Social Work at Simmons

What Social Work at Simmons does

Simmons University is a private nonprofit university headquartered at 300 The Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1899 as a women's liberal arts college and rebranded from Simmons College to Simmons University in 2018. The institution has been the first school of clinical social work in the nation for over 115 years and offers a comprehensive portfolio of online undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs delivered nationally since 2013. Online programs span social work (BSW, MSW with concentrations in Mental Health Practice, Trauma Practice, and Military/Veterans; DSW, PhD), nursing (MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, MSN-Leadership, DNP, post-graduate certificates), behavior analysis (MS, PhD), library and information science (MLIS with archives and technology concentrations), management (MSM), public health (MPH, BS), nutrition, and several undergraduate degrees in applied psychology, business, computer science, and human services.

The online platform is powered through a partnership with 2U, LLC, which provides the learning management system, synchronous Zoom-style live sessions, asynchronous recorded coursework, mobile app access, and 24/7 technical support, while Simmons retains full academic control over curriculum, faculty, admissions, and student services. A high-touch digital model combines weekly synchronous classes with dedicated clinical placement specialists who help students secure local practicum sites for clinical programs.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-credit-hour tuition ranging from $1,000 to $1,445 for the 2026-2027 academic year, with multi-year program commitments. Students may access scholarships, employer reimbursement, and federal financial aid. The customer base consists of individual working-professional students distributed across program areas, marketed through dedicated admissions advisors, program-specific phone lines, content marketing, email campaigns, and social media. The institution holds CSWE, CCNE, and NECHE accreditations, ensuring licensure pathway eligibility for graduates. AI tooling is deployed for student communications via chatbots, phone systems, and web interactions.

Name

Social Work at Simmons

Legal name

Simmons University

Website

https://online.simmons.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Simmons University is a private nonprofit university founded in 1899 that delivers online undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs in social work, nursing, behavior analysis, library science, and related fields through a 2U-powered platform, serving working-professional students nationwide with tuition ranging from $1,000 to $1,445 per credit hour.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Online Degree Programs

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting) (EDAHALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB), Online Healthcare & Nursing Universities (Allied Health, RN-to-BSN, etc.) (EDAHALAF)

Keywords

• Online social work degrees
• Graduate nursing programs
• Higher education services
• Online degree programs
• Clinical social work education

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Simmons generates revenue primarily through tuition payments from enrolled students across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral online degree programs. Tuition is charged per credit hour for the 2026-2027 academic year, ranging from $1,000 to $1,445 depending on program. Students may qualify for scholarships, employer reimbursement, and financial aid.
2. Degree Program Offerings: Programs include Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Master of Social Work (MSW) with concentrations in Mental Health Practice and Trauma Practice, Doctorate of Social Work (DSW), PhD in Social Work, along with nursing programs (MSN, DNP), behavior analysis (MS, PhD), library and information science, public health, and management degrees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Simmons University delivers accredited online undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degree programs with a primary focus on social work (MSW, DSW, BSW), nursing (MSN-FNP, MSN-PMHNP, DNP), and adjacent health-related disciplines (behavior analysis, library and information science, public health, nutrition, management). Programs are delivered through a blended synchronous-asynchronous online model via a 2U-powered learning platform, with in-person practicum/clinical experiences for clinical programs.

Product overview

Simmons University Online Degree Programs is a multi-disciplinary online education platform offering a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs primarily focused on social work, nursing, and health-related fields. The core offerings include the Master of Social Work (MSW) with specialized certificates in Mental Health Practice, Trauma Practice, and Clinical Practice with Active Military/Veterans/Families; the Doctorate of Social Work (DSW); and the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). Nursing programs span from the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Leadership tracks, to the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) across multiple pathways. Additional programs include Behavior Analysis (MS and PhD), Library and Information Science (MLIS with Archives Management and Information Science & Technology concentrations), Management (MSM with Nonprofit and Women's Sport Business concentrations), Public Health (MPH and BS), Nutrition and Health Promotion (MS), and undergraduate degrees in Applied Psychology, Business, Computer Science, General Studies, Health Care Policy, Human Services, and Public Health. Programs are delivered through a synchronous-asynchronous blended online model with in-person practicum requirements for clinical programs. The platform partners with 2U for technology infrastructure while maintaining full academic control.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SocialWork@Simmons: Online Master of Social Work (MSW) and Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) programs offered by the Simmons School of Social Work. The first school of clinical social work in the nation.
• Nursing@Simmons

Products and services

• Master of Social Work (MSW) Graduate-level social work degree preparing students for clinical practice, licensure, and advanced social work roles. The program includes options for Mental Health Practice Certificate, Trauma Practice Certificate, and Clinical Practice with Active Military, Veterans, and Families.
• Doctorate of Social Work (DSW)

Quantifiable outcome

• High pass rates on professional licensure examinations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 2U, LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationSimmons University partners with 2U, LLC as its technology platform provider for online program delivery. 2U provides the learning management system, website infrastructure, and technical support services. Simmons maintains full control over all core academic functions including curriculum, faculty, admissions, and student support. This partnership enables Simmons to deliver its programs nationally while 2U handles the digital infrastructure.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Walden University: Large for-profit online university offering CSWE-accredited online MSW and CCNE-accredited nursing programs at a broader price range. Competes with Simmons for working adult learners pursuing healthcare and human-services credentials online, but at generally lower price points and wider portfolio.
• Southern New Hampshire University: One of the largest online universities in the U.S. with extensive undergraduate and graduate online offerings including human services and healthcare-adjacent programs. Overlaps with Simmons on broad online degree delivery to working adults, though SNHU operates at significantly lower price points and scale.

Direct peers

• University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work: Private university offering an online MSW with similar prestige positioning, CSWE accreditation, and a focus on advanced clinical practice concentrations. Competes with Simmons for the same premium online MSW student segment.
• Johns Hopkins School of Nursing: Top-tier nursing school with established online MSN (FNP, PMHNP) and DNP programs. Directly comparable to Nursing@Simmons on CCNE accreditation, target working RN applicants, and premium online delivery model.
• New York University Silver School of Social Work: Top-tier MSW program with a substantial online MSW pathway targeting working professionals nationwide. Competes directly with Simmons on prestige, accreditation quality, and licensure outcomes for prospective online MSW students.
• Vanderbilt University School of Nursing: Elite private university with a sizable online MSN program including FNP and AG-ACNP tracks. Competes with Simmons for the same cohort of BSN-credentialed nurses seeking advanced practice credentials through accredited online delivery.
• Boston University School of Social Work: Boston-area private university with a significant online MSW offering. Overlaps with Simmons on geography, target student (Boston/Northeast professionals), academic prestige, and CSWE-accredited clinical practice orientation.
• University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work: Offers one of the largest online MSW programs in the U.S., also delivered via the 2U platform. Competes head-to-head with Simmons for the same pool of working-professional MSW applicants seeking premium, accredited online graduate social work education.
• Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service: NYC-based private university offering an accredited online MSW program. Competes with Simmons for students seeking a private, CSWE-accredited online MSW with a clinical practice orientation in the Northeast corridor.
• University of South Carolina College of Social Work: Operates one of the most established online MSW programs in the country and a recognized leader in distance social work education. Directly comparable in scale, target student (working professionals), and CSWE-accredited online delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/simmonsuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/SimmonsUniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/social-work-at-simmons
• Instagraminstagram.com/simmonsuniversity

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Social Work at Simmons