MSW Programs in Missouri

Social work in Missouri is a rewarding and diverse career that involves helping individuals, families, and groups with things they are struggling with in their lives. A social worker might help provide resources for a client, advocate for them to help them get needs met, help them find things like housing and food, and much more. Depending on the level of education, a social worker might also be able to provide therapy for clients, or manage a social services organization. All states contend with social issues, and Missouri is no different. This state struggles with social issues including crime, substance abuse, homelessness, and other issues. Social workers can try to mitigate these issues through all the roles described above and more. A master’s degree may allow a social worker to become more involved in working to solve these issues.

There are many options within this career path, and many places a social worker might find themselves employed. If you already work in social services, you might want to pursue a masters in social work degree to expand your career and income opportunities. Alternatively, you might be someone who is looking into MSW programs to change your career path. Either way, an MSW program in Missouri might be for you. 

There are nine master of social work (MSW) programs in Missouri. Seven of these programs have been accredited by the Counsil on Social Work Education (CSWE), which means that they have been evaluated for quality and proven that they meet the standards of providing an innovative and quality social work education. One of the programs is in the candidacy stage of accreditation. Finally, one of the MSW programs in Missouri is currently in the process of having their accreditation withdrawn, although they may pursue it again in the future. This article will review each of these programs so you can make the best decision as to where to get your social work education in Missouri. 

Below is an overview of social work career growth projections and income averages from O*Net Online.

• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 5%
  • Average Annual Wages: $41,620
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 8%
  • Average Annual Wages: $38,150
• Healthcare Social Workers
  • Projected Growth: 5%
  • Average Annual Wages: $47,810
• Social Workers, All Other
  • Projected Growth: 3%
  • Average Annual Wages: $49,910
• Social and Community Service Managers
  • Projected Growth: 4%
  • Average Annual Wages: $59,020

A master’s degree in social work can open up more opportunities than a social worker with a bachelor’s degree. This may be career-wise or income-wise. The data above takes into account the average income of all social work careers in the specified field, including those with bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees. The income for those with a master’s degree may lean a bit higher. Expectations can also depend on the type of organization the social worker works for, their location in the state, the number of years of experience they have, and other factors. Comparatively, 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. 

The upcoming sections review the MSW programs in Missouri so you can make the right decision for where you wish to earn your master’s degree.

Missouri Online Masters in Social Work

There are seven MSW programs in Missouri that offer an online learning format. These each also have an in-person option as well. Online learning is a convenient option for students who have busy lives. Many times, students who are in a master’s degree program already work full time and/or have a family. Online programs are flexible, and allow for someone to receive an education around their other priorities. It can also benefit those who prefer to learn at home. Six of the seven programs below have been accredited by the CSWE, which means that their online and in-person counterparts are of equal quality to each other. One note is that they all require students to complete the practicum requirement in person, even if the rest of the coursework is online.

Below is a summary of each online MSW progam in Missouri.

CSWE Accredited MSW Programs in Missouri

There are seven CSWE-accredited MSW programs in Missouri. The CSWE is the sole accrediting organization in the United States for social work programs. The organization, founded in 1952 comprises 800 bachelor’s and master’s level social work degree programs. This includes the educators, students, and staff associated with those programs. The goal of the CSWE, per their website, is to advance the quality, excellence, and innovation of social work education and provide professional development opportunities for social workers. 

Accreditation is beneficial for universities to earn, as it makes the school more appealing to students. From being awarded accreditation by the CSWE, the school has proven that they meet the quality standards of the organization. Accredited schools are more likely to prepare students for their future careers as social workers and any licensing exams. Additionally, employers tend to prefer to hire social workers who attended an accredited institution. Accreditation also makes it easier for students to transfer their career across the US, if they need to move states, as the CSWE is national and provides consistent standards throughout the country. 

Below are the CSWE accredited MSW programs that were not mentioned in the previous section.

No GRE Required MSW Programs in Missouri

None of the nine MSW programs in Missouri require students to submit GRE scores with their MSW program application. Fewer and fewer social work master’s programs have this requirement as time goes on. 

The GRE, Graduate Record Exam, is used by some educational master’s programs to assess a student’s readiness for graduate-level coursework. The exam assesses a student’s skills in subjects like problem-solving, math, critical thinking, vocabulary, and more. However, this exam is being required by fewer and fewer programs over time. While some programs still require it, many social work programs and others are choosing to opt out. These programs tend to have application requirements such as a minimum GPA requirement in undergraduate work. They might require students to submit letters of recommendation, an essay based on prompts given by the program, a resume of experiences, and more. 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 Missouri. Each previous section has gone over the details of each. 

• Missouri Baptist University
• Missouri State University
• Missouri Western State University
• Park University
• Saint Louis University
• University of Missouri
• University of Missouri, Kansas City
• University of Missouri, Saint Louis 
• Washington University in Saint Louis

Missouri MSW Programs with Accelerated Advanced Standing Options

All seven of the MSW programs in Missouri offer an advanced standing option. Each of these were reviewed in previous sections If you qualify, enrolling in the advanced standing version of the MSW program is a great way to complete the program in about half the time of the standard program. For example, if you are attending full time, the standard program might take two years, while advanced standing takes one. Even if you are attending part-time, the advanced standing version might take only two years, while the standard program might take three to four. 

To qualify for advanced standing, you must have earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE accredited institution, usually within the past 5-10 years. There is usually also a minimum GPA requirement, although that varies by program. Other application requirements for the advanced standing MSW program also vary by program.

Affordable MSW Programs in Missouri

When considering which graduate program to attend, affordability is a big factor for many. There are several ways to go about funding your tuition. One main way is through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA. As the name implies, it is a free application for student financial aid, whether that be grants or federal loans. This application has helped millions of students afford their college tuition. Other ways to finance your education might be through scholarships, such as ones offered by the CSWE. Additionally, your program of choice might offer scholarships as well. The way to find out is by exploring the university’s website or calling their scholarship website.

Something else that can help is comparing the cost of programs you are interested in. While the cost of some may be similar, others are more affordable. For example, state-funded universities tend to be much more affordable than private universities, especially if it is in the state where you are a resident. So, if you live in Missouri, Missouri state universities might be the way to go for highest affordability.

Below are some examples of affordable MSW programs in Missouri. These universities were reviewed in previous sections.

• University of Missouri
  • Tuition: $603 per credit hour
• Missouri Baptist University
  • Tuition: $668 per credit hour
• Park University
  • Tuition: $695 per credit hour

Missouri CSWE Accredited MSW Programs

University Name	City	State	Program Title	Program URL
Missouri Baptist University	St. Louis	MO	Master of Social Work	https://www.mobap.edu/academics/graduate-social-behavioral-sciences-division/master-of-social-work/
Missouri State University	Springfield	MO	Master of Social Work	https://www.missouristate.edu/swk/Graduate/
Saint Louis University	St. Louis	MO	Master of Social Work	https://www.slu.edu/public-health-social-justice/education/graduate/social-work-msw-phd.php
University of Missouri	Columbia	MO	Master of Social Work	https://ssw.missouri.edu/

Conclusion

Social workers do an important job all across the country. They help individuals and communities through hard times. They might provide resources or counseling to individuals and families, or they might even be able to advocate for policy change. Social workers may find themselves employed at all kinds of places, including hospitals, veteran’s homes, social service agencies, mental health facilities, rehab facilities, and more. Earning a graduate degree in social work may expand one’s income and career opportunities. Some with a master’s in social work degree may even go on to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and open up their own clinic to provide mental health therapy. In Missouri, social workers can specifically help with individuals struggling with substance abuse, homelessness, and other issues. Although it can be challenging, social work is an important and rewarding job that provides vital services to the community.