MSW Programs in Wisconsin

The state of dairy, streams, rivers, snow and state parks, Wisconsin has plenty of character. Wisconsin is located in the Midwest and Great Lakes region, with Lake Michigan to the east and Lake Superior to the north. It is the home of 7,446 streams and rivers and is known as the “dairy capital” of the United States (1).

Wisconsin, also known as the “Badger State” is the 23rd most extensive (in area) state in the nation and the 20th most populous. Milwaukee hosts the highest population in the state with 600,000 residents, followed by the state’s capital, Madison, population 243,000 (2). It is the home of several state parks, amusement parks and water parks, including Noah’s Ark in Wisconsin Dells, the country’s largest water park.

The Social Work Landscape

According to the United States Census Bureau, the state’s population is growing at a slightly slower-than-average pace. It has a slightly-higher-than-average percentage of the population aged 65 and over (14.8 percent, compared to the national average of 14.1 percent), and a lower-than-average percentage of the population living in poverty (only 12.5 percent, compared to the14.9 percent national average.) The median household income is slightly lower than the national average ($52,627, compared to $53,046), but Wisconsin’s cost of living is also slightly lower than average (3).

Much of the state is rural, and those rural populations have slightly higher needs for service than others. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, rural Wisconsin has a slightly higher percent age of the population living in poverty (12.9 percent). Unemployment is higher in the rural areas as well (7.3 percent in rural areas, compared to 6.5 percent in urban areas) (4).

While Wisconsin has a lower-than-average percentage of the population diagnosed with mental illness (17.98 percent, compared to the national average of 18.19 percent) (5), the state has seen an increase in admissions to substance abuse treatment centers. In 2001, 20,154 people were admitted to substance abuse treatment facilities; by 2011, that number had jumped to 27,721 (6). At the same time, the state has also been hit with budget cuts to state and federally funded mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities. In 2011, the state instituted budget cuts of 22.4 percent to non-Medicaid-funded mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities (7). In 2013, the state increased funding again (8). The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job growth is on the rise for social workers.

Studying Social Work

If you’d like to study social work in state, you have fantastic opportunities available to you. According to the 2014 US News & World Report school rankings, the University of Wisconsin, Madison’s School of Social Work is ranked number 11 in the country. The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee’s School of Social Welfare is ranked number 52, and the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay is ranked number 89 (9).

The University of Wisconsin Madison offers a MSW program that supports concentrations in all the basics – healthcare, gerontology, and disability support, mental health, youth support, substance abuse treatment, and foster care support. The school is especially proud of its series of diversity-focused and public policy/community activism courses (10).

Wisconsin does not offer a state-specific loan repayment program, but you will want to look into the National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program (NHSC) when you are looking for your first job. If you can find work in a “Health Professional Shortage Area” (HPSA), you may qualify for loan forgiveness of up to $20,00 per year.

Plenty of Job Growth

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that 9,430 social workers are employed in the state of Wisconsin. Of those 9,430 social workers, 3,790 of them work as child, family or school social workers, making a median salary of $49,720 per year. That is slightly less than the national median salary of $52,520 (11). Experts predict slow growth in this job sector – only anticipating a three percent increase per year from now to 2020 (12).

The sector with the highest anticipated job growth for social workers in the state is healthcare. Experts predict job opportunities to increase at a rate of 20 percent (13). Healthcare social workers make a median salary of $48,930 (14).

The highest paid social workers in the state are mental health and substance abuse social workers, making a median salary of $56,300. This is much higher than the national median salary of $44,420 (15). Job growth for this sector is anticipated at a rate of 12 percent per year (16).

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• Wisconsin Social Work License
• National Association of Social Workers, Wisconsin Chapter
• Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
• Wisconsin School Social Workers Association

Master’s in Social Work Programs in Wisconsin

• Marquette University
• University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Sources Cited

1. Wisconsin Facts and Trivia, 2014. 50 States.com. http://www.50states.com/facts/wisconsin.htm#.U7xyyI1dXgI
2. USA: Wisconsin, 2014. City Population. http://www.citypopulation.de/USA-Wisconsin.html
3. State and County QuickFacts, 2014. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/55000.html
4. Wisconsin, 2014. Rural Assistance Center. http://www.raconline.org/states/wisconsin
5. State Estimates of Adult Mental Illness, 2012. National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k14/NSDUH170/sr170-mental-illness-state-estimates-2014.htm
6. State Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment Services, 2001 – 2011. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. http://www.samhsa.gov/data/DASIS/TEDS2011St_Web.pdf
7. State Mental Health Cuts: The Continuing Crisis, 2011. National Alliance for Mental Illness. http://www.nami.org/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm?ContentFileID=147763
8. State Legislation Report 2013: Trends, Themes and Best Practices in State Mental Health Legislation, 2013. National Alliance for Mental Illness. http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/State_Advocacy/Tools_for_Leaders/2013StateLegislationReportFinal.pdf
9. 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=wisconsin&program_rank=Any&sort=&sortdir=
10. Focus on Diversity, 2014. University of Wisconsin Madison. https://socwork.wisc.edu/diversityfocus
11. Statewide Statistics for Wisconsin, 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
12. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211021&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=55&search=Go
13. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211022&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=55&search=Go
14. Statewide Statistics for Wisconsin, 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
15. Statewide Statistics for Wisconsin, 2013. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
16. America’s Career InfoNet – Career Profile, 2014. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211023&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=55&search=Go