Social Work Degree in St. Paul, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Social Work degree analysis for St. Paul, MN. 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
5.9 yrs
in St. Paul
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Social Work in St. Paul, MN Overview
St. Paul, Minnesota (pop. 308,096) has 20 colleges offering Social Work programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $843/month. Social Work has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Case Management and Counseling skills. The adjusted starting salary in St. Paul is approximately $54,000.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$10,448/yr
Private Tuition
$52,990/yr
Room & Board
$13,408/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,005/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
70%
Social Work Salary in St. Paul (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for St. Paul'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.St. Paul adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Social Work ROI Calculator for St. Paul
Estimate your return on investment for a Social Work degree using local St. Paul tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,448 | Private avg: $52,990
St. Paul avg aid: $15,005/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,424
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,200
vs HS diploma in St. Paul
ROI Payback Period
5.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in St. Paul
$206,976
Lifetime earnings premium ($302,400) minus total education cost ($95,424)
Student Loan Payoff for Social Work in St. Paul
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in St. Paul for Social Work
Hamline University
private
$45,776/yr
$183,104 total
Macalester College
private
$60,204/yr
$240,816 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Saint Paul College
$5,772/yr
Top Employers for Social Work in St. Paul
St. Paul offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Social Work graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key St. Paul Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Social Work Job Titles
Social Work in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$49K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
Saint Paul, MN
$51K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
Rochester, MN
$53K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$50K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$50K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$49K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$54K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$54K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in St. Paul
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 St. Paul — 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 St. Paul.