What can you do with a Social Work degree from University of West Florida?

First, some facts. Of the Social Work graduates from University of West Florida 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? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 78%, Social Work graduates from University of West Florida have a much higher likelihood (+11%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 78%
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, 60% 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 University of West Florida and our analysis:


Relevance score: 48%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2016 from University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) in Social Work. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Intern
Mobile County DHR
May 2016 - Aug 2016
The internship at Mobile County DHR directly aligns with the skills and knowledge acquired in a Bachelor of Social Work, involving practical social work experience and application of principles in real-world settings.

Behavior Technician
The Pavilion
May 2017 - Nov 2017
As a Behavior Technician at The Pavilion, the role requires the application of social work knowledge for supporting individuals with behavioral challenges, making it highly relevant to the degree.

Quality Control Technician
MIDSOUTH PAVING INC
Jan 2018 - Jan 2019
The position of Quality Control Technician at MIDSOUTH PAVING INC does not involve social work practices or relevant knowledge, focusing instead on quality assurance processes unrelated to the field of social work.

Campus Security Officer
Escambia County Schools
Jul 2019 - Present
While the role of Campus Security Officer at Escambia County Schools may involve some skills in crisis management and safety, it does not substantially utilize social work knowledge, making it only somewhat relevant to the degree.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Social Work degree from University of West Florida?

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


After checking out a bunch of LinkedIn profiles from folks who studied Social Work at the University of West Florida, it seems like a lot of them have gone into positions that are pretty closely related to their degree. Many of the graduates have taken on roles like Child Protective Investigators, Social Workers, and Substance Abuse Counselors. These jobs typically require the skills and knowledge that come from a Social Work program, like understanding social systems, providing support, and having a solid grasp of human behavior. For example, being a Clinical Social Worker or a Medical Social Worker means they're diving deep into the core of what social work is all about, directly applying what they've learned to help people in various settings.

However, not every job on the list is a perfect fit for someone with a Social Work degree. Some graduates ended up in roles like Customer Success Specialists or Administrative Assistants, which don’t really utilize their social work training in any meaningful way. Sure, these jobs might have some elements of interpersonal interaction, but they lack the in-depth application of social work principles. So, while many graduates are definitely working in areas that align well with their education, a few have ventured into positions that stray pretty far from the heart of social work. Overall though, it looks like most have managed to keep it relevant to the field, which is great news for anyone looking into a career in social work!

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 University of West Florida):

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

Looking at the career paths of Social Work graduates from the University of West Florida, it's pretty clear that many of them have kicked off their careers in roles directly related to social services and community support. For those who graduated in the earlier years, like 2011 and 2015, their first jobs often included internships and starting positions with organizations like the Florida Department of Children and Families and local medical centers. These initial jobs really helped pave the way for more stable positions in social work, like clinical roles or management positions within social service agencies as they gained experience. You can see a good trend of those who started off with those internships transitioning into solid roles in the field, such as clinical social workers or program coordinators. It seems like they are genuinely utilizing their degrees in meaningful ways.

Fast forward five to ten years after graduating, many of these alumni have advanced into supervisory or specialized positions. For instance, graduates from 2016 have found themselves in supervisory roles or as clinical social workers, indicating a significant progression in responsibility and impact in their communities. Others even took more entrepreneurial routes, like starting their own service companies. However, it’s worth noting that not all graduates are directly in social work—some have explored adjacent fields or taken roles that don't fully align with their education, which can happen for various reasons, like job availability or personal interests. On the whole, though, it looks like a good number of these graduates are making notable contributions to the social work field—definitely something to think about if you’re considering this type of career!

How hard is a Social Work degree from University of West Florida?

Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, whether at the University of West Florida or elsewhere, can be a pretty challenging but also rewarding experience. The coursework usually covers a lot of ground, including psychology, sociology, and human behavior, so there’s definitely a fair amount of reading and writing involved. Some students find it easier than other degrees because of the hands-on nature of the work and the supportive environment often found in social work programs. However, it can get intense with fieldwork and internships, where you’ll really have to apply what you learn in real-life situations. So, in a nutshell, it’s not the easiest degree out there, but if you’re passionate about helping others, it can be an enriching experience that makes the hard work feel worthwhile.

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 University of West Florida tend to make good money?

Looking at these Social Work graduates from the University of West Florida, it seems like they’ve had a mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. Some of them started off with internships and lower-paying roles, which is pretty typical in the social work field, but those who stuck around in the industry did climb a bit on the ladder—like the one who became a CEO or the Clinical Social Worker who took on a steady position. Still, many who are in ongoing roles are likely not raking in big bucks, especially when you consider the common salary range for social workers. It’s definitely a field more about passion than paycheck, so while some are doing alright, they probably aren’t living lavishly.

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 University of West Florida). 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