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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Social Work bachelor's degree at University of Southern Mississippi

Hattiesburg, MS · Public

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are below similar programs.

$9,400 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
72.4% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−110% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$42,390 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+47%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$28,262 → $41,536
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
37Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
45Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
69Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

309Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
63Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
207Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
192Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
4.6%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers
49Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$30,408Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$42,390$11,982 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 22 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$21,708

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$30,700

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$42,390

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$325/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$21,708Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$26,566Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE99.1%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE49.1%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$28,262Year 1
$42,390Year 4
$41,536Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

9.2% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$3,533
Estimated loan payment$325
69borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$42,390 vs. $51,790

$9,400 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Social and Community Service Managers$67,330 median wageMS estimate · 1,120 jobs · 11-9151$51,810–$89,690 middle 50% of MS wages+7.2% projected U.S. growth · 18,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeChild, Family, and School Social Workers$46,530 median wageMS estimate · 3,310 jobs · 21-1021$40,190–$53,730 middle 50% of MS wages+4.4% projected U.S. growth · 33,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Workers, All Other$91,560 median wageMS estimate · 280 jobs · 21-1029$47,340–$100,980 middle 50% of MS wages+2.3% projected U.S. growth · 5,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSocial Work Teachers, Postsecondary$63,680 median wageMS estimate · 200 jobs · 25-1113$59,180–$77,440 middle 50% of MS wages+2.6% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeHealthcare Social Workers$62,250 median wageMS estimate · 1,890 jobs · 21-1022$49,490–$67,530 middle 50% of MS wages+8.5% projected U.S. growth · 16,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$48,970 median wageMS estimate · 920 jobs · 21-1023$33,700–$62,520 middle 50% of MS wages+10.3% projected U.S. growth · 12,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeCounselors, All Other$54,090 median wageMS estimate · 40 jobs · 21-1019$44,850–$56,550 middle 50% of MS wages+5.9% projected U.S. growth · 4,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMarriage and Family Therapists$51,440 median wageMS estimate · 140 jobs · 21-1013$49,900–$54,320 middle 50% of MS wages+13.5% projected U.S. growth · 6,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeProbation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$34,110 median wageMS estimate · 150 jobs · 21-1092$31,010–$44,180 middle 50% of MS wages+3.0% projected U.S. growth · 7,900 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Cleveland, MS

Delta State University

$4,806 higher earnings · $5,700 less debt · $8,168 lower annual net price

Earnings
$47,196
Debt
$25,000
Annual net price
$13,540
View outcomes →
University, MS

University of Mississippi

$1,181 higher earnings · $8,714 less debt · $8,394 lower annual net price

Earnings
$43,571
Debt
$21,986
Annual net price
$13,314
View outcomes →
Clinton, MS

Mississippi Christian University

$9,215 higher earnings · $1,700 less debt

Earnings
$51,605
Debt
$29,000
Annual net price
$27,712
View outcomes →
Alcorn State, MS

Alcorn State University

$3,767 higher earnings · $8,443 lower annual net price

Earnings
$46,157
Debt
$31,900
Annual net price
$13,265
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

45 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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