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

First, some facts. Of the Social Work graduates from Saginaw Valley 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 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 86%, Social Work graduates from Saginaw Valley 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, 41% 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 Saginaw Valley State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 97%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2010 from Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Residential Therapist & Permanency Planning Specialist
Whaley Children's Center
May 2011 - Jul 2012
The position as a Residential Therapist & Permanency Planning Specialist directly applies social work principles and practices, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor's degree in Social Work.

Children's Support Service Specialist
Covenant Hospice
Sep 2012 - Jan 2013
As a Children's Support Service Specialist at Covenant Hospice, the role fundamentally involves social work practices and addressing the needs of children, which is highly pertinent to the degree.

Residential Therapist
Methodist Children's Home Society
Feb 2012 - Aug 2015
The role of Residential Therapist at Methodist Children's Home Society is centered around applying social work techniques to assist individuals, making it directly relevant to the degree in Social Work.

Clinical Specialist
Neurocore
Aug 2015 - Apr 2016
While working as a Clinical Specialist at Neurocore may involve aspects of mental health, it doesn't fundamentally require a Social Work background, thus making it somewhat related but not directly relevant.

Psychiatric Social Worker
Pontiac General Hospital Mental Health
Apr 2016 - Feb 2019
The position of Psychiatric Social Worker at Pontiac General Hospital utilizes the core skills and knowledge from a Social Work degree specifically in a mental health context, making it highly relevant.

Social Worker
AdventHealth
Apr 2019 - Apr 2021
The role of Social Worker at AdventHealth is centered around applying social work principles and assisting clients in a healthcare setting, directly linking to the Bachelor's degree expertise.

Therapist
Harbor Oaks Hospital
May 2021 - Present
As a Therapist at Harbor Oaks Hospital, the job requires the application of social work knowledge and skills in a therapeutic setting, reinforcing its relevance to the degree in Social Work.

ABOUT

No information provided.

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

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


After looking at the jobs that people with a Social Work degree from Saginaw Valley State University have done, it seems like many alumni have landed roles that are directly related to social work. The most common jobs include positions like therapists, social workers, and case managers, all of which make heavy use of the skills and knowledge acquired during their studies. For instance, roles such as Residential Therapist, Psychiatric Social Worker, and Clinical Supervisor not only apply social work principles but are also vital in providing support and care to various populations, from children to the elderly. These positions showcase a clear alignment with social work principles, emphasizing empathy, advocacy, and community support.

However, there are some outliers. A few graduates ventured into jobs like real estate where the skills from a Social Work degree aren't directly relevant. While some positions like Credit Counselor may touch on human relationships or community interactions, they often don't require the specific theoretical knowledge gained in social work programs. Overall, while there is a good number of alumni working in positions that are closely tied to social work, a few have pursued careers that shift away from the core principles of the field.

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 Saginaw Valley State University):

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

Looking at the career paths of Saginaw Valley State University graduates with a degree in Social Work, it seems like they often kick off their careers in some pretty relevant roles right after graduation. Many of them start off as therapists, social workers, or support specialists in various organizations where they get to work directly with individuals in need. For instance, graduates from 2010 to 2018 frequently held positions such as Residential Therapists, Clinical Specialists, or Mental Health Professionals. This shows a strong initial alignment with their field of study, suggesting that they are finding jobs that utilize their social work training right from the start.

Fast forward five or ten years, and we can see some interesting trends. Many of the graduates have moved up the ladder into higher positions such as Clinical Managers or Regional Directors, indicating that they are making progress in their careers. However, there are also some who have ventured into unrelated fields, like real estate, which might suggest they found the social work path not fitting for them after a while. Overall, while there are some varied outcomes, many of these graduates appear to be successfully building careers that align with their social work backgrounds, leading to growth in their respective roles within the mental health and social services sector.

How hard is a Social Work degree from Saginaw Valley State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Saginaw Valley State University, or really anywhere, can be a mix of challenging and rewarding. It’s not necessarily the hardest degree out there, but it’s definitely not a walk in the park either. You’ll dive into subjects like human behavior, social policy, and research methods, and that can require a good amount of reading and writing. Plus, there are practical components like internships that can be pretty intense but also super valuable. Overall, it’s manageable if you stay organized and engaged, but it does demand some serious commitment and passion for the field!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 5 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Social Work.

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

Looking at the job histories of these Saginaw Valley State University Social Work grads, it's a mixed bag when it comes to how much they might be making. Many of them started off in entry-level positions typical for social work, like therapists or support specialists, which generally don't pay super high salaries, especially at the beginning of their careers. As time went on, some have moved into roles with more responsibility, like clinical supervisors and directors, suggesting they're definitely on the upward path and likely making better money now. However, others have stayed in their positions for a long time without a clear jump in pay, like the behavior coordinator or the job placement specialist, which might mean they're not raking it in as much as you’d hope. So, overall, while some are likely earning decent salaries now, others might still be on the lower end of the pay scale, which is pretty common in the social work field.

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 Saginaw Valley 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