MSW Programs in Alabama

A Guide to Alabama’s Schools of Social Work and Fields Where Social Workers are Needed

Alabama, referred to as the “Heart of Dixie” and the “Cotton State” is home to warm weather and one of the longest inland waterways with nearly 15,000 miles (1). Alabama is the 30th largest in area and the 23rd most populous state in the nation (2). The capital city of Alabama and the birthplace of the Confederate States of America is Montgomery (3), and the city of Birmingham has the largest population in the state with about 209,403 residents (4).

The oldest city in Alabama, founded by French colonists, is Mobile, a city located on Alabama’s Gulf Coast (5). Alabama is the largest supplier of cast-iron and steel pipe in the nation, as it is the only state that produces all major natural resources required to make iron and steel. Furthermore, with Huntsville considered the rocket capital of the world, Alabamian workers built the first rocket that put humans on the moon (6).

A State in Need of Support

According to the United States Census Bureau, over 18 percent of Alabama’s population lives in poverty. The median household income in the state is $50,536 which is $12,000 lower than the national median average (7).

Alabama Possible (previously named the Alabama Poverty Project) has identified the following as primary issues of concern in the state: college access, hunger, and overall food security. According to the Food Research and Action Center’s (FRAC) analysis of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index Survey, the state is the second worst state for food security, meaning the residents of Alabama are second most likely in the nation to report not having enough income to buy groceries. Over 15 percent of people in Alabama are considered “food insecure,” which means they do not have consistent access to or sufficient income to buy healthy foods (8).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Alabama has the highest percentage in the nation of people who are obese (9). The demand for healthcare social workers in the state is expected to grow at a rate of 4.4 percent per year (10).

Alabama also has a higher-than-average percentage of the population diagnosed with mental illness (19.34 percent, compared with the national average of 18.19 percent) (11). The number of people admitted to substance abuse treatment facilities has also increased from 2017 to 2018 (12). Demand for mental health and substance abuse social workers is anticipated to increase at a rate of 16.4 percent a year (13).

Becoming a Social Worker

If you would prefer to study in state, you have a couple of options. According to the 2019 US News & World Report school rankings, the University of Alabama’s School of Social Work (in Tuscaloosa) is ranked number 44 in the country. You can also get a MSW at Alabama A&M University in Normal, AL (14). An online MSW program is also an option to explore.

After you get your MSW and you are looking for a job, you will want to check out the National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program (NHSC). This program rewards social workers who choose to work in a “Health Professional Shortage Area” (HPSA), meaning in an area where the need for social workers is high and the community is deemed “underserved.” You can find a state of map of underserved communities here at the Health Resources and Services Administration Data Warehouse site (HRSA). Make sure you check the most current eligibility requirements to identify jobs that qualify for loan forgiveness.

Making a Difference

There are approximately 7280 social workers employed in Alabama. Of that workforce, Birmingham employs the most social workers of any metropolitan area in the state. However, most of the state is rural (15).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the sector that employs the highest number social workers in Alabama is child, family and school social work. The median salary of a social worker in one of these positions (as of 2019) is $41,610. Healthcare social workers makes up the second largest group in Alabama. They earn a median salary of $47,170. Mental health and substance abuse social workers earn a median salary of $38,580. Social work professors in post-secondary educator positions make the most, earning a median salary of $$67,920 (16).

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• Alabama Social Work License
• National Association of Social Workers, Alabama Chapter
• Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners
• Alabama Society for Clinical Social Work

Schools of Social Work in Alabama offering MSW Programs

• Alabama A & M University
• Alabama State University
• Jacksonville State University
• The University of Alabama
• Troy University: Social Work

Sources Cited

1. Alabama Ports and Waterways. Made in Alabama. http://www.madeinalabama.com/assets/2013/01/AlabamaWaterways.pdf
2. State and County QuickFacts, 2019. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/01000.html
3. Alabama Facts and Trivia, 2019. 50 States.com. http://www.50states.com/facts/alabama.htm#.U77L6I1dXgI
4. USA: Alabama, 2019. City Population. http://www.citypopulation.de/USA-Alabama.html
5. Exploring Mobile, Alabama’s Oldest City. The Examiner.
6. Alabama Facts and Trivia, 2021. 50 States.com. https://www.50states.com/alabama.htm
7. State and County QuickFacts, 2019. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/01000.html
8. Food Hardship in America, 2016. Food Research and Action Center. https://frac.org/news/u-s-makes-progress-addressing-food-hardship-one-six-american-households-still-struggle-put-food-table-report-finds
9. Adult Obesity Facts, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/prevalence-maps.html
10. Projections Central – Career Profile, 2018-2028. Projections Central. http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
11. State Estimates of Adult Mental Illness, 2018. National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt23238/NSDUHsaeMaps2018/NSDUHsaeMaps2018.pdf
12. State Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services, 2017-2018. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt23238/NSDUHsaeMaps2018/NSDUHsaeMaps2018.pdf
13. Projectionc Central – Career Profile, 2018-28.http://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
14. Graduate School Search, Social Work Programs, 2019. US News and World Report. https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/social-work-rankings
15. Statewide Statistics for Alabama, 2019. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
16. Statewide Statistics for Alabama, 2019. Bureau of Labor Statistics.