The southern state of Mississippi, with almost 3,000,000 residents, offers an eclectic mix of cultures and work environments for social workers. You may choose to live in one of Mississippi’s largest cities, including Jackson, Gulfport, and Southaven. However, in comparison to large cities throughout the country, their cities are still relatively small. As a result, you may find it more rewarding to work in one of the many rural areas of Mississippi.
One of the first things you will notice about living in Mississippi is its low cost of living. Overall, Sperling’s Best Places reports that the cost of living in Mississippi is 86% below the national average. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the average house cost of Mississippi is just over $100,000, a significant difference from the national average of $181,000.
In Mississippi, there are two schools with MSW programs, one located in Hattiesburg and one located in Jackson. Tuition in the state tends to be extremely affordable, as the average tuition rate is $6112. The average acceptance rate in Mississippi is 44%, so you want to emphasize your accomplishments and academic merit when you apply.
In addition to its already low tuition rates, Mississippi has many different financial aid opportunities in place for MSW students. In particular, Jackson State University really supports its graduate students. This school offers several different teaching and research assistantships for MSW students. They also have tuition waivers for students with financial need and academic merit.
In the first year of your two-year MSW, you build a foundation of social work knowledge. Much of this is similar to what you learn in a Bachelor’s degree in social work. You’ll learn about societal issues that lead to the issues you may face as a social worker, the ethics of social work, and how to provide evidence-based care to a variety of populations. Your second year in school will expound on this knowledge and allow you to concentrate on one particular population or type of social work.
Throughout the entirety of your social work program, you should complete field hours that help you put your knowledge to use. You’ll need to complete a minimum of 900 field hours through your entire program.
After completing your MSW program, you have a huge choice in front of you: what career path you want to pursue. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that healthcare organizations and government agencies are the two largest employers of social workers across the nation. However, Mississippi is unique in that most of its population lives in rural areas. These communities often have little to no access to mental health care, so there is an opportunity for you to open a private practice and serve these communities.
There are many different prominent social work employers in Mississippi, including LHC Group, MS State Department of Health, Deaconess HomeCare, and Pioneer Health Services.
Prior to working as a social worker in Mississippi, you have to earn your license from the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists. You can become a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) by sending your application in with a $230 fee. Once you pass the state required exam, you can begin working as a social worker.
If you want to work as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, you must complete two years of supervised clinical work experience. You can then submit references, proof of completed hours, and an application to receive your license.
It is difficult to pinpoint an average social worker salary in Mississippi, because so many factors affect how much you weren’t. Your salary is affected by your concentration in school, your work experience, and what type of social work you do. In general, O*Net reports that health care social workers earn the most money, with an average salary of $39,000 per year. Mental health social workers and family social workers earn average salaries of $33,300 per year and $32,100 per year (O*Net, 2012).
The job outlook for social workers in Mississippi is positive, particularly for healthcare social workers, who can anticipate job growth of 15% through 2020 (O*Net, 2012). The demand for mental health social workers and family social workers is expected to increase by 12% and 11% through 2020, respectively (O*Net, 2012).
Schools in Mississippi Offering Masters in Social Work Programs
Jackson State University
(Jackson, MS)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $5,888 Tuition Cost
- $7,288 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of Southern Mississippi
(Hattiesburg, MS)
- Masters in Social and Family Systems
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $6,336 Tuition Cost
- $6,751 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting