Is An MSW Worth It? – (Pros VS. Cons)

Written By: Darby FaubionDarby Faubion RN, BSN, MBA

Darby Faubion is a nurse and allied health instructor with over 20 years of clinical experience. Darby lives in Louisiana and loves exploring the state’s rich culture and history. Darby has a passion for caring for veterans and a special interest in those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. In her quest to make a difference for veterans, she founded a non-profit called “Operation Battle Buddy.” Read Full Bio »» RN, BSN, MBA

Are you a social worker or a professional in a related field considering a career move? Do you love helping others and feel earning a higher degree could create better opportunities for you to make that happen? Perhaps you thought of going to school to earn a master’s in social work but wonder, “Is an MSW degree program worth it?” I have been in your shoes before, having graduated from college then thinking of going back to school to earn another degree. I understand that there is a lot to consider.

In this article, I am going to share some information with you to try and make your decision easier. As you continue reading, you will discover 15 reasons why an MSW degree program is worth it and 5 reasons why it may not be the right degree for you. When you finish reading, you will know more about the time it takes to earn an MSW and what it costs and get some insight into the pros and cons of earning a master’s in social work so you can weigh whether this is the right decision for you.

How Long Does an MSW Degree Take?

MSW degree programs take an average of two years to complete. The time it takes you to graduate from a program will depend on whether you enroll part-time or full-time and the number of credits you need to earn the degree. For example, the University of Texas at Austin offers one-, two-, and three-year MSW programs. The University of North Carolina offers part-time and full-time traditional and advanced standing MSW programs that take between one and three years to complete. Lancaster Bible College offers an online Master of Social Work program that takes one to two years to complete full-time or two to three years to complete part-time.

RECOMMENDED ONLINE MSW PROGRAMS

How Much Does an MSW Degree Cost?

Earning a Master of Social Work degree can cost as little as $20,000 to as much as $75,000, depending on several factors. Some schools, like the University of Buffalo, charge different tuition rates based on whether you live in the state or out-of-state. Students here pay between $26,000 and $41,000 to earn an MSW. On the other hand, at Widener University, students in the advanced standing MSW pathway pay approximately $34,000 for the program, and those in the traditional pathway pay an average of $54,000. The MSW program at the University of Montana costs $600 per credit and requires students to complete 60 credits, making the program cost approximately $36,000.

Why is an MSW Degree Program Worth It? – the Pros

(The following are the 15 main reasons why an MSW degree program is worth it.)

REASON #1: You Can Positively Impact Others’ Lives

I have several friends and colleagues who are MSWs, and they have each told me that one of the main reasons an MSW degree program is worth it is that it prepares you for a career where you can positively impact others. Whether you work with children, adolescents, adults, or families, your role as a social worker will be to advocate on behalf of others. There may be times when you are the only true source of help or direction others have.

REASON #2: You Can Choose to Specialize

Another excellent reason to consider earning a master’s degree in social work is that you are not limited to working in one lane or with one population of people. With an MSW degree, you can choose to specialize in several areas of social work. A few examples of choices include child and family social work, school social work, medical and health social work, forensic social work, and community social work.

REASON #3: There Is a Good Job Outlook

One of the top reasons why an MSW degree program is worth it is that it leads to a career with a good job outlook. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of social workers is expected to grow seven percent from 2022 to 2032. This projected growth is faster than the average for all other occupations reported on by the BLS.

REASON #4: You Will Experience Personal Growth

There is just something about helping others that makes us naturally want to become better people. One of the awesome things about social work is that you will have endless opportunities for personal growth. As I mentioned previously, I have several friends and colleagues who have dedicated their lives to social work, and each of them has said many times that the personal growth they experience in their roles is amazing. Those who have gone on to earn master's degrees in social work have told me that it creates even more opportunities to develop and grow personally.

As a nurse and healthcare educator, I genuinely believe that it is important to seek learning opportunities that support not only professional growth and development but your personal growth and development, as well. That is why I feel an MSW degree program is worth it.

REASON #5: You Can Leverage Your Knowledge & Skills to Work in the Legal System

If you love social work but also have an interest in the justice system and the law, you could earn a master’s in social work and become a forensic social worker. Forensic social workers apply their knowledge and social work skills to address issues related to the law and legal systems. Depending on where you work, you could evaluate alleged offenders of crimes and their victims, provide expert witness testimony, facilitate child custody issues, or participate in the training of law enforcement officials and other criminal justice personnel.

Another way you can do social work within the legal system is to work in settings such as prisons or correctional institutions. For example, after working nearly 10 years in social work, my friend, Carla, went back to school, earned her master's in social work, and began working at a maximum-security prison. Carla told me that her job was very emotional, as many of the people she cared for had been given long sentences, with some being sentenced to 20 years or more in prison. Her job was to evaluate inmates to determine their mental and emotional health, provide crisis intervention, and offer clinical supervision. Additionally, her job was to provide resources to help inmates navigate their lives while incarcerated and to prepare for transition after their release if they were paroled or served their time.

REASON #6: You Can Help People Dealing with Mental Health Issues

Overcoming issues that impact mental health, such as psychological or emotional trauma, abuse, or neglect, often requires having the help of an experienced professional. When you earn a master's in social work, you can play an integral role in identifying peoples' needs and helping them find healthy ways to cope. You may be instrumental in helping combat the problems that arise due to mental health issues, such as homelessness and addiction disorders, by providing resources to places that offer shelter and substance abuse treatment options.

REASON #7: You Can Teach Future Social Workers

If you truly love social work and want to impact the future of the profession, one of the best ways to do that is to become a professor of social work studies. With a master’s in social work, you can teach social work at the college level, which is one of the biggest reasons why an MSW degree program is worth it. The knowledge and experience you bring to the classroom can be instrumental in shaping the future of social work. You can influence students by demonstrating a good work ethic, professional standards of practice, and compassion for clients, which can positively impact the people for whom they care for generations.

REASON #8: There Are More Opportunities for Management

With a master's degree in social work, you become eligible to take on various leadership roles. Because there are so many specialties and areas where you can work, the type of leadership role you pursue depends on the setting where you work or the type of work you want to do. For instance, you may be interested in working for the Department of Children and Family Services, where you could oversee a group of other social workers who work with children and families. On the other hand, you may work as an administrator at a substance abuse or rehabilitation center. One of the things I find interesting about social work is that there are so many opportunities; you really are only limited by what you allow yourself to do.

REASON #9: You Can Open Your Own Practice

If you want to help others but also like the idea of being your own boss, knowing that you could open your own practice may make you feel like an MSW degree program is worth it. In many cases, independent social workers offer direct counseling and mental health support to clients. You may work with children, adolescents, adults, or families by providing individual or group counseling, crisis intervention, grief counseling, or more. The National Association of Social Workers reports that private social work practitioner services often extend beyond typical office settings, with many social workers contracted by court systems, schools, clinical organizations, and primary health care facilities.

REASON #10: There Is Always Something New to Learn

If you are one of those people who enjoys the mundane or who is unbothered by doing the same thing day in and day out, you may not be interested in earning a master’s in social work. However, if you are like me and enjoy learning, moving up the ladder in an MSW degree program is worth it. When you pursue your master’s in social work, you will learn a broader range of skills, including how to manage and lead teams of social workers. You will also learn to leverage your knowledge and experiences to lobby for changes in social work and advocate for individuals, families, and communities.

REASON #11: You Will Grow Your Professional Network

Another one of the top reasons why an MSW degree program is worth it is that you will broaden your professional network. In your MSW program, you will participate in field training where you will meet experienced social workers that you can learn from and develop professional relationships with. This is an excellent benefit because the professional connections you make could pay off when you begin searching for jobs or references.

REASON #12: Your Degree Can Generate Multiple Streams of Income

When you earn a Master of Social Work degree, you can leverage it to create multiple streams of income. For example, in addition to your regular job, you may work as an adjunct professor at a college or university, consult with a legal firm, or even do some freelance writing. I actually have a good friend who wrote a couple of books about her experiences as a social worker. Once local college professors learned about her books and read them, she was often invited to speak as a guest lecturer at social work seminars. These are just a few examples of reasons why an MSW degree program is worth it.

REASON #13: You Will Develop a Broader Skillset & Your Skills Are Transferable

One of the biggest reasons why an MSW degree program is worth it is that the program will help you develop and hone a broader range of skills relevant to your success as an MSW degree holder. In your master’s in social work program, you will learn to assist individuals, families, and groups with social needs, how to intervene in crisis situations, how to communicate effectively, and to understand the historical, economic, and cultural factors that impact society.

Also, should you later decide to pursue a different career path, the skills you develop as an MSW are transferrable. For example, your strong communication skills, ability to work with individuals and groups, and the leadership skills you develop as an MSW can be used in a wide variety of jobs.

REASON#14: You Can Impact Your Local Community

I have always been the kind of person who likes to think outside the box and do things to help others that make a difference but that are not directly related to my job. As a nurse, I am able to do that by volunteering some of my personal time to families in need or participating in health fairs to educate children and families about ways to promote healthy lifestyles.

When you earn a master’s in social work, you can impact your local community in big ways! You can not only head up community events to educate community members and connect them with resources such as housing assistance, food banks, or healthcare services, but you can also work in community-based organizations, such as non-profits, grassroots organizations, or after-school programs.

REASON #15: Your Work Will Be Rewarding

Not everyone has the privilege of saying their job is rewarding, but when you earn a Master of Social Work degree, you will be one of the ones who can. Whether you help victims of trauma overcome their experiences, counsel criminal offenders to help them find positive outlets and better ways of living, educate children and families about health and wellness, or assist communities with disaster recovery, with a master's degree in social work, you can do work that is truly rewarding. This is one of the main reasons why an MSW degree program is worth it.

Why an MSW Degree Program May Not Be Worth It for You? – the Cons

(Now that we have discussed the 15 reasons why an MSW degree program is worth it, I will share 5 main reasons why an MSW degree program may not be worth it for you.)

REASON #1: MSW Programs Can’t Prepare You for the Emotional Roller Coaster

As wonderful a career as social work is, it is no secret that it can be emotionally taxing. Even if you attend the best social work program and learn from the most renowned faculty, MSW programs cannot prepare you for the emotional roller coaster that you will sometimes experience. The amount of emotional stress you deal with will depend on where you work and what your job responsibilities are. While the rewards of helping others and making a difference can be great, if you find working in emotionally stressful situations too much to handle, you may feel an MSW degree program is not worth it.

REASON #2: Field Experiences in the Program Are Tough

One of the requirements of MSW programs is to participate in field experiences. These experiences are designed to provide opportunities for you to apply the theories and concepts presented in the program to actual practice situations. Some students find the field experiences very challenging. You must be prepared to spend considerable time working with preceptors and completing independent studies and projects.

REASON #3: Your Schedule May Be Unpredictable

There are some social work jobs that have great schedules, especially if you work in management or administration. However, if you work in a role that requires you to be out in the field, your schedule could be unpredictable. I have a friend who worked as an MSW Child Advocate for the Department of Children and Family Services. There were times when she was called out in the middle of the night to go remove children from dangerous situations. I remember many nights she called me to keep her children so she could help other children through her job. If you are considering earning a master’s in social work and a steady schedule is important to you, I recommend considering your options carefully before choosing a specialty.

REASON #4: MSWs Are Often Exposed to A Lot of Trauma

Depending on where you work after graduating, even if you do not specialize as a trauma social worker, your role as a Master of Social Work could leave you exposed to people and situations that involve lots of trauma. Some social workers work in hospitals and are there when victims of violent crimes are brought into the emergency department for care. Others work in prisons and other correctional facilities and deal with alleged offenders who not only deal with the trauma of their pasts but also the trauma they experience while incarcerated. Even school social workers are exposed to traumatic incidents, such as school shootings or violence, or they may counsel students who experience abuse or neglect at home.

As a nurse in the emergency department, I saw a lot of people who were victims of violence. It was heartbreaking to see some cases, especially when young children were affected, and I can only imagine that social workers feel much the same. In fact, one of my close friends has been a social worker for many years, and she told me that when she first began working in the field as a social worker, she would have nightmares about some of the cases she worked on. If you do not have good coping skills and a good support system, the job of an MSW may be difficult, and you may feel that an MSW degree program is not worth it.

REASON #5: It Can Be Hard to Separate Your Personal Feelings from Your Professional Duties

As a healthcare professional, I understand what it’s like to pour myself into work, and I have experienced what it is like when my feelings get in the way of making sound judgment calls. I think some people feel that’s one of the risks of working in the industries that provide services to others like social workers, teachers, physicians, and nurses. No matter how much your instructors tell you to draw a line in the sand and not allow your personal feelings to cloud your professional judgment, it can be challenging. If your personal feelings get in the way too much, it could interfere with your job and lead to you making poor decisions for the people you serve. If separating your personal feelings from personal responsibilities is something you struggle with, you may find an MSW degree program is not worth it.

What is the Average Salary for MSW Degree Holders?

MSW degree holders earn excellent incomes, with average salaries of approximately $62,760. This pay breaks down to equal $30.17 per hour, $1,207 per week, or $5,230 per month.

Is the Cost of an MSW Degree Worth the Return on Investment (ROI)?

One of the first things people ask when considering earning a degree is if it will be worth their time and money. Having earned more than one degree, I understand wanting to ensure a good return on your investment. When it comes to earning a master’s in social work, you can find programs that cost as little as $20,000. Some of the more expensive programs cost around $75,000 if you do not utilize scholarships or grants. The average annual salary for program graduates is $62,760.

When you compare the cost of the MSW degree to your earning potential, even if you choose one of the higher-priced programs, you could see a positive return on your investment in just a few years, which makes the cost of the degree worth the return on your investment. Keep in mind, also, that your earning potential increases with more years of experience, which makes your return greater as time goes on.

My Final Thoughts

If you are considering earning a master’s degree in social work, it is natural to have questions, feel confused, or wonder if it is the right path for your career. You may find yourself wondering, “Is an MSW degree program worth it?” In this article, I shared 15 reasons why an MSW degree program is worth it and 5 reasons why it may not be the right degree for you to try and answer that question and give you some insight to help you decide if this is a path you want to pursue.

After reviewing the reasons I shared, if you feel earning a master's degree in social work is something you want to do, I encourage you to research options for schools and programs and begin your journey today. There are endless opportunities for excellent jobs in social work and a great need for dedicated, passionate people like you!

List Of Sources Used For This Article

1. Steve Hicks School of Social Work (The University of Texas at Austin)
2. College of Health & Human Services (University of North Carolina)
3. Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School
4. School of Social Work (University of Buffalo)
5. Widener University
6. The University of Montana
7. “Occupational Outlook Handbook-Social Workers” (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
8. “What Are the Different Types of Social Workers?” (www.forbes.com)
9. “What You Need to Start Your Own Social Work Private Practice” (University of Nevada, Reno)
10. “11 Best MSW Trauma Programs-2024" (nursingprocess.org)