MSW Programs in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, is located above Northern Virginia and Western Maryland. The District of Columbia is a highly political district with a bustling community and thriving economy. Working in DC provides social workers with unparalleled opportunities to interact with policy makers at the national level. There are many non-profit agencies that work directly in policymaking and advocacy at the national level.

The District of Columbia has the highest percentage of African Americans of any district in the country; 49.5 percent of the population is African American, in contrast to the national average of 13.2 percent. It also has one of the lowest home ownership rates of the country; 42.4 percent of the population own their own homes, compared to the national average of 65.5 percent (1).

The District of Columbia is a densely populated, beautiful part of the country, overflowing with life and energy.

A District Overflowing With Vitality

According to the US Census Bureau, the District of Columbia is the richest district in the nation with a GDP of $136,714.13 per capita. The state with the next highest GDP is Delaware, with a GDP of $64,609.40 per capita (2). The median household income in the district is $64,267 (significantly higher than the national average of $53,046), but the cost of living is also very high (3).

The District of Columbia also offers opportunities to work with the effects of inequality. While the median household income is very high, 18.5 percent of the population lives in poverty, a case of severe income disparity (4).

Washington, D.C. is very densely populated, and housing is expensive, with the average home costing $461,400 (5). With the highest housing prices in the nation and a high percentage of the population living in poverty, many families are left without adequate and safe housing.

Crime has been a long-term problem in Washington D.C. Despite some of the most stringent gun control laws in the country and intensive efforts (tearing down some of the lowest cost high rises and replacing them with higher-priced garden apartments), crime is still very high. Washington D.C. ranks as the 16th most dangerous cities in the nation (6). The district has a particularly high murder rate (8th highest in the country) (7).

Washington D.C. has a higher than average percentage of the population diagnosed with mental illness (19.87 percent, compared to the national average of 18.19 percent) (8). Admission to substance abuse treatment centers has risen in the past decade, from 5,754 in 2001 to 7,494 in 2011 (9).

If you are interested in working as a criminal justice, mental illness or substance abuse social worker, you will find plenty of opportunities here.

Studying Social Work in the Nation’s Capital

Do you want to go to school in the District of Columbia? According to the 2014 US News & World Report school rankings, Howard University’s School of Social Work is ranked number 33 in the nation. The Catholic University of America’s National Catholic School of Social Service is ranked number 52 and Gallaudet University’s Department of Social Work is ranked number 79 in the country (10).

Howard University offers MSW degrees in the following concentrations: criminal justice, gerontology, mental health, healthcare, family and child welfare and displaced populations (11).

Getting your MSW can be expensive, but there are loan forgiveness programs for social workers that may help you recoup the costs of college. You can apply the National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program (NHSC) to see if you are eligible. You will need to work in a “Health Professional Shortage Area” (HPSA), but if you do, you may qualify for as much as $20,000 in loan forgiveness per year, for up to two years. You should also apply to the DC Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, which offers significant support to those working full-time at a Service Obligation Site.

Job Outlook

The projection of social work jobs in Washington, D.C. is expected to grow at an above average rate through 2020 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Child, family, and school social worker positions are expected to expand by 21 percent during this time (12), while healthcare social work positions are expected to expand by 32 percent (13). Mental health and substance abuse social work positions are projected to expand at the national rate of 23 percent (14).

Social workers in Washington, D.C. make higher than average salaries, in keeping with the higher cost of living of the area. Child family and school social workers in Washington D.C. can expect a median salary of $54,910, similar to mental health and substance abuse social workers, who earn a median salary of $54,180. Healthcare social workers in the area earn a median wage of $58,470 (15).

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• Social Work License Requirements in Washington D.C.
• National Association of Social Workers, Washington, D.C. Chapter
• Washington, D.C. Department of Health (Licensure)

Master’s in Social Work Programs in DC

• American University (MSW and Public Administration Policy)
• Catholic University of America (MSW)
• Gallaudet University (MSW)
• Howard University (MSW)
• University of the District of Columbia (MSW)

Sources Cited

1. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/11000.html
2. Economy Statistics, Gross State Product, 2014. State Master. http://www.statemaster.com/graph/eco_gdp_percap-product-current-dollars-per-capita
3. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/11000.html
4. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/11000.html
5. Washington Home Prices and Home Values, 2014. Zillow. http://www.zillow.com/local-info/DC-Washington-home-value/r_41568/
6. How Washington D.C. Got Off The Most Dangerous Cities List, 2012. Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2012/10/19/how-washington-d-c-got-off-the-most-dangerous-cities-list/
7. D.C. 2012 Murder Rate Ranked 8th Among Nation’s Most Populated Cities, 2013. Homicide Watch D.C. http://homicidewatch.org/2013/06/17/d-c-2012-murder-rate-ranked-8th-among-nations-most-populated-cities/
8. State Estimates of Adult Mental Illness, 2012. National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k14/NSDUH170/sr170-mental-illness-state-estimates-2014.htm
9. State Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services, 2001 – 2011. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. http://www.samhsa.gov/data/DASIS/TEDS2011St_Web.pdf
10. Graduate School Search – Social Work Programs, 2014. US News and World Report. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/search?spp=25&program=top-social-work-schools&name=&zip=DC&program_rank=Any&sort=&sortdir=
11. MSW Degree Requirements, 2014.Howard University. http://www.howard.edu/schoolsocialwork/programs/msw/default.htm
12. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=001000000&soccode=211021&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=11&search=Go#SectionOp3
13. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=001000000&soccode=211022&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=11&search=Go#SectionOp3
14. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=001000000&soccode=211023&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=11&search=Go#SectionOp3
15. Statewide Statistics for Washington, D.C., 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics.