Your Resource for MSW Programs

Are you ready to be the change in your community? The Master of Social Work (MSW) degree is a graduate-level program for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree in any subject to advance in the social work field. The MSW is the common educational requirement for a social worker to apply to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and it’s also a gateway degree to a multitude of social work careers, whether clinical jobs or policy/macro-oriented jobs.

Popular Pages

Woman talking with elderly woman while holding papers

Career Spotlight: Social Worker

Woman studying at desk

Complete Guide to the MSW Degree

Woman sitting at a computer

Accredited Online MSW Programs

Why Earn an MSW?

Social workers are a critical profession working to improve the lives of those in at-risk communities. Carrying out the duties of this profession with skill and care requires understanding of clinical techniques, as well as appreciation of topics as wide-ranging as policy analysis and statistics to culturally competent social work practice.

Students of CSWE-accredited MSW programs are exposed to curricula covering these types of topics, with a wide range of schools offering specializations and concentrations for various client groups or job tracks. Many well-regarded schools offer fully online MSW degrees, especially helpful for working professionals who want to advance their existing social work careers or switch careers into social work.

On average, those in the field with an MSW degree out-earn those who perform social work duties with only a bachelor’s degree by at least $13,000 per year. As important as higher salary potential may be from an MSW degree, perhaps as important to mission-driven individuals who pursue social work is the chance to create greater impact with more learning.

Learn more about the MSW degree

Featured Articles

Piggy bank with graduation cap

Financial Aid for Social Workers

Social Workers and MSW Degree Graduates: By the Numbers

$58,718
Average annual salary for MSW graduates
11%
Expected growth in social work jobs, 2018 – 2028
49th
Rank of social worker in the U.S. News “100 Best Jobs of 2020”

Sources (information accessed June 2020): salary data, average reported by PayScale.com and Salary.com; job outlook data, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; 100 Best Jobs rank, U.S. News