Executive Summary
Graduates with a Social Work degree from Clark State College earn a median salary of $38,600 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in OH, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $42,841. The degree typically pays for itself in 32.2 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$29,382
Typical Career
$38,600
Top Performers
$47,745
Estimated break-even: 32.2 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$257
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,217. Most students can comfortably afford about a $257 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Ohio buys what costs $0.90 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, Public Administration.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$42,841
Nominal: $38,600 in Ohio (COL 90.1% of national avg) · 11% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $25,368 | $34,388 | $41,439 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $29,382 | $38,600 | $47,745 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $35,036 | $45,413 | $59,550 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $38,600 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in OH, which has a cost-of-living index of 90.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $38,600 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9010)
= $42,841 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary employment sectors for graduates are predominantly within Health Care & Social Assistance, with 65.5% entering this field shortly after graduation. This trend continues, as 46.7% and 37.0% of graduates remain in the same industry over the following years. Considering the estimated break-even point of approximately 32.2 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in Social Work at Clark State College may be viewed as moderate, particularly for those committed to a long-term career in this essential field.
Compare with Another School
See how the Social Work degree at Clark State College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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Other Degrees at Clark State College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.