Choosing where to study and what to study are two of the biggest decisions students face when planning their education. At this point you know you want to study social work, so now it's time to start considering programs and schools. Here are three things to focus on at the beginning of your discernment process:

Find an Accredited School

Choosing an accredited program will help ensure that your degree translates to a social work career. Since the Council on Social Work Education’s mission is to ensure and enhance the quality of social work education, we have a dedicated committee responsible for formulating accreditation standards and policies, and determining the criteria and process for evaluating these standards.

To ensure that you avoid degree mills, or what the Council for Higher Education Accreditation calls “dubious providers of educational offerings or operations that offer certificates and degrees that may be considered bogus,” start your college research with our list of accredited social work programs. 

Determine What Do You Want to Do?

Do you want to work in a school or a hospital? A private practice or a prison? Do you want to specialize in disaster relief? Are you interested in homeless family assistance or gerontology services?

Selecting a school may seem like the most pressing decision at this point, but you have a lot of decisions to make before you even get to that point. Keep in mind what you’d like to accomplish with your degree when determining which program is best for you. A BSW degree opens doors to entry-level positions in a variety of practice areas. If you're pursuing a master’s degree, you may search for a school with faculty members who specialize in your desired area of focus. Another school may have a career services office that has a proven history of matching graduates to their dream jobs. You’ll want to weigh your priorities as you choose among these options.

Paying For School

You may have relied on scholarships to pay for your undergraduate studies, but unfortunately, this kind of funding can be harder to find for graduate school. Check with the financial aid offices at your schools of interest to determine whether they offer fellowships, work-study programs, or other funding assistance. In addition, consider accredited online programs because they more easily allow the opportunity to continue working while studying.

Review the different funding opportunities below as you work through this important step of your social work education journey.

Scholarships

Scholarships are financial awards, given for a number of reasons. Usually scholarships are merit-based, which means you can qualify for them based on academics or other qualifications. Scholarships can come from federal or state government, private or nonprofit organizations, or academic institutions. The Carl A. Scott Memorial Fund (awarded to those working for equality and social justice in their studies) is one example of scholarship opportunities at CSWE. Also check out ExploreHealthCareers.org Scholarship Search, a database with information about more than 3.5 million scholarships.

Loans

Loans give you access to money but must be paid back with interest. Student loans are available from the federal government or private sources such as banks or other financial institutions. Make sure to look at all the information closely, including repayment options and interest rates, to ensure you’re choosing the loan that’s right for your situation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau outlines items to consider when comparing loan and repayment options

Fellowships

Fellowships allow you to study and focus on your professional goals and development simultaneously. These programs offer stipends to help cover some personal costs during your studies. CSWE has fellowship programs for your consideration, including one for students interested in serving racial/ethnic minorities: CSWE's Minority Fellowship Program.

Grants

Grants are very similar to scholarships, and you may find the terms used interchangeably. These are mostly need-based, so be prepared to provide financial statements during the application process. One of the most important parts of a grant application is telling your story—don’t be afraid to share why you are pursuing a social work degree and the difference you intend to make in the world.

Service-based commitments

Service-based commitments provide pathways for obtaining an education and serving the broader community. Here are a few examples:

Some of these opportunities offer financial awards or scholarships to assist with continued education or to help pay off existing loans. Under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, the federal government may forgive a portion of your debt after certain conditions are met.

How Do You Apply to School?

With more than 950 accredited baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral programs from which to choose, you're sure to find something that fits your learning style and interests. Access your options via CSWE's program directory. When you are ready to apply, most admissions requirements and application instructions are listed on individual institution websites.

Applying to a master’s-level social work program: Some master's-level social work programs participate in SocialWorkCAS, which is an online application system. With SocialWorkCAS, the application process is much more streamlined. You fill out just one application and upload one set of documents for all the master’s-level programs to which you are applying. 

Here are a few benefits of SocialWorkCAS:

  • Save time and money: Submit transcripts, letters of reference, and supporting application materials once to apply to multiple schools
  • Track application status: Monitor receipt of application materials 24/7 on a desktop computer or mobile device
  • Get support quickly: A dedicated support team is ready to assist you in navigating the application. 

Once you’ve decided which program is right for you, check to see if your program of interest is a part of SocialWorkCAS or if you’ll need to apply via the institution’s website.

Choosing the best social work program for your goals and needs can be time-consuming because you need to thoroughly consider all your options; however, the work you put in now will pay off in the long run.