Social Work Degree in Lawton, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Social Work degree analysis for Lawton, OK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$45K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Lawton
Cost of Living
82.5
index (100 = avg)
Social Work in Lawton, OK Overview
While Lawton has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Social Work students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,675/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 Lawton is approximately $41,250.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$8,400/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,675/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,482/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
74%
Social Work Salary in Lawton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lawton's cost of living index of 82.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Social Work salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Lawton adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Social Work ROI Calculator for Lawton
Estimate your return on investment for a Social Work degree using local Lawton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,400 | Private avg: $24,000
Lawton avg aid: $11,482/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,375
vs HS diploma in Lawton
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lawton
$146,700
Lifetime earnings premium ($231,000) minus total education cost ($84,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Social Work in Lawton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lawton for Social Work
Lawton State University
public
$9,205/yr
$36,820 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lawton Community College
$4,912/yr
Top Employers for Social Work in Lawton
Lawton offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Social Work graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lawton Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Social Work Job Titles
Social Work in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Oklahoma City, OK
$49K starting · COL 97
37 colleges
Tulsa, OK
$42K starting · COL 84
15 colleges
Norman, OK
$43K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$46K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$48K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$45K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$46K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$44K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Lawton
International Relations
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$40K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$41K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$41K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$41K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$36K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Social Work Degree in Lawton — 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 Lawton.