Best Social Work Degrees in New York by ROI
Colleges in New York 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 New York
18
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$134,001
Across New York programs
Average Annual Cost
$46,018
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
CUNY Hunter College
Grad rate: 58.7% |
+$304,060 | $58,534 | $13,310 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
CUNY Lehman College
Grad rate: 51.2% |
+$291,468 | $57,919 | $13,456 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
College of Staten Island CUNY
Grad rate: 33.7% |
+$275,412 | $57,179 | $14,084 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Stony Brook University
Grad rate: 77.8% |
+$187,412 | $54,288 | $29,174 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Columbia University in the City of New York
Grad rate: 95.1% |
+$162,576 | $58,733 | $86,042 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Touro University
Grad rate: 66.4% |
+$157,752 | $53,670 | $37,824 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
University at Albany
Grad rate: 64.7% |
+$140,700 | $51,884 | $28,490 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Nazareth University
Grad rate: 71.0% |
+$132,140 | $54,221 | $56,140 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Fordham University
Grad rate: 81.8% |
+$122,778 | $55,874 | $77,351 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Adelphi University
Grad rate: 68.2% |
+$116,892 | $53,589 | $57,444 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
New York University
Grad rate: 87.8% |
+$113,178 | $55,571 | $79,121 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
SUNY Brockport
Grad rate: 59.7% |
+$105,990 | $49,863 | $25,635 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Yeshiva University
Grad rate: 84.1% |
+$91,786 | $53,501 | $69,117 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Binghamton University
Grad rate: 83.2% |
+$79,746 | $48,953 | $29,657 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Syracuse University
Grad rate: 82.4% |
+$60,608 | $53,070 | $80,396 | N/A | 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.