Social Work graduates from Capella University earn $66,541 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $91,930.
Social Work at Capella University
Minneapolis, Minnesota • Doctoral
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Social Work at Capella University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Capella University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Social Work at the doctoral credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 75 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Capella University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $66,541 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $97,488 across all institutions offering Social Work, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Capella University, the mean median-earnings figure is $81,850, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Social Work graduates at Capella University is $91,930, which translates to roughly $766 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.38 is above the 1.0 threshold, meaning cumulative debt exceeds first-year post-completion earnings. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Social Work at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| New York University | $130,490 | — |
| University of Southern California | $113,125 | $116,557 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | $105,646 | — |
| University of Pennsylvania | $101,907 | — |
| Walden University | $99,933 | $102,480 |
| Morgan State University | $91,744 | — |
| University of St Thomas | $84,830 | $65,830 |
| Smith College | $83,177 | — |
| Capella University (this school) | $66,541 | $91,930 |
Other Programs at Capella University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $175,839 | $82,138 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $159,344 | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $158,849 | $98,917 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $136,210 | $43,996 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $134,483 | $62,201 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $127,993 | — |
| Public Administration | $122,967 | $116,756 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $121,925 | $86,947 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $117,823 | $27,661 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $112,573 | $40,602 |
Other Schools with Social Work
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.