What can you do with a Social Work degree from Northeastern Illinois University?

First, some facts. Of the Social Work graduates from Northeastern Illinois 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 22 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 92%, Social Work graduates from Northeastern Illinois University have a substantially higher likelihood (+25%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 92%
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, 72% 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 Northeastern Illinois University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 91%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2019 from Northeastern Illinois University with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Recovery support specialist
Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare
Feb 2019 - May 2020
The role of Recovery Support Specialist leverages skills and knowledge from social work, offering direct support to individuals in recovery, which is a core aspect of the degree.

Beacon recovery specialist cordinator
Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare
Oct 2019 - May 2020
As a Beacon Recovery Specialist Coordinator, this job requires advanced knowledge in social work principles and practices to coordinate recovery services, making it highly relevant.

Residential Manager
Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare
May 2020 - Dec 2020
The position of Residential Manager necessitates the application of social work skills to manage residential programs effectively, directly linking it to the individual's degree.

Case Manager
Thresholds
May 2021 - Oct 2022
As a Case Manager at Thresholds, the job requires using social work knowledge and skills to assess client needs and coordinate services, making it very relevant.

Care Coordination Team Leader
Trilogy
Oct 2022 - Feb 2023
The role of Care Coordination Team Leader involves applying social work techniques to lead a team in providing services, thus directly utilizing the knowledge from the individual's degree.

Linkage and Care Coordination TL
Trilogy
Feb 2023 - Apr 2024
Similar to the previous position, as a Linkage and Care Coordination Team Leader, this role requires the implementation of social work principles to assist clients, making it highly relevant.

Medical Social Worker
Hope Hospice
Jul 2023 - Present
The job as a Medical Social Worker involves some components of social work relevant to healthcare settings, but it may also rely more on healthcare-specific practices than the general social work knowledge gained in the degree.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master's degree
Northeastern Illinois University
2020 - 2021
ABOUT

I am passionate about providing a solution to problems that directly affect people's mental health and well-being. I will achieve this by working directly with vulnerable populations and advocating in front line of service. I am currently working towards my LCSW

What jobs can you get with a Social Work degree from Northeastern Illinois University?

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


From the analysis, it's pretty clear that a lot of folks who graduated with a degree in Social Work from Northeastern Illinois University have found themselves in roles that are pretty relevant to the field. The most common jobs include School Social Workers, Case Managers, and various roles within healthcare settings like Medical Social Workers and Social Services Coordinators. These jobs typically involve working directly with individuals and communities, applying social work principles and practices to support the social and emotional well-being of clients. It’s great to see a strong connection between their education and their job roles, with many positions allowing them to use the skills they learned in school to make a real impact.

On the flip side, some graduates have taken roles that aren't as directly tied to social work. We see positions like Project Analysts or Marketing Managers that, while they may utilize some soft skills associated with social work, do not primarily rely on the knowledge gained from a social work degree. Overall, though, many of these jobs reflect a clear relevance to social work, highlighting that graduates are largely utilizing their education in practical ways. This connection is essential for driving positive social change and serving diverse populations effectively, which is what social work is all about!

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 Northeastern Illinois University):

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

Graduates from the Social Work program at Northeastern Illinois University tend to have a pretty solid start in their careers after they leave college. Many of them jump into jobs directly related to social work or social services, such as case managers, school social workers, and various roles in health systems. For example, in the first few years after graduation, common positions include case managers at various organizations and social workers at hospitals and schools. It looks like these early roles help them gain the hands-on experience that's so crucial in the field. Some even land internships that lead to full-time positions shortly after graduating, which suggests that there's a strong pathway from education to employment in relevant areas.

Fast forward five to ten years down the line, and many of these professionals have progressed into more senior roles. For instance, you’ll find them advancing to managerial positions, such as social work managers or directors of social services. Others have taken on leadership roles in non-profits or community-based organizations. However, it's not all a straight path; some graduates do seem to drift into unrelated fields, like marketing or digital management, which can happen when engaging job opportunities arise. Overall, while there are definitely some diversions from traditional social work careers, the majority appear to be doing well and making strides in roles that reflect their training and commitment to social work. It's a solid mix of staying true to the field while also exploring different avenues of professional growth.

How hard is a Social Work degree from Northeastern Illinois University?

The Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University is pretty manageable, especially compared to some of the more intense majors out there. It has a solid mix of coursework that includes both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, which can be super engaging if you’re interested in helping others and understanding social issues. You’ll definitely have to put in the work with assignments, readings, and field placements, but if you stay organized and really connect with the content, it shouldn't be overwhelmingly difficult. Overall, I'd say it’s about average in terms of challenge, and as long as you’re passionate about the subject, it can be a rewarding journey!

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 Northeastern Illinois University tend to make good money?

Alright, so let’s break this down. A lot of the social work grads from Northeastern Illinois University have been bouncing around different roles in social services, which is pretty common in the field. While some positions, like school social workers or medical social workers, can pay decently (maybe in the $40,000 to $60,000 range or more with experience), a lot of early-career roles like case managers or internships might start off on the lower end, probably around $30,000 to $40,000. Plus, they're often juggling multiple roles early on, which can make it tricky to climb up the pay ladder quickly. Overall, it seems like they’re doing important work, but whether they’re making "decent money" really depends on their specific jobs and how far along they are in their careers. So, it’s kind of a mixed bag; some probably do alright, while others might be just getting by.

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 Northeastern Illinois 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