Social Work graduates from Western New Mexico University earn $44,395 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $38,204.
Social Work at Western New Mexico University
Silver City, New Mexico • Graduate Certificate
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Social Work at Western New Mexico University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Western New Mexico University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Social Work at the graduate certificate 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 83 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Western New Mexico University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $44,395 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 $49,640 across all institutions offering Social Work, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at Western New Mexico University, the mean median-earnings figure is $51,219, 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 Western New Mexico University is $38,204, which translates to roughly $318 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Montclair State University | $82,838 | — |
| Madonna University | $49,884 | $20,500 |
| Tulane University of Louisiana | $46,673 | — |
| University of Missouri-Columbia | $44,875 | — |
| Western New Mexico University (this school) | $44,395 | $38,204 |
| University of Kentucky | $44,353 | — |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $42,309 | $41,000 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | $41,789 | — |
Other Programs at Western New Mexico University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $95,128 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $84,626 | $25,481 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $72,205 | — |
| Social Work | $63,313 | $39,487 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $60,521 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $56,641 | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $56,548 | $18,175 |
| Social Work | $49,567 | $29,330 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,184 | $13,750 |
| Social Work (current) | $44,395 | $38,204 |
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.