U.S. median for this major: $51,748.
College Scorecard field of study; 141 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 45% 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 $17,454. College Scorecard.
RIC Social Work: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Rhode Island 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 RIC'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 | $6,378 | $29,594 | 2.2 years |
| $30–48k | $6,989 | $32,429 | 2.4 years |
| $48–75k | $8,701 | $40,373 | 3.0 years |
| $75–110k | $12,809 | $59,434 | 4.4 years |
| $110k+ | $15,681 | $72,760 | 5.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.6 years, the average time graduates took (23% 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 ($53,312) minus $39,880 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in RI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $13,432 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 Rhode Island colleges
Every Rhode Island 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 | Providence College | $70,356 | — | $48,523 | 86% |
| 2 | Rhode Island College | $53,312 | $24,100 | $9,478 | 48% |
1 more Rhode Island college offers Social Work but has 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 RIC, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About RIC
- Acceptance rate: 92% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 48% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $56,318
- Full cost breakdown · all 69 majors · overview
Related majors at RIC
- Psychology$52,758
- Sociology$59,643
- Public Administration—
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions$51,379
RIC Social Work questions
How much do RIC Social Work graduates earn?
Social Work graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median $53,312 four years after graduating and $33,561 one year after. The U.S. median for Social Work graduates across 419 colleges is $51,748.
How much debt do RIC Social Work graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Social Work graduates of Rhode Island College is $24,100, about 45% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,579.
Where does RIC rank for Social Work in Rhode Island?
Of 2 Rhode Island colleges reporting Social Work graduate earnings, Rhode Island College ranks 2nd. The highest is Providence College at $70,356.
What jobs do Social Work graduates get?
A common career is social worker, with a median wage of $70,900 in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA 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: “Rhode Island College Social Work: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/rhode-island-college/majors/social-work (College Scorecard and BLS data).