MSW Programs in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is home to a varied population, ranging from the intellectual giants of academia to a robust, salt-of-the-earth middle class. It is a culturally diverse and densely populated state, with a larger-than-average population of immigrants. Historically, Massachusetts has spawned forward movement in the arts, sciences and arenas of social change.

Massachusetts is known for its top tier colleges and universities. It’s no surprise that Massachusetts attracts many of the brightest and most ambitious students from around the world. It is also the setting of the first official employment of a social worker with that specific title. Massachusetts General Hospital employed the very first social worker back in 1905.

Making a Difference

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that national social work job opportunities are increasing at a rate of 13 percent. This is a faster-than-average growth rate, meaning it is a good time to get into the field of social work (1).

When compared to the rest of the nation, Massachusetts hires between two to three times more mental health social workers and healthcare social workers than the average state (2). If you want to work in either a healthcare or mental health facility setting, Massachusetts is one of the better parts of the nation for job opportunities. Mental health counselors also frequently work as independent counselors. If this appeals to you, opportunities abound in this state.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Massachusetts has a slightly lower than average percentage of the population diagnosed with mental illness, both mild and severe. However, it has more than the average number of mental health care facilities in the state (3). Treatment of mental health appears to be a priority in the state, making it a good place to start a career in mental health social work.

Massachusetts has a slightly higher than average immigrant population. As a result just under 24.3 percent of the population speaks a language other than English at home (4). If you’ve considered double majoring in a foreign language such as Spanish and working with Latino families, you will find there is a higher-than average need for this type of role in this state when compared to the national demand. Massachusetts also has a slightly larger than average elderly population (5). This population is growing, which means there is also a growing need for gerontology social workers.

In Pursuit of Excellence

You already know Massachusetts is a mecca of academic opportunity, but you might not know that it is a particularly great place to study social work in particular. According to the 2019 US News & World Report school rankings, Massachusetts offers some of the best graduate school social work programs in the country. Boston College’s Graduate School of Social Work is ranked number ten in the nation, tied with Boston University and Smith College (seventeenth). Eight of the state’s graduate school social work programs rank in the top 150 programs in the nation, firmly establishing Massachusetts as a leader in social work education (6).

There are several top-of-the-line programs from which to choose, but one higher education institution stands out from the crowd. Boston College is lauded for its hands-on approach, combining fieldwork with its rigorous course of study. It has also gained notoriety for its Latino Leadership Initiative program, preparing students for the large Latino population in the Boston area (7).

Once you get your master’s or doctoral degree, you may qualify for one of two Massachusetts loan forgiveness programs available to social workers working in “Health Professional Shortage Areas” (HPSA). If you are willing to work in a position that supports an underserved population, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness of up to $20,000 a year for two years, for a total of $40,000 of loan forgiveness. Check out the requirements of both the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and the Massachusetts Loan Repayment Program for Health Professionals (MLRP) for details.

Social Work Employment Opportunities Abound

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, social workers in Massachusetts earn above average salaries. The 2019 annual mean wage for the state was between $46,900 and $74,390. Springfield, Massachusetts and the Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton tri-city area are particularly lucrative parts of the state for social workers. The 2019 average mean wage in Springfield was $83,540, and the 2019 average mean wage for the Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton tri-city metropolis was slightly less. Compare these numbers to the 2019 national median wage for this field, which was $50,470 (8).

Most of the social workers employed in Massachusetts work either as child, family and school social workers or as healthcare social workers. The average pay for the social work title in Massachusetts is $63,761 per year. According to job search site Indeed.com, the highest paying jobs go to clinical social workers, postsecondary social work educators, and senior acute care social workers (9).

You may wish to look into a job as a professor of social work if salary is your top priority. Post-secondary social work educators in Massachusetts are paid an median salary of $71,200. Job growth for this sector is anticipated to grow at a rate of 14 percent between 2016 and 2026 (10). Child, family and school social workers in the state make an median of $46,800 per year, with job growth predicted at a rate of 10 percent for that same time frame (11). If you don’t mind the fact that the pay is slightly lower (median salary of $42,200), you may want to work as a mental health or substance abuse social worker. The work is rewarding and plentiful, and job opportunities are anticipated to grow and a rate of 14 percent (12).

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• Social Work Licensure in Massachusetts
• Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers
• National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter
• International Association for Social Work with Groups, Massachusetts Chapter

Universities with Master’s in Social Work Programs in Massachusetts

• Simmons College (MSW Program)
• Boston College (MSW Program)
• Boston University (MSW Program)
• Bridgewater State University (MSW Program)
• Regis College (MSW Program)
• Salem State University (MSW Program)
• Smith College (MSW Program)
• Springfield College (MSW Program)
• Suffolk University (MSW Program)
• Westfield State University (MSW Program)
• Wheelock College (MSW Program)

Sources Cited

1. State and County Quick Facts: Massachusetts, 2019-29. United States Census Bureau. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm#tab-6
2. National Mental Health Services Survey, 2017-18. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt23235/2k18SAEExcelTabs/NSDUHsaePercents2018.pdf
3. National Mental Health Services Survey, 2017-18. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt23235/2k18SAEExcelTabs/NSDUHsaePercents2018.pdf
4. United States Census Bureau, 2020. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/massachusetts/demographics/languages
5. State and County Quick Facts: Massachusetts, 2019. United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/dashboard/MA,US/PST045219
6. Graduate School Social Work Programs: Massachusetts, 2019. US News and World Report. https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/social-work-rankings?location=Massachusetts
7. MSW Programs, Boston College Graduate School of Social Work. https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/ssw/msw-program.html
8. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211029.htm
9. Social Worker Salary in Massachusetts, 2021. Indeed.com. https://www.indeed.com/career/social-worker/salaries/MA
10. Occupation Profile: Social Work Teachers, Post-Secondary: Massachusetts, 2019. Career One Stop. https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/careers/occupations/Occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Social%20Work%20Teachers,%20Postsecondary&onetcode=25111300&location=Massachusetts
11. Occupation Profile: Child, Family, and School Social Worker: Massachusetts, 2019. Career One Stop. https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/careers/occupations/Occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Child,%20Family,%20and%20School%20Social%20Workers&onetcode=21102100&location=Massachusetts
12. Occupation Profile: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker: Massachusetts, 2019. Career One Stop. https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/careers/occupations/Occupation-profile.aspx?keyword=Mental%20Health%20and%20Substance%20Abuse%20Social%20Workers&onetcode=21102300&location=Massachusetts&lang=en