U.S. median for this major: $51,748.
College Scorecard field of study; 23 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 39% 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 $62,459. College Scorecard.
PLU 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 PLU'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 | $13,609 | $58,519 | 2.1 years |
| $30–48k | $12,948 | $55,676 | 2.0 years |
| $48–75k | $15,756 | $67,751 | 2.5 years |
| $75–110k | $22,535 | $96,901 | 3.6 years |
| $110k+ | $26,915 | $115,735 | 4.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (51% 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 ($67,458) minus $40,219 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $27,239 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 Washington colleges
Every Washington 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 | Pacific Lutheran University | $67,458 | $26,000 | $19,589 | 69% |
| 2 | Eastern Washington University | $60,696 | $17,109 | $13,886 | 43% |
| 3 | Walla Walla University | $60,449 | — | $23,329 | 60% |
| 4 | Saint Martin's University | $59,559 | — | $28,119 | 52% |
| 5 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $59,256 | $17,396 | $14,091 | 85% |
| 6 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | $59,256 | $17,396 | $10,163 | 63% |
| 7 | Heritage University | $58,634 | $14,007 | $14,598 | 54% |
| 8 | Seattle University | $57,349 | — | $34,662 | 76% |
2 more Washington 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 PLU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About PLU
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 69% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $66,990
- Full cost breakdown · all 40 majors · overview
Related majors at PLU
- Psychology$55,118
- Sociology$59,853
PLU Social Work questions
How much do PLU Social Work graduates earn?
Social Work graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn a median $67,458 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Social Work graduates across 419 colleges is $51,748.
How much debt do PLU Social Work graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Social Work graduates of Pacific Lutheran University is $26,000, about 39% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,579.
Is PLU a good school for Social Work in Washington?
On pay, Social Work graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn $67,458 four years out, $8,050 above the median for the same major across 8 Washington colleges ($59,408) and $15,710 above the U.S. median ($51,748). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does PLU rank for Social Work in Washington?
Of 8 Washington colleges reporting Social Work graduate earnings, Pacific Lutheran University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Social Work graduates get?
A common career is social worker, with a median wage of $75,280 in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 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: “Pacific Lutheran University Social Work: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/pacific-lutheran-university/majors/social-work (College Scorecard and BLS data).