MSW Programs in Iowa

Iowa produces over ten percent of the nation’s agricultural produce. It is the nation’s leading producer of pork, soybean and corn. It’s a rural state, known for its peaceful farmlands and warm welcoming residents.

Although agriculture is quite significant to the state’s economy and citizenship, manufacturing brings in double the amount of revenue as agriculture. The state is known for the following: food products, electronics, machinery, fabricated products and publishing (1).

A Healthy State With Traditional Social Work Needs

The state ranks annually in the best ten states to live (CQ Press). It ranks as the ninth lowest housing cost (US Census Bureau), the eighth healthiest state (CQ Press), the third highest high school graduation rate (CQ Press), and the fifth best state in which to raise a child (CQ Press) (2).

According to the US Census Bureau, slightly over 3,155,070 people live in Iowa. Iowa is 90.6 percent Caucasian. Although the state is primarily rural with a heavy agricultural presence, the state also has several metropolitan areas, including the Omaha-Council Bluffs area, which is shared with Nebraska, Cedar Rapids and Dubuque (3).

Iowa has a little more than average percentage of the population living in poverty (only 11.2 percent, compared with the national average of 10.5 percent). The state’s median household income is $60,523. This is lower than the national average ($62,843), but Iowa’s cost of living is low, so your money will go further there (4). For example, the average mortgage payment is $1260 per month, which is lower than the national average of $1595 per month (5).

The state has a higher than average percentage of the population age 65 or older (17.5 percent of the population is over age 65; the national average is 14.1 percent), so gerontology social work is a growing need in the state (6). The state also has a higher than average rate of entry of children into the foster care system (7) and a slightly higher than average percentage of the population diagnosed with mental illness (8). Admission rates to substance abuse treatment centers have decreased in the past five years, from 28,933 in 2015 to 27,424 in 2019 (9).

Studying to Become a Social Worker in Iowa

Are you hoping to study and work in Iowa? According to the 2019 US News & World Report school rankings, The University of Iowa’s School of Social Work is ranked number 59 in the nation. St. Ambrose University’s School of Social Work is ranked number 168 (10). Both schools offer MSW programs.

The University of Iowa offers both traditional and online MSW program options. The school is particularly proud of its aging studies program, its end-of-life care field practice and its family centered program (11).

After you graduate, you might want to check into the National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program (NHSC). Iowa is primarily rural. There are areas in the state that are designed as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) or Medically Underserved Areas. Social workers who are willing to work in these rural areas are usually eligible for loan repayment through the NHSC.

Employment

Overall, social work is expected to expand in Iowa at a rate that is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that child, family and school social work jobs will expand 15 percent by 2026 (12). Healthcare social work positions are expected to expand by 20 percent (13). Mental health and substance abuse social work jobs are expected to expand at a rate of 22 percent per year (14).

Of the 5,100 social workers employed in the state, 2,620 of them work as child, family or school social workers, making a median salary of $40,550. Median salaries for these positions ranges by location from a lowest median salary in Ames to the highest median salary in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island area (15).

Approximately 1,230 healthcare social workers are employed in the state, making a median salary of $54,220. The best paying jobs in the state are in the Des Moines and Debuque areas, but the pay range is not as wide for this sector of social work (16).

Only 720 social workers are employed as mental health or substance abuse social workers in the state, but this is a sector that is growing rapidly. Mental heath and substance abuse social workers can expect to earn a median salary of $44,360 (17).

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• Social Work License Requirements in Iowa
• National Association of Social Workers, Iowa Chapter
• Iowa Department of Public Health (Licensure)

Universities Offering MSW Programs in Iowa

• Saint Ambrose University (MSW Program)
• University of Iowa (MSW Program)
• University of Northern Iowa (MSW Program)

Sources Cited

1. Iowa, 2014. Info Please. http://www.infoplease.com/us-states/iowa.html
2. Iowa Economic Development, Quality of Life, 2014. Iowa.Gov. http://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/AdvancedManufacturing/AdvMfgQualityLife
3. State and County QuickFacts, 2019. United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/dashboard/IA,US/PST045219
4. State and County QuickFacts, 2019. United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/dashboard/IA,US/PST045219
5. State and County QuickFacts, 2019. United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/dashboard/US/PST045219
6. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19000.html
7. Child Welfare Outcomes Report Data, 2018. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/cwodatasite/pdf/iowa.html
8. State Estimates of Adult Mental Illness, 2017-2018. National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt23235/2k18SAEExcelTabs/NSDUHsaePercents2018.pdf
9. State Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services, 2019. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. https://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/webt/newmapv1.htm#
10. 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?location=Iowa
11. Master of Social Work Program, 2021. University of Iowa. https://clas.uiowa.edu/socialwork/graduate-program
12. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2019. Career One Stop. https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/Occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Child,%20Family,%20and%20School%20Social%20Workers&onetcode=21102100&location=Iowa
13. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2019. Career One Stop. https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/Occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Healthcare%20Social%20Workers&onetcode=21102200&location=Iowa&lang=en
14. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2019. Career One Stop. https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/Occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Mental%20Health%20and%20Substance%20Abuse%20Social%20Workers&onetcode=21102300&location=Iowa&lang=en
15. Statewide Statistics for Iowa, 2019. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
16. Statewide Statistics for Iowa, 2019. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
17. Statewide Statistics for Iowa, 2019. Bureau of Labor Statistics.