University of Michigan School of Social Work

What University of Michigan School of Social Work does

The University of Michigan School of Social Work is a public academic unit within the University of Michigan, founded in 1921 and operated under The Regents of the University of Michigan from its campus at 1080 South University Avenue in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school delivers graduate social work education through three primary degree tracks: the Master of Social Work (MSW), available both on-campus and online with eight specialized pathways (Children, Youth & Families; Community Change; Global Social Work Practice; Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health & Substance Abuse; Management & Leadership; Policy & Political Social Work; Program Evaluation & Applied Research; and Older Adults & Families); the MA in Social Impact Leadership, a 30-credit graduate degree for changemakers in public, nonprofit, and private sectors; and two PhD programs, including the only Joint PhD in Social Work and Social Science in the United States. It also offers an undergraduate Community Action & Social Change (CASC) minor and an online Social Work Essentials Certificate, with curriculum delivery supported by the Canvas learning management system and virtual lab technology accessible to all students.

Revenue is generated through three streams: tuition and fees from degree and continuing education programs; donations and philanthropy channeled through the Development and Alumni Relations office for student scholarships, faculty support, and program innovation; and continuing education certificate programs for practicing social workers and allied health professionals (addictions, animal-assisted interventions, disability inclusion, integrated behavioral health, sexual health, sport social work, trauma-informed practice). Practical training is delivered through a field education network of 550+ fieldwork sites and approximately 1,200 placement locations, supervised by 750 licensed professional social workers, primarily concentrated in Southeast Michigan with additional national and international placements. The school holds ASWB-ACE Provider #1212 accreditation (valid 5/15/2026–5/15/2029) and is authorized under Michigan Administrative Rule R 338.2923 4(b) to award continuing education contact hours. Go-to-market is traditional academic sales: prospective students engage through information sessions (virtual and in-person), admissions counselors, connect pages, digital brochures, and priority application deadlines (March 1 for MSW, March 15 for MSIL), with graduate applications waived of GRE/GMAT requirements.

Name

University of Michigan School of Social Work

Legal name

The Regents of the University of Michigan

Website

https://ssw.umich.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The University of Michigan School of Social Work, founded in 1921 and ranked #1 nationally since 2012, offers MSW, MA, and PhD degree programs plus continuing education certificates to graduate students, undergraduates, and practicing social work professionals from its Ann Arbor campus and online channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition and fees for MSW, MA in Social Impact Leadership, PhD programs, and continuing education courses. The institution offers various financial aid packages, scholarships, and funding opportunities for students.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Development and Alumni Relations office raises funds for student support (scholarships), faculty support, and innovative programs. The school prioritizes making social work education more affordable through donor support.
3. Continuing Education Programs: Professional development and lifelong learning opportunities for social workers and allied health professionals, including certificate programs in areas like addictions, animal-assisted interventions, disability inclusion, integrated behavioral health, sexual health, and sport social work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The University of Michigan School of Social Work delivers graduate-level social work education through its Master of Social Work (MSW) program with eight specialized pathways, an MA in Social Impact Leadership, and two PhD programs (Social Work & Social Welfare and a unique Joint PhD in Social Work & Social Science). It also operates an undergraduate Community Action & Social Change minor and a portfolio of continuing education certificate programs approved by the Association of Social Work Boards for practicing professionals.

Product overview

The University of Michigan School of Social Work is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of degree programs and professional certificates. The core offerings include the Master of Social Work (MSW) program with eight specialized pathways (Children Youth & Families, Community Change, Global Social Work Practice, Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health/Mental Health/Substance Abuse, Management & Leadership, Policy & Political Social Work, Program Evaluation & Applied Research, and Older Adults & Families), available in on-campus and online formats; the MA in Social Impact Leadership (30-credit practice-forward graduate degree); two PhD programs (PhD in Social Work and Social Welfare, and the Joint PhD in Social Work and Social Science); the Community Action & Social Change (CASC) undergraduate minor; and Field Education with over 550 fieldwork sites. Continuing education certificate programs serve professionals seeking specialized training in areas such as addictions, animal-assisted interventions, disability inclusion, integrated behavioral health, sexual health, sport social work, and trauma-informed practices. The institution is ranked #1 in the Nation Since 2012 by U.S. News & World Report.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Social Work (MSW) Graduate-level social work degree program offering eight specialized pathways including Children Youth & Families, Community Change, Global Social Work Practice, Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health & Substance Abuse, Management & Leadership, Policy & Political Social Work, Program Evaluation & Applied Research, and Social Work Practice with Older Adults. Available in on-campus and online formats with full-time or part-time enrollment options.
• MA in Social Impact Leadership A 30-credit graduate degree designed for changemakers driving transformation across public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Features community-based projects with industry mentorship, grounded in social justice values, with online or in-person delivery in 2-semester full-time or 5-semester part-time formats.
• PhD in Social Work and Social Welfare Doctoral program for MSW graduates focused on social justice, equity, and rigorous research. Takes a transdisciplinary approach to identifying and studying societal problems for developing solutions. Includes approximately 4 to 5 years of study with a multi-year funding package.
• Joint PhD in Social Work and Social Science The only joint PhD program in Social Work and Social Science in the United States, pairing social work education with disciplinary training in anthropology, psychology, or sociology. Approximately 6 to 7 years with multi-year funding including tuition, stipends, and health care.
• Community Action & Social Change (CASC) Minor A 16-credit undergraduate minor for University of Michigan students developing knowledge, skills, and experiences in community action and social change. Open to all undergraduate students providing a collaborative path to understanding and advancing positive change.
• Online MSW Program A 45-credit online Master of Social Work degree program that balances career and studies while gaining clinical skills and local field experience. Available in full-time or part-time enrollment with dedicated faculty and advisors.
• Social Work Essentials Certificate A certificate program for those exploring social work or planning to earn their MSW. Offers flexible options to build foundational skills or take the first step toward an MSW, available online or on campus.
• Field Education Practicum component offering opportunities for students to integrate classroom knowledge with professional social work practice. The Office of Field Education has over 550 fieldwork sites primarily in Southeast Michigan, with placements across the country and around the world, supervised by 750 licensed professional social workers.
• Continuing Education Certificate Programs Professional development certificates including Addictions Certificate, Animal Assisted Interventions, Disability Inclusion & Accessible Design, Human Service Nonprofit Finance, Integrated Behavioral Health and Primary Care, Sexual Health, Sport Social Work, and Trauma-Informed Programs & Practices for Schools. Majority of programs are online and approved by ASWB ACE (Provider #1212).

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% Employment Rate Over Last Five Years for graduates
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Washington School of Social Work: Public research-university MSW and PhD program with strong health and mental-health specializations. Comparable public-university funding model and ranking-tier competition with Michigan.
• Columbia University School of Social Work: Top-tier MSW and PhD program at a major private research university, competing for the same national applicant pool and faculty as Michigan. Overlapping degree offerings and a shared emphasis on research-driven social work education make it the closest direct peer.
• University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work: Top-ranked social work school at a leading private research university, with MSW and PhD offerings focused on evidence-based practice. Competes with Michigan for top applicants and faculty, especially in policy and research tracks.
• Case Western Reserve University Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences: Top-ranked private-university social work school offering MSW, PhD, and online pathways. Comparable in mission, program breadth, and ranking-tier competition.
• University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work: Public research-university MSW and PhD program with strong research output and field education. Operates in a similar public-university funding environment and competes for comparable applicants.
• NYU Silver School of Social Work: Major urban private-university social work school with large MSW and PhD programs, robust online options, and continuing education. Directly comparable in scale of programs and breadth of pathways.
• Boston University School of Social Work: Large private research-university MSW/PhD program with strong online and on-campus offerings, including continuing education. Competes for the same national and international applicant pool and field-instructor networks.
• Washington University in St. Louis Brown School: Highly ranked social work graduate school at a private research university, regularly appearing among the top programs alongside Michigan. Offers MSW, PhD, and interprofessional degrees with similar field-education and research emphases.
• University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work: Large private-university social work school with prominent online MSW programs and strong veteran/military social work offerings. Direct competitor in online MSW and continuing education markets.
• University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare: Public research-university social welfare school with MSW and PhD programs, strong field-education model, and similar ranking-tier competition. Operates within a comparable public-university funding model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Michigan School of Social Work