What can you do with a Social Work degree from California State University-Sacramento?

First, some facts. Of the Social Work graduates from California State University-Sacramento we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 22 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 86%, Social Work graduates from California State University-Sacramento have a much higher likelihood (+19%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 86%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 40% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Social Work graduate.

See the details:

View a random Social Work graduate from California State University-Sacramento and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2012 from California State University-Sacramento with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Clinical Social Worker, MSW I
Gender Health Center
Sep 2012 - May 2013
As a Clinical Social Worker at the Gender Health Center, this job directly utilizes the skills and knowledge acquired in a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, requiring specific social work expertise on a daily basis.

Clinical Social Worker, MSW II
California State University, Sacramento
Sep 2013 - May 2014
The role of Clinical Social Worker, MSW II at California State University, Sacramento requires comprehensive social work knowledge and skills directly obtained through the Bachelor's program, making it highly relevant.

Adjunct Professor-Internship
Los Rios Community College District
Apr 2014 - Apr 2015
As an Adjunct Professor-Internship at Los Rios Community College District, the position leverages educational and practical knowledge from social work, thus being directly connected to the Bachelor's degree.

Child Protective Services Dependency
Sacramento County
Mar 2015 - Aug 2015
The position at Child Protective Services Dependency involves core social work functions that rely heavily on the principles learned during the Bachelor's program, making it entirely relevant.

Medical Social Worker, MSW
River City Medical Group
Aug 2015 - Dec 2019
As a Medical Social Worker at River City Medical Group, the job applies social work practices and knowledge acquired during the Bachelor's degree, indicating strong relevance.

Medical Social Worker
Blossom Ridge Home Health and Hospice
Nov 2019 - Nov 2021
The Medical Social Worker role at Blossom Ridge Home Health and Hospice directly utilizes social work skills and knowledge, confirming its relevance to the Bachelor's degree in Social Work.

Social Work-Adjunct Faculty Lecturer
California State University-Sacramento
Aug 2019 - Dec 2022
As a Social Work-Adjunct Faculty Lecturer at California State University-Sacramento, this position is fundamentally linked to the knowledge and expertise gained through the Bachelor's in Social Work.

Case Manager
Home & Health Care Management
May 2022 - Jan 2024
The Case Manager position at Home & Health Care Management effectively employs social work principles and practices, making it directly relevant to the individual's degree in Social Work.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Social Work (MSW)
California State University-Sacramento
2010 - 2014
ABOUT

Social worker with 10+ years experience utilizing consumer center approach to empower and assists the individual in their personal and environmental goals. Service focused social worker and leader with skills in program development, implementation, training and supervision of direct-service staff in non profit and private sector.

What jobs can you get with a Social Work degree from California State University-Sacramento?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


Looking through the job experiences of graduates from California State University-Sacramento who earned their degree in Social Work, a common trend emerges: many took on roles directly aligned with social work principles and practices. Positions such as Clinical Social Workers, Case Managers, and various roles within human services and medical settings really stand out as highly relevant. These jobs require a solid understanding of social work concepts and involve direct support for clients—something that’s at the heart of social work training. The graduates using their skills in mental health counseling, child welfare, and community services clearly demonstrate how their education is playing a vital role in their careers.

However, not every graduate ended up in a position that directly relates to social work. Some veered off into roles like Customer Service Representative or Administrative Clerk, which don’t really make use of the specific training they received. While some might argue that soft skills like communication and empathy are beneficial in any job, those roles generally focus more on administrative tasks than on applying social work knowledge. Overall, while many alumni have successfully transitioned into roles that utilize their social work education, there are also instances where they’ve taken on jobs that don’t fully embrace the principles of social work. This mix shows how diverse career paths can be, even for those with a specific degree background.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Social Work graduates (this is across all Social Work graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California State University-Sacramento):

What kind of career trajectories do Social Work graduates from California State University-Sacramento have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

When you look at the career paths of graduates from California State University-Sacramento with a degree in Social Work, it’s pretty clear that many of them land jobs related to the field soon after graduation. For those who graduated around 2010 to 2013, their first jobs often seem to be stepping stones in social work or related roles, like working as clinical social workers, case managers, or even in positions like transit operator, which although not directly related, still indicates a desire to help people in community settings. Over time, you see a lot of these grads moving up the ranks within social services, taking on more significant roles such as program analysts or even faculty positions in academia, which shows real career growth and commitment to the field.

Fast forward five to ten years, and many graduates are solidly in social work or have expanded into necessary support roles like case management or counseling. While it's not perfect—like a few graduates who ended up in customer service or unrelated roles for a stretch—most seem to have found their way and are contributing to social work in meaningful ways. Overall, it looks like California State University-Sacramento does a good job prepping students for real-world social work careers, and many graduates are not only sticking with it but also advancing in their careers in the field. If you're considering a social work degree there, it seems like a promising path!

How hard is a Social Work degree from California State University-Sacramento?

So, here’s the deal with getting a Bachelor’s in Social Work at California State University-Sacramento: it’s definitely challenging, but it's also really rewarding. The coursework covers a lot of ground—like psychology, sociology, and social justice issues—so you gotta be ready to dive into some heavy topics and do a good amount of reading and writing. While it might feel a bit more intense than some other majors because of the hands-on assignments and practicums, it’s not impossible. If you’re passionate about helping others and are willing to put in the effort, you can definitely manage it! Plus, most people find that studying Social Work is pretty fulfilling, even if it does push you a bit outside your comfort zone.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Social Work.

Do Social Work graduates from California State University-Sacramento tend to make good money?

Alright, so when looking at the job history of these Social Work grads from California State University-Sacramento, it seems like their earnings might not be anything to write home about, but there's some potential for decent salaries as they gain experience. The earlier jobs tend to be in entry-level positions or internships, which often come with low pay, especially in the non-profit or public sectors where many social workers start out. However, as they move into roles like Staff Services Manager or Medical Social Worker, there’s a noticeable step up in responsibility, which usually brings better pay. Ultimately, it looks like they may start on the lower side of the pay scale, but with the right positions and experience, there's a good chance they can make a decent living over time!

What buzzwords do Social Work graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Social Work (this is across all Social Work graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California State University-Sacramento). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Social Work?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Social Work (ordered by the average relevance score of their Social Work graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Temple University 95 13
University of North Texas 93 12
Eastern Michigan University 93 21
Wayne State University 92 18
Northeastern Illinois University 92 22
City University of New York-Herbert H. Lehman College 91 11
Bridgewater State University 90 13
Liberty University 89 10
Ferris State University 89 12
University of Maryland Baltimore County 89 15
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania 89 10
Virginia Commonwealth University 88 18
University of Arkansas 88 10
Illinois State University 87 11
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 87 12
The University of Memphis 87 10
North Carolina Central University 87 13
Aurora University 87 19
Florida State University 86 22
Colorado State University 86 14
California State University-Sacramento 86 22
University of Houston-Downtown 86 10
Saginaw Valley State University 86 12
State University of New York College at Brockport 85 11
Texas State University 83 18
James Madison University 83 11
Florida Atlantic University 83 19
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 83 10
University of North Carolina at Wilmington 83 10
Western Illinois University 82 10
Millersville University of Pennsylvania 82 12
Winona State University 82 15
Indiana University Bloomington 81 11
Western Michigan University 80 13
Oakland University 80 15
Florida International University 79 11
North Carolina State University 79 13
University of Cincinnati 79 11
East Carolina University 79 13
Morgan State University 79 10
The Ohio State University 78 16
Grand Valley State University 78 14
Metropolitan State University of Denver 78 11
University of West Florida 78 10
Georgia State University 77 10
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 77 16
University of Washington 76 10
The University of Texas at Arlington 75 29
Southern Connecticut State University 75 13
University of South Florida 74 14
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 74 14
Minnesota State University, Mankato 74 10
Saint Leo University 73 10
Cleveland State University 72 15
University of Central Florida 70 14
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 70 10
Texas A&M University-Commerce 69 11
Michigan State University 67 10
Arizona State University 64 26
Appalachian State University 64 10