Social Work Degree in Louisville, KY — Salary & ROI 2026
Social Work degree analysis for Louisville, KY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$50K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Louisville
Cost of Living
90
index (100 = avg)
Social Work in Louisville, KY Overview
Louisville, Kentucky (pop. 633,045) has 17 colleges offering Social Work programs. The local cost of living index of 90 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,349/month. Social Work has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Case Management and Counseling skills. The adjusted starting salary in Louisville is approximately $45,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
17
Public Tuition
$12,324/yr
Private Tuition
$37,190/yr
Room & Board
$12,044/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,150/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
58%
Social Work Salary in Louisville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Louisville's cost of living index of 90 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Social Work salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Louisville adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Social Work ROI Calculator for Louisville
Estimate your return on investment for a Social Work degree using local Louisville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,324 | Private avg: $37,190
Louisville avg aid: $16,150/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,472
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,500
vs HS diploma in Louisville
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Louisville
$154,528
Lifetime earnings premium ($252,000) minus total education cost ($97,472)
Student Loan Payoff for Social Work in Louisville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Louisville for Social Work
University of Louisville
public
$12,324/yr
$49,296 total
Bellarmine University
private
$45,790/yr
$183,160 total
Spalding University
private
$28,590/yr
$114,360 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Jefferson Community and Technical College
$4,680/yr
Top Employers for Social Work in Louisville
Louisville offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Social Work graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Louisville Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Social Work Job Titles
Social Work in Nearby Kentucky Cities
Other Social Sciences Majors in Louisville
International Relations
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$45K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$45K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$45K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$40K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Social Work Degree in Louisville — 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 Louisville.