MSW Programs in Colorado

There are six master of social work (MSW) programs in Colorado. Five of them have been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). One of them (Colorado Mesa University) is a candidate for CSWE accreditation. This article will go over each of the CO MSW programs and what they offer. If you want to be a social worker in Colorado, or if you already work in the social work field but want to expand your career and income opportunities, enrolling in a CO MSW degree program might be for you. 

According to Colorado news sources, the biggest issues in the state are cost of housing and healthcare, homelessness, mental health, and drug overdoses. These are all issues that social workers may play a role in improving. There are several ways this might be done. One is by the social worker helping individuals and families on their caseload find resources like affordable housing, food, medical care, and mental health care. Another is by advocating for policy change in the community. Some social workers, often called Licensed Clinical Social Workers, can even provide mental health therapy to clients directly, which can help clients through troubles such as drug addiction, mental illness, and overwhelming parts of life. 

Possibly because of the issues discussed above, social work in Colorado is in high demand. Per O*Net online, below is the projected career growth and average annual wages that social workers can expect within the various social work careers. One thing to note is that these numbers include social workers that also only have their bachelor’s degree. It’s possible that you might see higher or lower income in your career search depending on the area of the state, the organization you’re applying for, how many years of experience you have, and the degree level you have. 

• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 21%
  • Average Annual Wages: $62,520
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 34%
  • Average Annual Wages: $60,450
• Healthcare Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 33%
  • Average Annual Wages: $62,660
• Social Workers, All Other
  • Projected Growth: 15%
  • Average Annual Wages: $52,150
• Social and Community Service Managers
  • Projected Growth: $95,050
  • Average Annual Wages: 24%

As seen above, each of the social work careers in Colorado (although they are not limited to just the job titles above) are projected to grow much faster than the average career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS),  the overall US career growth outlook is 3%. With the Colorado social work career projections being much higher, this may mean that you will have an easier time finding a social work job after graduation. 

Below is an overview of each of the six CO MSW programs so you will know what to expect from an advanced social work education to make the right decision for you.

Colorado Online Masters in Social Work

There are three universities in CO that offer an online version of the MSW program. Students choose to enroll in an online program for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons is that online courses allow a student to complete schoolwork around their job or other responsibilities. Some universities may offer synchronous courses, which means a student must be present for a live class session that takes place over Zoom or another platform. Other programs may offer asynchronous courses, which means they can be watched on a student’s time. Online courses mean the coursework is also completed online.

Online programs are usually equal in quality to their in-person counterparts, especially if the program is accredited by the CSWE. If you live a busy life, are employed full-time, live far away from your preferred university, or simply prefer an online format, considering an online MSW program might be for you.

Below are the MSW programs in Colorado that offer an online option. Some of them also offer an on-campus format as well.

CSWE Accredited MSW Programs in Colorado

There are five CSWE-accredited MSW programs in Colorado. Three of them offer an online version of the program, and were reviewed in previous sections. Two are reviewed below. 

The Council on Social Work Education, or CSWE, is the sole accrediting organization in the US for bachelors and masters-level social work programs. Their goal is to innovate social work education and provide professional development opportunities for social workers and social work students. The importance of accreditation cannot be understated. It is a process in which a program proves that they are providing a quality education to their students that will prepare them for their future careers. It also guarantees consistency within accredited social work programs across the United States. Additionally, many social work careers require a license, and CSWE accredited programs typically provide an education that prepares a person to take the relevant licensing exam. 

Below are the CSWE-accredited MSW programs in Colorado.

No GRE Required MSW Programs in Colorado

None of the six CO MSW programs require the GRE in the application. Five of these programs were reviewed in previous sections, while one is below. 

GRE stands for Graduate Record Exam. It is an exam that is used by some graduate educational programs to determine if a student is ready for advanced studies. The exam tests a student’s skills in things like math, critical thinking, vocabulary, and more. However, more and more programs are choosing to not require the GRE in their applications. Instead, these programs are generally choosing to assess a student’s life experiences and grades. Typical requirements for a social work program might be a minimum GPA of 3.0 or above, a resume, letters of recommendation, an essay, and more. Other requirements may vary by program.

Below is the sixth MSW program in Colorado tht has not yet been reviewed, and does not require the GRE.

Colorado MSW Programs with Accelerated Advanced Standing Options

All six of the CO MSW programs offer an advanced standing program. These include:

• Metropolitan State University of Denver
• University of Colorado
• University of Denver
• Colorado State University
• Colorado State University Pueblo
• Colorado Mesa University

An advanced standing version of the MSW program is available to those who earned a bachelor’s of social work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited university, typically within the last 5-10 years (depending on the program). The advanced standing option allows a student to complete a MSW program in about half the time of the standard program. This is because the BSW program covers much of what the first year in the MSW program would cover. The standard program typically takes two years of full-time study to complete, while the advanced standing program usually takes about a year. This can vary if a student attends part-time. Advanced standing is equal in quality to the standard program, and may be offered online as well depending on the program.

Affordable MSW Programs in Colorado

Affordability is an important factor in considering where you will attend school. There are ways to help you pay for school, such as filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. This application assesses a variety of factors to determine what federal grants and loans you might qualify for. There are also scholarships through the CSWE and NASW. Another good strategy is to explore what scholarships your program of choice may offer. You can do this by contacting the school’s financial aid department or exploring their website. 

Another way to afford school is by choosing a program that meets your needs and also offers a lower-than-average tuition. State schools, for example, are generally equal in quality to private institutions, but tend to have lower costs  if you are a resident of the same state. 

Below are several MSW programs in Colorado that may offer a more accessible and affordable tuition:

• University of Colorado
  • Cost: $8,566-$13,106 per year
• Colorado State University
  • Cost: $725 per credit
• Colorado State University Pueblo
  • Cost: $9,480 per year

Colorado CSWE Accredited MSW Programs

University Name	City	State	Program Title	Program URL
Colorado State University	Fort Collins	CO	Master of Social Work	https://www.chhs.colostate.edu/ssw/programs-and-degrees/master-of-social-work/
Metropolitan State University of Denver	Denver	CO	Master of Social Work	http://www.msudenver.edu/socialwork
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs	Colorado Springs	CO	MSW Program	https://spa.uccs.edu/programs/social-work-sw/msw
University of Denver	Denver	CO	Master of Social Work	https://socialwork.du.edu/

Conclusion

There are many reasons to earn a master of social work degree in Colorado. The career is in demand with a positive job outlook. Additionally, earning a master’s degree can allow someone to become further involved in a social work career, and help their community. Masters-level social work careers can lead to leadership roles or jobs as a licensed clinical social worker, which allows you to provide therapy to clients wiht mental health struggles. There are several great options to choose from in Colorado, as five of the six MSW programs are CSWE accredited. With these to choose from, you are sure to find an MSW program to help you meet your career goals.