
| $48–75k | $6,761 | $29,546 | 2.6 years |
| $75–110k | $12,679 | $55,407 | 4.9 years |
| $110k+ | $14,522 | $63,461 | 5.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (35% 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 ($44,914) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $11,398 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 Kentucky colleges
Every Kentucky 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 | Brescia University | $56,285 | $49,254 | $8,709 | 54% |
| 2 | Campbellsville University | $55,942 | $27,360 | $19,341 | 42% |
| 3 | University of Louisville | $54,437 | $25,209 | $17,988 | 61% |
| 4 | University of Kentucky | $51,313 | $26,875 | $18,851 | 71% |
| 5 | Western Kentucky University | $48,771 | $26,000 | $10,990 | 56% |
| 6 | Eastern Kentucky University | $46,705 | $30,750 | $11,040 | 50% |
| 7 | Morehead State University | $45,201 | $32,002 | $9,793 | 52% |
| 8 | Northern Kentucky University | $44,914 | $28,906 | $8,191 | 52% |
| 9 | University of Pikeville | $41,979 | — | $20,311 | 42% |
| 10 | Murray State University | $41,165 | $28,000 | $9,096 | 61% |
4 more Kentucky 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 NKU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NKU
- Acceptance rate: 68% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 52% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $50,220
- Full cost breakdown · all 63 majors · overview
Related majors at NKU
- Psychology$47,280
- Sociology—
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions—
NKU Social Work questions
How much do NKU Social Work graduates earn?
Social Work graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median $44,914 four years after graduating and $37,037 one year after. The U.S. median for Social Work graduates across 419 colleges is $51,748.
How much debt do NKU Social Work graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Social Work graduates of Northern Kentucky University is $28,906, about 64% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,579.
Is NKU a good school for Social Work in Kentucky?
On pay, Social Work graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn $44,914 four years out, $2,824 below the median for the same major across 10 Kentucky colleges ($47,738) and $6,834 below the U.S. median ($51,748). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NKU rank for Social Work in Kentucky?
Of 10 Kentucky colleges reporting Social Work graduate earnings, Northern Kentucky University ranks 8th. The highest is Brescia University at $56,285.
What jobs do Social Work graduates get?
A common career is social worker, with a median wage of $55,080 in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 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: “Northern Kentucky University Social Work: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northern-kentucky-university/majors/social-work (College Scorecard and BLS data).