Social Work: University of North Dakota vs University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND
In-State
12.2x
$43,804 tuition
15.8x
$34,424 tuition
Out-of-State
8.5x
$62,280 tuition
8.0x
$67,548 tuition
$532,280 10-yr earnings · Public
$543,120 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

University of North Dakota University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.2x 15.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.5x 8.0x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $43,804 $34,424
Year 1 Earnings $49,695 $45,870
10-Year Earnings $532K $543K
Median Debt $22,250 $22,632
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 5.4 months 5.9 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 61/100 63/100
Acceptance Rate 77.1% 81.6%

Both programs have moderate AI automation risk (24% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Social Work graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Social Work graduates.

University of North Dakota University of Wisconsin-River Falls
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $43,804 $34,424
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $62,280 $67,548
10-Year Projected Earnings $532K $543K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.2x 15.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.5x 8.0x
5-Year Salary Growth +9% +20%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Social Work (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

University of North Dakota University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $532K $532K $507K $543K $543K $516K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 12.2x 12.2x 11.6x 15.8x 15.8x 15.0x
DegreeWorth Score 60 61 62 63 63 65

For the full AI analysis of Social Work career paths, see the University of North Dakota or University of Wisconsin-River Falls program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Social Work graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$9,380
University of Wisconsin-River Falls saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$3,825/yr
University of North Dakota grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
12.2x / 15.8x
Out-of-state: 8.5x / 8.0x

Career Paths

Social Work graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Social and community service managers $78,240 18,600 +6.4% 39%
Social work teachers, postsecondary $76,210 1,300 +2.3% 42%
Social workers, all other $69,480 7,000 +3.9% 0%
Healthcare social workers $68,090 18,400 +7.7% 34%
Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists $64,520 7,900 +2.6% 39%
Marriage and family therapists $63,780 7,700 +12.6% 11%
Mental health and substance abuse social workers $60,060 13,500 +9.7% 27%
Child, family, and school social workers $58,570 35,100 +3.4% 24%
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Social Work: University of North Dakota or University of Wisconsin-River Falls?
University of North Dakota scores 61/100 while University of Wisconsin-River Falls scores 63/100. University of Wisconsin-River Falls has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Social Work?
University of North Dakota has an in-state earnings multiple of 12.2x vs University of Wisconsin-River Falls's 15.8x. That means University of Wisconsin-River Falls grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do University of North Dakota and University of Wisconsin-River Falls compare on Social Work earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $49,695 at University of North Dakota vs $45,870 at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $532,280 vs $543,120 — a difference of $10,840.
How much does Social Work cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $43,804 at University of North Dakota and $34,424 at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Median debt at graduation is $22,250 vs $22,632. Both programs lead to the same Social Work career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.