U.S. median for this major: $51,748.
College Scorecard field of study; 109 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 52% 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 $19,992. College Scorecard.
Western Carolina 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 Western Carolina 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 | $8,816 | $38,261 | 2.3 years |
| $30–48k | $10,012 | $43,452 | 2.6 years |
| $48–75k | $12,605 | $54,706 | 3.3 years |
| $75–110k | $17,060 | $74,040 | 4.5 years |
| $110k+ | $17,992 | $78,085 | 4.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (41% 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 ($50,025) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,509 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 North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina 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 | East Carolina University | $54,666 | $26,000 | $15,739 | 63% |
| 2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $53,209 | $20,791 | $17,303 | 85% |
| 3 | Winston-Salem State University | $53,028 | $28,537 | $13,479 | 47% |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | $52,344 | $27,000 | $10,260 | 44% |
| 5 | Mars Hill University | $51,053 | $29,133 | $19,910 | 45% |
| 6 | Appalachian State University | $51,012 | $22,184 | $16,836 | 75% |
| 7 | Western Carolina University | $50,025 | $25,857 | $13,315 | 60% |
| 8 | North Carolina Central University | $49,856 | $31,000 | $15,359 | 42% |
| 9 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | $47,587 | $22,361 | $20,109 | 71% |
| 10 | North Carolina A & T State University | $47,072 | $30,000 | $10,846 | 57% |
| 11 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $47,050 | $24,750 | $15,435 | 69% |
| 12 | Shaw University | $46,981 | $38,000 | $16,512 | 22% |
| 13 | Livingstone College | $46,945 | — | $13,479 | 28% |
| 14 | Fayetteville State University | $46,119 | $32,500 | $7,892 | 38% |
| 15 | Elizabeth City State University | $45,224 | $25,467 | $6,364 | 44% |
| 16 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | $44,592 | $26,000 | $10,965 | 56% |
| 17 | Campbell University | $43,675 | $26,000 | $24,516 | 61% |
7 more North Carolina 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 Western Carolina University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Carolina University
- Acceptance rate: 82% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 60% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,458
- Full cost breakdown · all 55 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Carolina University
- Psychology$48,350
- Sociology$46,195
- Public Administration$70,331
Western Carolina University Social Work questions
How much do Western Carolina University Social Work graduates earn?
Social Work graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median $50,025 four years after graduating and $36,727 one year after. The U.S. median for Social Work graduates across 419 colleges is $51,748.
How much debt do Western Carolina University Social Work graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Social Work graduates of Western Carolina University is $25,857, about 52% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,579.
Is Western Carolina University a good school for Social Work in North Carolina?
On pay, Social Work graduates of Western Carolina University earn $50,025 four years out, $2,438 above the median for the same major across 17 North Carolina colleges ($47,587) and $1,723 below the U.S. median ($51,748). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Carolina University rank for Social Work in North Carolina?
Of 17 North Carolina colleges reporting Social Work graduate earnings, Western Carolina University ranks 7th. The highest is East Carolina University at $54,666.
What jobs do Social Work graduates get?
A common career is social worker, with a median wage of $59,610 in North Carolina 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: “Western Carolina University Social Work: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-carolina-university/majors/social-work (College Scorecard and BLS data).