MSW Programs in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania, one of the original thirteen colonies in the United States, is considered part of the Great Lakes region because it borders the Great Lakes in the northeastern part of the nation.

Although this state is one of the smaller states in the nation (number 33 in area), it is the sixth most populous and the ninth most densely populated (1). This large population is largely due to its four most populous cities: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie (2). Pennsylvania has 57 miles of coastline from the Delaware Estuary and 63 miles of coastline from Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes (3). Pennsylvania’s economy is successful, with its ranking sixth in the nation in 2010 for its gross state product (4).

An Aging Population, and a Switch in Focus

Pennsylvania has a higher-than-average number of senior citizens in the state (16 percent of the state’s residents are over age 65; the national average is 13.7 percent) (5). If you are interested in working in geriatric services, whether that be in senior mental health, supporting access to senior health services or hospice work, gerontology services are in demand in the state.

Prescription drug abuse is also an issue in the state. In the past year, deaths from prescription drug overdoses have tripled in the state, moving Pennsylvania from number 14 to number seven in the nation (for state with the highest number of prescription drug-related deaths) (6). Pennsylvania has 541 mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities in the state (7), and admissions to substance abuse treatment facilities has decreased in recent years (8), but the focus in the state has shifted from street drugs to the abuse of prescription drugs (9).

Social Work Graduate Programs in Pennsylvania

Thinking of studying to become a social worker in the state of Pennsylvania? You’ve got plenty of great options for graduate degrees in state. According to the 2019 US News & World Report school rankings, three Pennsylvania graduate programs rank in the top 50 in the nation. The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work ranks number 17, the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Work ranks number 10, and the Bryn Mawr College School of Social Work and Social Research ranks number 44 in the nation. Three other graduate programs in the state rank in the top 100 (10).

When you are ready to look for a job as a social worker, you will want to look into requirements for the National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program (NHSC). If you find a job working in a “Health Professional Shortage Area” (HPSA), you can apply for loan forgiveness through this program, which may relieve you of up to $20,000 a year of student loan debt.

If you are willing to commit to a public service job (for example, working as a social worker for a public child or family service agency), you may qualify for loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLFP).

Social Work Job Opportunities in Pennsylvania

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics PA, 2019 reports that over 37,500 social workers are employed in the state of Pennsylvania. Of those 37,500, over half (18,530) are working as child, family or school social workers. They typically make a median salary of $42,300. However, job growth in this sector is expected to grown minimally between now and the year 2029, at a rate of four percent per year (11).

Job growth is expected to be higher in other sectors of social work. For example, 8,540 people are currently employed as healthcare social workers, and job growth is expected to increase at a rate of 14 percent per year. Approximately 9,760 mental health and substance abuse social workers are currently employed in the state, and opportunities should increase at a rate of 13 percent. The median salary for healthcare social workers is $53,660 per year; the median salary for mental health and substance abuse social workers is $37,380 (12) (13).

If you are thinking about teaching social work in a university setting, post secondary educators in the state make a median salary of $68,560. However, there are only 690 people employed in this capacity in the state, and experts predict that only about sixty new jobs will be created each year for professors of social work (14).

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• Pennsylvania Social Work License
• National Association of Social Workers, Pennsylvania Chapter
• State of Pennsylvania Board of Licensed Social Workers
• Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work
• Pennsylvania Association of School Social Work Personnel

Colleges and Universities Offering MSW Programs in Pennsylvania

• Bryn Mawr College (MSW)
• California University of Pennsylvania (MSW)
• Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (MSW)
• Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (MSW)
• Marywood University (MSW)
• Millersville University of Pennsylvania (MSW)
• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (MSW)
• Temple University (MSW)
• University of Pennsylvania (MSW)
• University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (MSW)
• West Chester University of Pennsylvania (MSW)
• Widener University-Main Campus (MSW)

Sources Cited

1. State and County QuickFacts, 2019. United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/PA
2. Pennsylvania Largest Cities, 2021. Geo Names. http://www.geonames.org/US/PA/largest-cities-in-pennsylvania.html
3. Ocean and Coastal Management in Pennsylvania, 2021. US Department of Commerce. https://coast.noaa.gov/czm/mystate/#pennsylvania
4. Gross State Product, 2013. Greyhill Advisors. http://www.greyhilladvisors.com/gross-state-product
5. State and County QuickFacts, 2021. United States Census Bureau.
6. Drug Deaths in PA Top 2000 a Year, 2014. The Morning Call. http://articles.mcall.com/2014-06-20/news/mc-pa-drug-deaths-0620-20140620_1_drug-deaths-wolfe-death-rates
7. National Mental Health Services Survey, 2020. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. http://www.samhsa.gov/
8. State Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services, 2017. AAC.org. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/learn/substance-abuse-treatment-trends/
9. Drug Deaths in PA Top 2000 a Year, 2014. The Morning Call. http://articles.mcall.com/2014-06-20/news/mc-pa-drug-deaths-0620-20140620_1_drug-deaths-wolfe-death-rates
10. Graduate School Search – Social Work Programs, 2014. US News and World Report.  http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/search?spp=10&program=top-social-work-schools&name=&zip=pennsylvania&program_rank=Any&sort=&sortdir=
11. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2016-2026. Career One Stop. https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/Occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Child,%20Family,%20and%20School%20Social%20Workers&onetcode=21102100&location=Pennsylvania
12. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2016-2026. Career One Stop. https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/Occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Healthcare%20Social%20Workers&onetcode=21102200&location=Pennsylvania
13. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2016-2026. Career One Stop. https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/Occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Mental%20Health%20and%20Substance%20Abuse%20Social%20Workers&onetcode=21102300&location=Pennsylvania
14. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2016-2026. Career One Stop. https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/Occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Social%20Work%20Teachers,%20Postsecondary&onetcode=25111300&location=Pennsylvania