Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs in Michigan

There are nine Master’s of Social Work programs in the state of Michigan. Eight of these programs have been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and one of the programs is in candidacy status for accreditation. Many of these programs could be a good choice for you to earn your Michigan-based master’s degree in social work, as accreditation is one factor that demonstrates that a school has met certain requirements for quality. The CSWE has a directory where individuals can research the accreditation status of any MSW program they are interested in.

Social work is a career that many people find rewarding. It involves improving the lives of individuals or families in a community. A social worker might do a number of tasks, including:

• Helping clients on a caseload find resources like food and housing.
• Collaborate with various agencies to help clients get what they need.
• Work with clients to meet goals.
• Document client progress through case notes.
• Support clients through receiving services such as mental health medication.
• Advocate for policy change in their community.

Social workers with their master’s degree might do all of the following, but may also qualify to:

• Provide therapy and interventions for people with mental health conditions. A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) may even open their own mental health practice.
• Supervise social services organizations, including mental health facilities, nonprofits, hospitals, VA clinics, and more.
• Provide supervision to social work licensure candidates (if licensed themselves).

A benefit of being a social worker in Michigan, along with it being a rewarding career, is that it holds the benefit of being in demand in most states. The BLS, Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that all variations of the social work career are expected to grow 7% over the next decade, which is faster than the average growth for other careers. When it comes to wages, the BLS states that US social workers have a median annual wage of $58,380 as of mid-2023, with the lowest 10% of social workers making less than $38,400 annually, while the highest 10% earned more than $94,910.

When it comes to Michigan, according to O*Net Online, the state’s social work career outlook and median annual income is as follows:

• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 12% (much faster than the average occupation)
  • Average Annual Wages: $57,210
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 14% (much faster than the average occupation)
  • Average Annual Wages: $57,290
• Healthcare Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 12% (much faster than the average occupation)
  • Average Annual Wages: $62,880
• Social Workers, All Other
  • Projected Growth: 7%
  • Average Annual Wages: $61,710
• Social and Community Service Managers
  • Projected Growth: 13%
  • Average Annual Wages: $79,370 (much faster than the average occupation)

The above information is the average career outlook and wages for social workers in the state of Michigan. When looking at the information, it’s important to remember that wages may vary depending on factors such as the type of organization that is hiring, the area of the state, how many years of experience you have, and more. Additionally, the information takes into account the career levels of all social workers, combining the average of those with their bachelor’s degree and those with their masters. Depending on factors discussed and more, someone with their master’s degree may be more likely to earn more than someone with a bachelor’s degree. Earning a master’s in social work allows you to be more competitive in the job market, as employers know that a social worker with a master’s degree likely has more knowledge and training. A social worker with a license will also take continuing education credits (CE’s) every two years to refresh their knowledge on up-to-date practices.

The below sections have information on each of the masters of social work programs in Michigan to determine which is the best option for you.

Michigan Online Masters in Social Work

If you want to earn a master’s degree in social work, you might be wondering how to fit in school with all your other responsibilities. Whether you work full-time, have a family, are busy, or just thrive from a flexible environment, online MSW programs in Michigan might be for you. An online program gives students the flexibility to work around their hectic lives while earning a degree. Online MSW programs are also typically built with the understanding that many of the students enrolled already work as a social worker or another full-time position already. These programs, especially if accredited by the CSWE, are equal in quality to in-person MSW programs. They offer a curriculum that is designed to prepare you for master’s level social work and, when relevant, your licensing exam.

Below is an overview of the MSW programs in Michigan that offer an online format. Several of these universities also offer the MSW program on campus as well.

CSWE Accredited MSW Programs in Michigan

Eight MSW programs in Michigan are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). One program, Oakland University, is a candidate for accreditation. The ones that offer an online option for the program were reviewed in the previous section. This section will go over CSWE-accredited social work masters programs in Michigan that were not previously reviewed.

But first, what is CSWE accreditation? The CSWE is the sole accrediting organization in the United States for social work master’s programs. Accreditation is a status that a program earns for demonstrating that they provide innovative and high-quality education. The standards for this are set by the CSWE themselves, an organization that comprises dedicated professionals in the field. These professionals work to determine what students should learn so that they are most prepared for modern-day social work in an ever-changing world. Accredited programs also ensure that you are prepared for any relevant licensing exams that need to be taken after graduation, such as the LCSW exam. Other benefits include consistency of educational standards across the US, and that employers tend to prefer to hire social workers who attended an accredited school. 

Below are additional CSWE-accredited MSW programs offered in Michigan that were not mentioned in the previous section.

No GRE Required MSW Programs in Michigan

The nine MSW programs in Michigan do NOT require taking the GRE for the application. The GRE, or Graduate Record Exam, was designed to help schools determine how prepared applicants were to graduate-level studies. The exam assesses a student’s knowledge and skills in subjects such as problem-solving, math, critical thinking, vocabulary, and more. However, more and more universities are opting out of requiring students to take the GRE and submit the scores in the graduate school applications. Instead, many university programs are choosing to look at a student’s real-world experience, general grades from their undergraduate program, references, and passion for the program through certain essay requirements. This tends to give programs a much more well-rounded view of what a student is capable of. Other requirements may vary by program.

Below is a summary of MSW programs that do not require the GRE in Michigan that has not been reviewed in previous sections.

Michigan MSW Programs with Accelerated Advanced Standing Options

All nine of the MSW programs in Michigan offer an advanced standing option. Each of these were reviewed in previous sections. The length can differ based on the program, but the advanced standing curriculum generally takes two semesters to two years to complete, depending on if a student is attending full-time or part time. Conversely, the standard program takes two to four years to complete. Both programs can offer high quality, but if you want to complete your master’s degree in as little as two semesters, you might consider enrolling in an advanced standing program. However, to qualify for this version of the MSW program, you typically need to fulfill the following requirements:

• Have a bachelor’s in social work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited institution.
• Meet the MSW program’s GPA requirements. This is usually above a 3.2, but depends on the program.
• Any other unique requirements laid out by the admissions website for your program of choice.

Another benefit of attending an advanced standing program is that it tends to be more affordable, since you would be taking less credits overall. It can even cut the tuition cost in half. If a university offers their MSW program online, they often offer the advanced standing program as well. Overall, advanced standing can be a helpful accelerated option when going for a master’s-level social work career.

Affordable MSW Programs in Michigan

Cost may be an important factor to consider when deciding what Michigan Master of Social Work program you want to attend. While affordability is subjective, certain schools offer a lower tuition rate due to many different reasons. For example, state universities tend to be more affordable than private universities. This is because part of the tuition at state universities is funded by tax dollars. So, when a student who is a resident of the state attends one of these universities, they get the benefits of a lower cost. This is also why out-of-state tuition is usually more expensive. So, if you want to save money on tuition, look at local state colleges first. There are several state universities in Michigan that offer an MSW program, including Michigan State University, Northern Michigan University, Ferris State University, and others.

Below is an example of several affordable MSW programs in Michigan.

• Northern Michigan University
  • Tuition: $669 per credit hour
• Saginaw Valley University
  • Tuition: $721.65 per credit hour
• Ferris State University
  • Tuition: $740 per credit hour
• Michigan State University
  • Tuition: $867 per credit hour

Michigan CSWE Accredited MSW Programs

University Name	City	State	Program Title	Program URL
Michigan State University	East Lansing	MI	MSW Program	https://socialwork.msu.edu/Programs/MSW
Northern Michigan University	Marquette	MI	Master of Social Work	https://www.nmu.edu/socialwork/home
University of Michigan	Ann Arbor	MI	Master of Social Work	http://www.ssw.umich.edu/

Conclusion

Social work is a challenging, yet rewarding career. While you can enter the field with a bachelor’s degree, earning a master’s degree can allow you to make positive changes in your community at a higher level while expanding your income opportunities as well. With a master’s degree, you might be able to do things like supervise or manage a mental health clinic, nonprofit organization, social services agency, and more. If you pursue a social work license after earning your master’s degree, you may also be able to provide mental health therapy to those in need, and even open up your own private practice. There are many opportunities available for social workers, especially those at a master’s level. This is particularly true since social work is in high demand in most states, including Michigan.

Michigan has a lot to offer its citizens, but it is not without its problems, and social workers are needed to help. According to the Michigan ACLU, some of the social problems in Michigan include criminal justice, immigrant’s rights, LGBTQ+ issues, disability rights, drug policy, and the Flint Water Crisis. Social workers, especially those who are at a higher level, such as those with a master’s degree, can help on both an individual level to support the community, as well as advocate for those who need justice the most.