U.S. median for this major: $51,748.
College Scorecard field of study; 31 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 58% 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 $19,601. College Scorecard.
Shepherd University 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 Shepherd University'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 | $7,906 | $34,865 | 2.3 years |
| $30–48k | $7,753 | $34,191 | 2.2 years |
| $48–75k | $10,107 | $44,572 | 2.9 years |
| $75–110k | $14,000 | $61,740 | 4.0 years |
| $110k+ | $15,866 | $69,969 | 4.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (33% 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 ($48,122) minus $32,695 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in WV (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $15,427 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 West Virginia colleges
Every West Virginia 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 | West Virginia University | $50,130 | $25,000 | $15,634 | 65% |
| 2 | Shepherd University | $48,122 | $27,722 | $11,363 | 51% |
| 3 | West Liberty University | $46,799 | — | $15,366 | 60% |
| 4 | Concord University | $46,324 | $18,967 | $9,966 | 39% |
| 5 | Marshall University | $41,684 | $27,000 | $7,502 | 51% |
| 6 | West Virginia State University | $41,571 | $37,371 | $11,139 | 39% |
1 more West Virginia 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 Shepherd University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Shepherd University
- Acceptance rate: 97% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 51% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,358
- Full cost breakdown · all 33 majors · overview
Related majors at Shepherd University
- Psychology$41,344
- Sociology$63,412
Shepherd University Social Work questions
How much do Shepherd University Social Work graduates earn?
Social Work graduates of Shepherd University earn a median $48,122 four years after graduating and $32,965 one year after. The U.S. median for Social Work graduates across 419 colleges is $51,748.
How much debt do Shepherd University Social Work graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Social Work graduates of Shepherd University is $27,722, about 58% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,579.
Is Shepherd University a good school for Social Work in West Virginia?
On pay, Social Work graduates of Shepherd University earn $48,122 four years out, $1,560 above the median for the same major across 6 West Virginia colleges ($46,562) and $3,626 below the U.S. median ($51,748). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Shepherd University rank for Social Work in West Virginia?
Of 6 West Virginia colleges reporting Social Work graduate earnings, Shepherd University ranks 2nd. The highest is West Virginia University at $50,130.
What jobs do Social Work graduates get?
A common career is social worker, with a median wage of $75,550 in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 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: “Shepherd University Social Work: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/shepherd-university/majors/social-work (College Scorecard and BLS data).