University of Kentucky College of Social Work

What University of Kentucky College of Social Work does

The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is a constituent academic college of the University of Kentucky, a public land-grant research university in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 1938, the college offers degree programs in social work (BASW, MSW, DSW, PhD) and criminal justice (BACJ/BSCJ, MSCJ), alongside continuing education and specialized certificate programs. All social work degrees are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and MSW/LCSW graduates report licensing exam outcomes that exceed state and national averages.

The college's underlying operational architecture centers on nine specialized centers and labs — including the Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab, Military Behavioral Health Lab, Sport Social Work Research Lab, Kentucky Kinship Resource Center, Training Resource Center, and the CW PREP and CW SUSTAIN child welfare workforce programs — each combining faculty research, student practicum, and community engagement. It also operates a satellite site within the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School at Fort Sam Houston, delivering a specialized Army MSW program through a partnership with the Department of Defense.

Revenue is generated through four streams: tuition and fees across degree programs, continuing education units (3,000+ hours delivered annually), federal and state research grants (over $43M secured in the past two years from sources including NCATS, Military Suicide Research Consortium, and the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Grant), and private philanthropy. As a state-supported institution, the college also receives appropriations from the Commonwealth of Kentucky and is governed within the University of Kentucky's academic structure; it has no private equity or venture capital ownership.

Name

University of Kentucky College of Social Work

Legal name

University of Kentucky College of Social Work

Website

https://socialwork.uky.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The University of Kentucky College of Social Work is a public academic college founded in 1938, offering CSWE-accredited social work and criminal justice degrees plus nine specialized research centers and labs serving students, military personnel, and Kentucky communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs including BASW, MSW, DSW, and PhD in Social Work
2. Continuing Education: Revenue from CEU courses provided to social work professionals for licensure renewal, with over 3,000 hours of CEUs provided annually
3. Research Grants: Federal and state research funding including grants from Military Suicide Research Consortium, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, and NIH NCATS
4. Philanthropy and Donations: Private donations and endowed gifts supporting scholarships, research, and community programs

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The University of Kentucky College of Social Work delivers accredited degree programs in social work (BASW, MSW, DSW, PhD) and criminal justice (BACJ/BSCJ, MSCJ), plus a new Undergraduate Certificate in Victimology. It provides continuing education to practicing professionals (3,000+ CEU hours annually) and operates nine specialized research centers and labs addressing military behavioral health, suicide prevention, child welfare, sport social work, and self-care.

Product overview

The University of Kentucky College of Social Work offers a comprehensive portfolio of academic degree programs including undergraduate (BASW, BACJ/BSCJ) and graduate degrees (MSW, MSCJ, DSW, Ph.D. in Social Work), plus certificate programs and continuing education. The college operates multiple specialized research centers and labs including the Training Resource Center, Kentucky Kinship Resource Center, Interdisciplinary Research Center on Children and Families, Military Behavioral Health Lab, Self-Care Lab, International Institute for Sport and Behavioral Health, Sport Social Work Research Lab, and Suicide Prevention and Exposure Lab. Additional programs include CW PREP and CW SUSTAIN supporting Kentucky's child welfare workforce. The institution also conducts significant research with over $43M in research funding secured in the past two years, exceeding 3,000 hours of Continuing Education Units provided annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Army-UK MSW Program: A specialized Master of Social Work program offered in partnership with the U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
• DSW Program

Products and services

• Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) Undergraduate social work degree program preparing students for entry-level social work practice.
• Master of Social Work (MSW) Graduate-level social work degree providing advanced clinical training and licensure preparation. MSW and LCSW graduates exceed state and national averages for social work licensure.
• Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) Professional doctorate program for advanced social work practice and leadership, featuring annual DSW Scholars Showcase with over 200 scholar-practitioners presenting capstone research.
• Ph.D. in Social Work Doctoral research degree program preparing scholars for academic careers and advanced research in social work.
• Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (BACJ/BSCJ) Undergraduate degree exploring systems that shape society including policy and practice in law, corrections, and community justice.
• Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) Graduate degree in criminal justice for professionals seeking leadership roles in law enforcement, corrections, and justice policy.
• Undergraduate Certificate in Victimology New certificate program launched in 2026 focusing on victim-centered approaches within the criminal justice system.
• Continuing Education Units (CEU) Continuing education courses provided to social work professionals for licensure renewal and professional development, with over 3,000 hours of CEUs provided annually.
• CW PREP Child welfare career preparation program providing financial and academic support for students committed to child welfare work in Kentucky.
• CW SUSTAIN Support program for current Kentucky DCBS employees offering full tuition and academic support for earning graduate degrees while advancing their careers.

Quantifiable outcome

• MSW and LCSW graduates exceed state and national averages for social work licensure
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky (PCAKY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with PCAKY for child welfare research, including dissemination of findings on mandated reporting and community support approaches; includes arts-based study collaboration on child maltreatment responses
• Child Well-Being Research Network and InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network improving child welfare through research-backed policies and solutions that help more kids and families thrive
• Department of Defense (DoD) - Army Medical Department Center and SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer Army Master of Science in Social Work at Fort Sam Houston; 70% of incoming Army social work officers hold UK diploma; satellite campus created in October 2016
• UK HealthCarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical partnership for Care2Count hospital point-in-time count, expanding Kentucky K-Count efforts and providing research data to improve healthcare for individuals with housing needs
• Association of Social Workers in SportmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Sport Social Work Collaborative advancing athlete and community well-being through research, education, and outreach
• Sport Social Work JournalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Sport Social Work Collaborative alongside Association of Social Workers in Sport and UK Sport Social Work Research Lab
• UK Sport Social Work Research LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead institution in Sport Social Work Collaborative, advancing athlete and community well-being through research, education, and outreach
• Global Universities and OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnerships expanding evidence-based youth development, improving coaching, and influencing policy globally
• International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization recognizing UK researchers; Dr. Julie Cerel received Norman Farberow Award at 33rd World Congress
• Kentucky Department for Community Based Services (DCBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting CW PREP and CW SUSTAIN programs for child welfare workforce development; DCBS employees receive full tuition and academic support through CW SUSTAIN
• University of UtahmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership on Gestational Diabetes Aftercare and Postpartum Screening (GAPS) Study examining postpartum care gaps for women with gestational diabetes
• Consortium of Rural States (CORES)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of medical research institutions working together to translate innovative research into improved patient care; part of NIH NCATS Clinical & Translational Science Award program

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Indiana University School of Social Work: Neighboring Big Ten state university social work school with CSWE-accredited programs and continuing education; most operationally similar Midwestern state university peer outside Kentucky's borders.
• Ohio State University College of Social Work: Land-grant state university college of social work offering CSWE-accredited BASW, MSW, and PhD programs with comparable research footprint and continuing education. Closest structural peer given co-equal Carnegie classification, similar research lab architecture, and overlapping Midwest student market.
• Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work: State university social work school with comparable CSWE programs, online MSW delivery, and active research centers in behavioral health and child welfare; overlaps with Kentucky on state agency contracts.
• University of Michigan School of Social Work: Top-ranked public university social work school known for research intensity, doctoral training, and large externally funded centers; useful reference for the research-output trajectory and CSWE leadership Kentucky is pursuing.
• University of Maryland School of Social Work: Public state university social work school with strong federal/military partnerships and proximity to Washington, DC agencies; comparable footprint to UK in behavioral health and child welfare research verticals.
• Florida State University College of Social Work: Public state university college of social work with CSWE-accredited programs and online MSW delivery; comparable scale, military-adjacent student body, and statewide child welfare contracts via Florida DCF.
• University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work: Major state university professional school of social work with similarly broad portfolio (BSW, MSSW, PhD), significant externally funded research portfolio, and sizeable online and continuing education footprint.
• University of Georgia School of Social Work: Regional public university social work school accredited by CSWE; comparable size, research portfolio, and online MSW presence; useful benchmark for Southeastern enrollment dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• Boston University School of Social Work: Private R1 university school of social work with leading national online MSW program and substantial externally funded research; represents the competitive frontier for online MSW enrollment against which Kentucky's online program is positioned.
• University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work: Large private research university social work school with one of the largest online MSW programs nationally and significant research output; useful benchmark for both online scale and research portfolio depth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ukcosw
• Facebookfacebook.com/UKCOSW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ukcosw
• Instagraminstagram.com/ukcosw
• TikToktiktok.com/@ukcosw

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Kentucky College of Social Work