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

First, some facts. Of the Social Work graduates from Michigan 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 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? On par with the average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 67%, Social Work graduates from Michigan State University have about the same likelihood of finding work in this field as the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 67%
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, 70% 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 Michigan State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 46%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2010 from Michigan State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Law Clerk
The Sam Bernstein Law Firm
Jan 2013 - May 2013
The role of a Law Clerk at The Sam Bernstein Law Firm does not specifically require social work knowledge or skills, as it primarily involves legal tasks that are unrelated to social work principles.

Law Clerk
Haas & Goldstein, PC
Sep 2013 - Mar 2014
Similar to Job #0, being a Law Clerk at Haas & Goldstein, PC does not necessitate social work expertise, as the job focuses on legal research and documentation rather than social welfare practices.

Attorney
Joseph Kallabat & Associates, PC
Apr 2014 - Present
The job as an Attorney at Joseph Kallabat & Associates, PC may involve elements of social justice and client advocacy that align with social work principles, but it is fundamentally centered on legal practice, which makes the relevance to social work only partial.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
2010 - 2013
ABOUT

No information provided.

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

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


When looking at the career paths of graduates from Michigan State University with a degree in Social Work, there’s a mix of roles that vary widely in how relevant they are to the field. Many individuals have taken on roles like Law Clerk or Engineer, which don’t really use social work skills at all. These jobs mostly focus on legal tasks or technical skills, showing that not everyone sticks to a traditional social work route. Interestingly, roles in educational settings, like School Social Worker or after-school program staff, often do align closely with social work principles, focusing on supporting students academically and emotionally.

On the other hand, there are graduates who have really embraced their social work training in positions like Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Social Services Assistant. These jobs require the specific skills and knowledge gained from their degree and are directly involved in helping people navigate challenges in their lives. While it’s great to see some graduates thriving in relevant fields, a significant number have ended up in roles where social work knowledge isn’t utilized as much or at all. This suggests that while the degree is valuable, the career trajectory for social work graduates can be quite varied and not always tied closely to traditional social work roles.

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 Michigan State University):

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

Graduates from the Social Work program at Michigan State University seem to have a strong foundation for pursuing careers relevant to their degree. Right after graduation, many have started out in more traditional social work roles, such as internships and assistant positions, which typically help them gain necessary experience and skills. For instance, graduates from around 2012 began their careers as interns in geriatric social work and have since moved on to licensed positions and program coordinator roles. Others found their footing in academic environments, working as coordinators or staff at universities, which allows them to integrate social work practices into educational settings.

As the years go by, it's clear that many graduates continue to move up the professional ladder within the field of social work. After about five years, graduates are often found in clinical roles or licensed positions, showcasing significant career advancements. For example, one graduate went from being an intern to a licensed clinical social worker and then to a senior program coordinator. By the ten-year mark, some have landed directorial positions or have engaged in specialized areas like mental health or geriatric social work. Overall, while there are some who have drifted into unrelated fields or have taken longer to find their niche, a considerable number are clearly advancing well within careers that align with their degrees, showing that the program at Michigan State effectively prepares students for meaningful careers in social work.

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

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Michigan State University, or really any university, can be a pretty challenging but rewarding experience. You’ll dive deep into topics like human behavior, social policies, and community engagement, which requires a lot of reading and critical thinking. There are also practical components, like internships, that add to the workload but give you real-world experience. Overall, it might be a bit tougher than some other degrees, especially with the emotional and social aspects involved, but if you’re passionate about helping others, you might find it more fulfilling than anything else!

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 Michigan State University tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these Michigan State University social work grads, it seems like they have had some pretty decent career progressions, with a mix of roles that can offer reasonable salaries. For instance, the attorneys, clinical social workers, and psychologists likely earn solid incomes, especially as they gain experience. On the flip side, not everyone is on that high-earning trajectory—like those working as servers or classroom aides, which typically don’t pay as well. Overall, while some are probably making good money, others might be in the "still trying to pay off student loans" category. So, it's a mixed bag, but it seems like a few are definitely doing well financially!

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 Michigan 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