Social Work Degree in Lawrence, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Social Work degree analysis for Lawrence, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$59K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.7 yrs
in Lawrence
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Social Work in Lawrence, KS Overview
While Lawrence has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Social Work students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,971/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Social Work has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Case Management and Counseling skills. The adjusted starting salary in Lawrence is approximately $54,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$5,898/yr
Private Tuition
$33,400/yr
Room & Board
$12,971/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,187/yr
Unemployment
6.5%
Graduation Rate
53%
Social Work Salary in Lawrence (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lawrence's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Social Work salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Lawrence adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Social Work ROI Calculator for Lawrence
Estimate your return on investment for a Social Work degree using local Lawrence tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $5,898 | Private avg: $33,400
Lawrence avg aid: $12,187/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$75,476
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,200
vs HS diploma in Lawrence
ROI Payback Period
4.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lawrence
$226,924
Lifetime earnings premium ($302,400) minus total education cost ($75,476)
Student Loan Payoff for Social Work in Lawrence
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lawrence for Social Work
University of Kansas
public
$11,166/yr
$44,664 total
Haskell Indian Nations University
public
$630/yr
$2,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Johnson County Community College
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Social Work in Lawrence
Lawrence offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Social Work graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lawrence Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Social Work Job Titles
Social Work in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$52K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Overland Park, KS
$52K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$41K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Olathe, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$42K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$43K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$48K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Lawrence
International Relations
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$54K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$54K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$48K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Social Work Degree in Lawrence — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Social Work ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lawrence.