Students seeking degrees in
social work can find advice about where to go to grad school
this fall from the website, Graduateprograms.com. Graduate Programs, an online guide to graduate schools for
prospective graduate students, today released its rankings of the Top 25 Social
Work Grad Programs according to student ratings and reviews posted on
Graduateprograms.com. The rankings are based solely on surveys submitted by
1,500 students from more than 130 accredited social work programs across the
United States.
The Best Social Work Programs in
the United States, according to graduateprograms.com ratings and reviews are:
1.) New York University (Silver
School of Social Work) (8.9 stars)
2.) Case Western Reserve
University (Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences) (8.8 stars)
3.) University of Louisville
(Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work) (8.67 stars)
4.) University of Wisconsin-Madison
(The School of Social Work) (8.66 stars)
5.) University of
California-Berkeley (School of Social Welfare) (8.633 stars)
6.) University of Southern
California (School of Social Work) (8.63 stars)
7.) Boston University (School of
Social Work) (8.52 stars)
8.) University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill (School of Social Work) (8.216 stars)
9.) University of Maryland
(School of Social Work) (8.196 stars)
10.) Michigan State University
(The School of Social Work) (8.133 stars)
11.) Loyola University Chicago
(School of Social Work) (8.091stars)
12.) Boston College (The
Graduate School of Social Work) (8.067 stars)
13.) University of Pennsylvania
(School of Social Policy and Practice) (7.97) stars)
14.) Fordham University (The
Graduate School of Social Service) (7.955 stars)
15.) Virginia Commonwealth
University (School of Social Work) (7.932 stars)
16.) University of Washington
Tacoma (Social Work Program) (7.833 stars)
17.) University of Albany (SUNY)
(School of Social Welfare) (7.8 stars)
18.) Columbia University (School
of Social Work) (7.607 stars)
19.) University of
California-Los Angeles (Luskin School of Public Affairs) (7.467 stars)
20.) University of Kansas
(School of Social Welfare) (7.35 stars)
21.) The University of Chicago
(School of Social Service Administration) (7.217 stars)
22.) University of Denver
(School of Social Work) (7.2 stars)
23.) Washington University in
Saint Louis (George Warren Brown School of Social Work) (7.163 stars)
24.) University of Michigan-Ann
Arbor (School of Social Work) (7.167 stars)
25.) University of Washington
Seattle (School of Social Work) (7.102 stars)
Students often left comments
with their reviews about social work programs. One Case Western Reserve Class
of 2015 students wrote: “Pros: The Case Western Reserve University Mandel
School of Applied Social Sciences (MSASS) is one of the top programs in the
country. Over 200 agencies provide field placement opportunities for its
students. The field placement opportunities are paid, the only school of its
kind offering this. The program is successful because of the commitment of the
faculty. MSASS was ranked #7 in 2007 in Faculty Scholarly Productivity. It is
also #1 in Endowed Professorships. Cons: The ethnic diversity of MSASS needs
balance. Also, MSASS only offers two degree programs. Cost is always a con. At
$37,120, MSASS is one of the more costly programs in the country.”
A Class of 2014 University of
Southern California student wrote: “The program is very demanding but that
comes with being a top 10 accredited school. I would recommend the school to
anyone who does not have many student loans from undergrad because the program
is very expensive. Though, again, it is a very good, private school. Overall, I
do not regret my decision and I believe I am getting a great education to
prepare me to be the best Social Worker I can be.”
Based on the many ratings and
reviews left on the site, Graduateprograms.com identified those aspects of
their social work programs students’ value most: present and helpful
professors; a student body that reflects the diversity of the clients in the
field; and finally, accessible public transportation. Next week,
Graduateprograms.com will be releasing the Best Social Work Programs for faculty
accessibility and support, diversity, and transportation.
Students may continue to review
their programs at www.graduateprograms.com
and qualify to win a $1,000 scholarship, awarded once per semester. Reviews
will be incorporated into upcoming program rankings.
METHODOLOGY
Graduateprograms.com reaches
current and recent graduate students through scholarship entries as well as
social media platforms. All social work school rankings cover a period from September
1, 2012 to February 25, 2013. Graduateprograms.com assigns 15 ranking
categories to each graduate program at each graduate school. Rankings cover a
variety of student topics, such as academic competitiveness, career support,
financial aid, and quality of network.

