Social Work graduates from University of Southern California earn $113,125 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $116,557.
Social Work at University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California • Doctoral
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Social Work at University of Southern California
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for University of Southern California 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 122 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at University of Southern California, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $113,125 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 above the national average for this program. Across all programs at University of Southern California, the mean median-earnings figure is $96,402, 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 University of Southern California is $116,557, which translates to roughly $971 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.03 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 (this school) | $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 | $66,541 | $91,930 |
Other Programs at University of Southern California
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Law | $203,028 | $138,518 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $195,019 | — |
| Computer Science | $192,897 | $19,625 |
| Computer Science | $188,871 | $51,250 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $187,852 | $100,338 |
| Real Estate Development | $185,174 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $181,250 | $77,686 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $180,468 | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $179,146 | $283,763 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | $179,055 | $63,625 |
View all 150 programs at University of Southern California →
Other Schools with Social Work
Quick picks offering the same program — compare side by side
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.