MSW Programs in New York

New York is a state of varied environments and demographics. It boasts the most populous city in the nation (New York City, with an estimated population of over 8.4 million), and yet over half of the state is suburban or rural (1). Some of the more famous New York natural attractions are Adirondack State Park and Catskill State Park, as well as Niagara Falls and the Great Appalachian Valley.

Politically, it is a progressive state; New York was one of the first states to license same-sex marriage and has always been a frontrunner for social change (2). The state is known as a hub for finance, art, science and education.

A State of Diversity and Disparity

New York State’s population is quite diverse; 22 percent of the population is foreign-born (3). However, most of New York’s diversity is concentrated in New York City and the immediate surrounding metro area. Over 200 languages are spoken in NYC, and over 50 percent of city residents speak a language other than English at home. New York City has the largest Chinese population of any city outside of China, the largest African-American population of the entire union, and the largest Latino population in the nation (2.4 million Latinos) (4).

Income disparity is an issue in the state. New York is home to the very rich and the very poor, often living side by side. The Annual American Community Survey reports that New York has the greatest income disparity in the nation, with the median salary being $64,000 a year, but 15 percent of the population living under the poverty line (5).

Substance abuse also remains an issue through the state. The number of people admitted to substance abuse treatment facilities has increased in recent years (from 301,101 in 2001 to over 304,429 in 2011) (6).

Academic Excellence and MSW Programs in NYS

If you’d like to pursue your master’s degree in social work in state, you are in luck. The state of New York is overflowing with excellent higher education institutions that rank well according to the 2014 US News & World Report school rankings of graduate social work programs (7).

Columbia University steals the show, ranking fifth in the nation. Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service is ranked number 11, and CUNY-Hunter College’s Silberman School of Social Work and NYU’s Silver School of Social Work are tied for sixteenth place. Eight other graduate programs rank in the top 100, and yet another four rank in the top 200. The State of New York is stacked when it comes to excellent places to study social work (8).

Getting a master’s degree requires time and money, but you may be able to take advantage of the National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program (NHSC). Work in a “Health Professional Shortage Area” (HPSA), and you could be relieved of up to $40,000 of your student loans. You will also want to look into the NYS Licensed Social Worker Loan Forgiveness Program (SWLFP).

Social Work Employment in NYS

The state of New York is one of the top five states with the highest social worker employment rates in the country for all types of social workers (9) (10) (11) (12). Basically, if you want to work in social work, opportunities of just about every type can be found in New York.

The three types of social worker positions that are expected to experience the most job growth (as predicted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) are healthcare social work and mental health and substance abuse social work. Healthcare social work positions are expected to increase at a rate of 23 percent (the median salary for such a position is $56,300) (13). Mental health and substance abuse social work positions should increase at a rate of 20 percent (the median salary for these positions is $50,400) (14).

As of 2010, 23,140 child, family and school social workers were employed in the state, making a median wage of $50,700. Job growth is only anticipated at nine percent, which is slower than the national average (15). However, employment opportunities in higher education are plentiful in the state. Postsecondary social worker educators are paid a median wage of $55,700, and job growth is predicted at a rate of twelve percent per year (16).

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• New York State Social Work License
• National Association of Social Workers, New York Chapter
• New York State Education Department
• New York State Society For Clinical Social Work
• New York State School Social Workers Association

Universities in New York Offering Master’s in Social Work Degrees

• Adelphi University (MSW)
• Buffalo State SUNY (MSW Program)
• Columbia University in the City of New York
• CUNY Graduate School and University Center (MSW Program)
• CUNY Hunter College (MSW Program)
• CUNY Lehman College (MSW Program)
• CUNY Queens College (MSW Program)
• Fordham University (MSW Program)
• Long Island University-Brentwood Campus (MSW)
• Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus (MSW)
• Long Island University-C W Post Campus (MSW)
• Long Island University-Rockland Campus (MSW)
• Long Island University-Westchester Campus (MSW)
• Mercy College (MSW)
• Nazareth College MSW Program
• New York University MSW Program
• Roberts Wesleyan College (MSW Program)
• Saint Joseph’s College-New York (MSW Program)
• Stony Brook University (MSW)
• SUNY at Albany (MSW)
• SUNY at Binghamton (MSW)
• SUNY College at Brockport (MSW)
• Syracuse University (MSW Program)
• The College of New Rochelle (MSW)
• Touro College (MSW)
• University at Buffalo (MSW)
• Yeshiva University (MSW)

Sources Cited

1. Population Facts, 2013. New York City Department of City Planning. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/census/pop_facts.shtml
2. Timeline of Gay Marriage in the United States, 2014. Gay Marriage States. http://www.statesthatallowgaymarriage.com/
3. New York State and County Quick Facts, 2013. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36000.html
4. Population Facts, 2013. New York City Department of City Planning. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/census/pop_facts.shtml
5. “Annual American Community Survey Shows New York City Has the Largest Income Inequality gap in the United States,” 2013. The Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/wealth-gap-widest-new-york-city-article-1.1460454
6. State Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services, 2001 – 2011. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration.  http://www.samhsa.gov/data/DASIS/TEDS2011St_Web.pdf
7. Graduate School Search – Social Work Programs, 2013. US News & World Report. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/search?spp=10&program=top-social-work-schools&name=&zip=new+york&program_rank=Any&sort=&sortdir=
8. Graduate School Search – Social Work Programs, 2013. US News & World Report. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/search?spp=10&program=top-social-work-schools&name=&zip=new+york&program_rank=Any&sort=&sortdir=
9. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013. http://www.bls.gov/
10. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013. http://www.bls.gov/
11. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013. http://www.bls.gov/
12. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013. http://www.bls.gov/
13. Occupation Profile: Healthcare Social Workers, New York, 2013. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211022&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=36&search=Go
14. Occupation Profile: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers, New York, 2013. Career One Stop.http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211023&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=36&search=Go
15. Occupation Profile: Child, Family, and School Social Workers, New York, 2013. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211021&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=36&search=Go
16. Occupation Profile: Social Work Teachers, Post-Secondary, New York, 2013. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=251113&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=36&search=Go