Best Social Work Degrees in Pennsylvania by ROI
Colleges in Pennsylvania ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in Pennsylvania
16
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$221,492
Across Pennsylvania programs
Average Annual Cost
$41,410
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Elizabethtown College
Grad rate: 76.6% |
-$4,992 | $51,614 | $49,318 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Cabrini University
Grad rate: 50.5% |
-$30,056 | $50,450 | $49,764 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate: 70.7% |
-$111,016 | $41,961 | $27,559 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Widener University
Grad rate: 65.6% |
-$185,612 | $48,456 | $68,305 | $30,750 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Carlow University
Grad rate: 55.6% |
-$189,276 | $41,909 | $46,864 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate: 50.8% |
-$210,465 | $39,194 | $29,480 | $26,982 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate: 44.8% |
-$226,966 | $37,348 | $24,369 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Temple University
Grad rate: 76.3% |
-$233,006 | $40,132 | $39,799 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate: 55.3% |
-$241,226 | $37,511 | $28,876 | $26,624 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Cedar Crest College
Grad rate: 60.2% |
-$248,920 | $40,802 | $56,240 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate: 55.7% |
-$286,438 | $34,981 | $27,086 | $27,937 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate: 66.2% |
-$305,214 | $33,518 | $24,781 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Eastern University
Grad rate: 57.6% |
-$315,262 | $38,718 | $53,293 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Grad rate: 84.0% |
-$315,728 | $35,040 | $36,707 | $22,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Cairn University-Langhorne
Grad rate: 60.7% |
-$315,762 | $37,129 | $45,473 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Social Work Degrees by State
Browse Social Work programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.