U.S. median for this major: $51,748.
College Scorecard field of study; 34 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 41% 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 $31,713. College Scorecard.
University of Missouri-Columbia 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 University of Missouri-Columbia'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 | $13,841 | $59,516 | 2.9 years |
| $30–48k | $13,378 | $57,525 | 2.8 years |
| $48–75k | $13,722 | $59,005 | 2.8 years |
| $75–110k | $19,762 | $84,977 | 4.1 years |
| $110k+ | $26,304 | $113,107 | 5.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (56% 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 ($56,157) minus $35,438 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $20,719 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 Missouri colleges
Every Missouri 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 | Saint Louis University | $56,306 | $22,875 | $24,398 | 80% |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia | $56,157 | $23,119 | $20,268 | 75% |
| 3 | Lindenwood University | $53,359 | $27,000 | $19,638 | 49% |
| 4 | University of Missouri-St Louis | $52,337 | $31,000 | $15,071 | 57% |
| 5 | University of Central Missouri | $51,349 | $26,579 | $14,462 | 54% |
| 6 | Missouri Southern State University | $49,855 | $25,983 | $12,007 | 42% |
| 7 | Missouri State University-Springfield | $46,403 | $25,085 | $17,613 | 58% |
| 8 | Missouri Western State University | $46,187 | $27,679 | $13,251 | 39% |
| 9 | Southeast Missouri State University | $43,260 | $25,433 | $15,882 | 58% |
9 more Missouri 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 University of Missouri-Columbia, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Missouri-Columbia
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,403
- Full cost breakdown · all 87 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Missouri-Columbia
- Psychology$55,839
- Sociology$55,098
- Public Administration—
University of Missouri-Columbia Social Work questions
How much do University of Missouri-Columbia Social Work graduates earn?
Social Work graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia earn a median $56,157 four years after graduating and $38,236 one year after. The U.S. median for Social Work graduates across 419 colleges is $51,748.
How much debt do University of Missouri-Columbia Social Work graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Social Work graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia is $23,119, about 41% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,579.
Is University of Missouri-Columbia a good school for Social Work in Missouri?
On pay, Social Work graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia earn $56,157 four years out, $4,808 above the median for the same major across 9 Missouri colleges ($51,349) and $4,409 above the U.S. median ($51,748). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Missouri-Columbia rank for Social Work in Missouri?
Of 9 Missouri colleges reporting Social Work graduate earnings, University of Missouri-Columbia ranks 2nd. The highest is Saint Louis University at $56,306.
What jobs do Social Work graduates get?
A common career is social worker, with a median wage of $45,460 in the Columbia, MO 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: “University of Missouri-Columbia Social Work: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-missouri-columbia/majors/social-work (College Scorecard and BLS data).