What can you do with a Social Work degree from Colorado State University?

First, some facts. Of the Social Work graduates from Colorado State University 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 14 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 86%, Social Work graduates from Colorado State University 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, 57% 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 Colorado State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2014 from Colorado State University with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Intern
Crossroads Safehouse
Jan 2014 - Jul 2014
The internship at Crossroads Safehouse directly aligns with a Bachelors degree in Social Work, applying skills and knowledge in a supportive and intervention-focused role that is core to social work principles.

Instructional Assistant
The Joshua School
Aug 2014 - Present
As an instructional assistant at The Joshua School, this position directly utilizes knowledge and experience gained from a Bachelors degree in Social Work, particularly in supporting educational and developmental needs in a socially meaningful context.

ABOUT

I am a graduate from Colorado State University with a bachelors degree in Social Work. I hope to continue my education to pursue a Masters in Social Work degree within a year but am looking for work and experience first.The knowledge and skills learned in my classes throughout my college career will help me become the competent and proactive social worker that I strive to be. Although my work experience is exceptional, I pride myself in my volunteer work. Since coming to college I have surrounded myself by the many volunteering opportunities available. During my freshman year at CSU, I was accepted into the Key Service program which not only helped students in academic achievement but also encouraged students such as myself to become involved in the community. Since then, I have found my true passion in volunteering and helping others. With traveling abroad I have discovered a passion in helping the people in different countries as well. My most recent international travel was Kenya, Africa in the Samburu district. This year I have began an internship at Crossroads Safehouse which is a domestic violence shelter for families who have experienced intimate partner violence. Crossroads offers a variety of programs and my responsibilities are within the youth program. I hope to find a job in social work specifically working with kids with disabilities. I am currently employed at Respite Care Inc and have been there for over a year. As wonderful as my time has been there, I would like to relocate to Denver and look for job opportunities there.

What jobs can you get with a Social Work degree from Colorado State University?

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


From looking at the LinkedIn profiles of graduates from Colorado State University with a degree in Social Work, it seems like a lot of them have landed jobs that either directly relate to social work or at least touch on some of its principles. Many of these graduates are working in roles like clinical assistants, child life specialists, social workers in schools, and therapists, where they use their social work skills daily to help individuals, families, and communities. These jobs typically involve supporting mental health, advocating for clients, and providing emotional care in various settings such as hospitals and schools.

However, not every job listed seems to make the most of their social work background. A number of graduates have taken roles more focused on administrative work or teaching, where social work principles might not be the main focus. Some have even stepped into roles like project management and restaurant management, which stray far from the core of social work. Overall, while many graduates do find relevant positions that make good use of their degrees, there's definitely a mix of roles that either closely resemble social work or only skimp on the social work knowledge. So, if you're thinking about majoring in Social Work, it's a good idea to look out for how you can align your career path with your interests, because the relevance of jobs can really vary from one graduate to the next!

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 Colorado State University):

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

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from Colorado State University who studied Social Work, it’s clear that many of them have landed in jobs closely related to their field right after graduating. For instance, we see a lot of first positions that are directly tied to social work or child care roles—like clinical assistants, social workers in hospitals, and various internships in different organizations. This suggests that after school, a significant number of grads are sticking to jobs that leverage their degree, typically in health, education, or social services.

Fast forward five or ten years, and the picture remains fairly strong for these graduates. While some individuals have shifted to roles that might feel a bit distant from traditional social work—like project managers or even office managers, which may not seem as directly relevant—the majority continue in social work-related positions, such as clinical supervisors, therapists, or case managers. This indicates that the degree has paved the way for a stable pathway in relevant careers for many, although there are some who have taken a more winding road. Overall, it seems like a CSUS social work degree holds up well in getting grads into meaningful roles where they can make an impact, though success can vary significantly from one individual to another.

How hard is a Social Work degree from Colorado State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Colorado State University—or really anywhere—can be a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s definitely not just a walk in the park; you’ll dive into some challenging subjects like psychology, ethics, and policy, plus there’s a lot of emphasis on hands-on experience through fieldwork, which can be pretty intense. On the other hand, it’s designed to be supportive and engaging, so if you’re passionate about helping people and motivated, it can feel more manageable. Overall, I’d say it’s harder than some degrees but not the toughest out there—just be ready to put in the effort and really connect with the material!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Social Work.

Do Social Work graduates from Colorado State University tend to make good money?

Alright, so when it comes to these Colorado State University grads in social work, it really seems like they're on a bit of a rollercoaster when it comes to money. Early in their careers, many took on internships and part-time roles, so they likely didn’t make much, if anything, during those periods—especially compared to those pursuing other majors. As time goes on, some have snagged decent full-time positions, particularly in clinical roles, which usually pay better, but others are still in entry-level or part-time jobs that probably aren’t breaking the bank. Overall, it looks like while a few are moving up the ladder into more lucrative gigs, a lot of them are just scraping by, especially in the earlier years. So, it’s a mixed bag—definitely rewarding in terms of helping people, but maybe not the best financially right off the bat!

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 Colorado State University). 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