In spite of its relatively small size, Pennsylvania has a large population of 12.7 million people. In addition to large cities like Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and Allentown, there are many historical rural areas of Pennsylvania where you can settle down.
With attractions like Hersheypark, the Liberty Bell, and the site of the Gettysburg battle, you might expect the cost of living in Pennsylvania to be higher than average. However, Sperling’s Best Places reports that the cost of living in Pennsylvania is on par with the national average. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the average house cost in Pennsylvania is $164,900, over $15,000 lower than the national average.
When you choose to study social work in Pennsylvania, you have lots of educational opportunities to consider. There are 19 MSW programs in Pennsylvania with an average tuition cost of $22,638. However, with so many schools, there is bound to be lots of variance in tuition rates; tuition rates can be as low as $6,428. Although the average acceptance rate is 59%, there are several Pennsylvania schools with demanding admissions processes.
Each social work program in Pennsylvania helps you tackle a variety of goals. You’ll learn how to read and apply social work research, how to use counseling techniques for different demographic groups, and how to understand the ways in which society affects your patients.
In your first year, you complete a variety of core lecture courses as well as practicum hours. Your second year focuses more heavily on your area of concentration and practicum hours. Many schools have a selection of areas of concentration for you to consider, including child welfare, marriage and family social work, and gerontology.
Since practicum hours are one of the most important parts of your degree, it’s crucial to apply what you learn in your lecture courses to your practicum hours. Your field site supervisor will assess your performance and compare it to how you performed at previous practicum sites.
Among the different employment options you have as a social worker, you may find that most jobs fit into two categories: healthcare organizations or government agencies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that these two industries are the largest employers of social workers.
There are lots of well-known social work employers in Pennsylvania, including Silver Lake Center, Golden Living Centers, LHC Group, and Main Line Health System.
Social workers with clinical licensure have the opportunity to work independently in a private practice. You need at least two years of experience before you can pursue this option, as you need to pursue a higher level of licensure.
The State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors is the governing body for social workers in Pennsylvania. After providing proof of your degree and submitting an application, you can sit for the Master’s-level social work exam. You must pay a $25 application fee and a $230 testing fee. Upon passing your test, you become an LMSW.
After becoming an LMSW, you can begin working on the 3,000 hours of supervised work that you need to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. After completing your work hours, you can sit for the advanced exam.
As an entry-level social worker, your salary is dependent on your specialty and what level of licensure you pursue. You may be able to earn more money than social workers with Bachelor’s degrees, and your income potential may increase even more after you become an LCSW.
Healthcare, mental health, and family social workers can anticipate earning average salaries of $37,500 per year to $45,400 per year (O*Net, 2012). Clinical social workers in specialty fields earn average salaries of $36,500 per year to $45,800 per year (O*Net, 2012).
With unemployment, poverty, and other social ills on the rise, social workers are in high demand in a variety of fields. Healthcare, mental health, and family social workers can anticipate job growth of 4% to 17% through 2020, while clinical social workers may see job growth of 9% to 21% in the same time frame (O*Net, 2012).
Schools in Pennsylvania Offering Masters in Social Work Programs
Bryn Mawr College
(Bryn Mawr, PA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $41,260 Tuition Cost
- $23,477 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
California University of Pennsylvania
(California, PA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $6,428 Tuition Cost
- $6,764 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Carnegie Mellon University
(Pittsburgh, PA)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- $44,880 Tuition Cost
- $22,620 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Drexel University
(Philadelphia, PA)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- $36,893 Tuition Cost
- $15,227 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Duquesne University
(Pittsburgh, PA)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- $27,668 Tuition Cost
- $13,680 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
(Edinboro, PA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $6,428 Tuition Cost
- $3,210 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Gannon University
(Erie, PA)
- Masters in Community and Social Psychology
- $26,765 Tuition Cost
- $13,710 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
(Kutztown, PA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $6,428 Tuition Cost
- $6,400 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Marywood University
(Scranton, PA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $28,080 Tuition Cost
- $16,226 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
(Millersville, PA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $6,428 Tuition Cost
- $2,993 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
(University Park, PA)
- Masters in Human Development and Family Studies
- $15,562 Tuition Cost
- $6,031 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great Valley
(Malvern, PA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- Suburban Campus Setting
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
(Middletown, PA)
- Masters in Community and Social Psychology
- $13,018 Tuition Cost
- $4,655 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
(Shippensburg, PA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $6,428 Tuition Cost
- $5,066 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Temple University
(Philadelphia, PA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $13,006 Tuition Cost
- $5,145 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of Pennsylvania
(Philadelphia, PA)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $39,088 Tuition Cost
- $33,557 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
(Pittsburgh, PA)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $15,730 Tuition Cost
- $11,419 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
(West Chester, PA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $6,428 Tuition Cost
- $3,531 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Widener University-Main Campus
(Chester, PA)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $35,764 Tuition Cost
- $18,658 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting