UNC School of Social Work

What UNC School of Social Work does

The UNC School of Social Work is a public academic unit within the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, founded in 1920 and headquartered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It delivers Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited social work education, including the Master of Social Work (MSW) across multiple formats — on-campus, field-based, and a new online modality for the August 2026 cohort — a PhD program, and a recently approved Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). The school also operates continuing education and professional training programs and houses research centers such as the Global Social Development Innovations (GSDI) institute.

Its business model blends tuition revenue from MSW and PhD cohorts, state appropriations flowing through UNC-Chapel Hill, externally funded research (notably from the National Institutes of Health), philanthropic gifts, and continuing education contracts. The school maintains a workforce of approximately 118 employees and serves a multi-stakeholder constituency: graduate and undergraduate students, state agencies (including the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services), federal funders, nonprofit and healthcare practicum partners, and alumni donors.

Strategic positioning is anchored in international experiential learning (e.g., an international certificate partnership with USFQ in the Galapagos Islands and engagement in Zambia), cross-disciplinary collaboration with peer UNC schools (Medicine, Public Health), and a refreshed leadership team. The combination of a 100+ year institutional history, CSWE re-accreditation through 2033-34, and an expanding program portfolio (BSW, online MSW, international certificates) defines the school's current trajectory.

Name

UNC School of Social Work

Legal name

UNC School of Social Work

Website

https://ssw.unc.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The UNC School of Social Work is a CSWE-accredited public academic unit within UNC-Chapel Hill, founded 1920, offering MSW, PhD, and a new BSW program, plus continuing education, research, and international partnerships serving students, state agencies, and nonprofit partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Social Work

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK), University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs (EDAIAJAA)

Keywords

• Social work education
• Graduate degree programs
• Continuing education
• Academic research
• Practicum training

Headquarters

HQ city

Chapel Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from graduate tuition for MSW and doctoral programs, with costs varying for in-state vs out-of-state students. Additional fees for specific programs and services.
2. Research Grants and Contracts: Federal and state funding from agencies including NIH, NCDHHS for mental health training expansion and various research initiatives.
3. Philanthropic Donations: Major individual gifts such as the $3 million donation for student fellows program development.
4. Continuing Education Fees: Fee-based continuing education programs including workshops, certificate courses, and professional development offerings for social workers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The UNC School of Social Work delivers accredited social work education through MSW (Master of Social Work), PhD, and developing BSW degree programs, plus dual-degree programs, graduate certificates, and Continuing Education for licensed practitioners. It also conducts funded research through its GSDI center and partners with state and international entities on community development and mental health initiatives.

Product overview

UNC School of Social Work offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and research centers focused on social work education and practice. The core offerings include MSW (Master of Social Work) degree programs with multiple delivery formats (Full-Time, Part-Time Extended, Advanced Standing, and Online), a PhD Doctoral Degree, and a developing BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) degree. Graduate certificates are available in Nonprofit Leadership, I/DD and ND Studies, and Innovation for the Public Good, along with dual-degree options in Divinity, Law, Public Administration, and Public Health. Specialized credentials include UNC-PrimeCare for substance use/addiction, Licensure in School Social Work, and LEND training. The school operates SSWiS for practicum tracking, the Global Social Development Innovations (GSDI) research center, a Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab, and extensive Continuing Education programs. An international certificate program operates in partnership with USFQ in Galapagos.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SSW: Abbreviated reference to the School of Social Work
• Global Social Development Innovations (GSDI)

Products and services

• MSW (Master of Social Work) Degree Program

Quantifiable outcome

• CSWE reaccreditation received through academic year 2033-34
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Co-created 12-week certificate program in community development and social work for Galapagos locals. Curriculum includes community development, environment conservation, and mental health modules. Classes taught at Galapagos Science Center on San Cristobal Island. First cohort began June 20, 2023 with over two dozen participants.
• NC Integrated Care for KidsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 January 2023Partner in Systems Science Hub project to examine and strengthen youth mental health system in North Carolina using participatory methods and data science techniques.
• NCDHHS (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState contract to expand suicide prevention training (Mental Health First Aid) to colleges and universities across North Carolina.
• UNC School of MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Systems Science Hub research project examining youth mental health systems with co-investigators from pediatrics and public health.
• UNC School of Data Science and SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsoring Systems Science Hub project for transdisciplinary youth mental health research.
• Baltimore Public SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer clinical partnership for therapy services and suicide prevention work with LGBTQ youth and youth of color.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Michigan School of Social Work: Top-ranked public university MSW/PhD program offering similar graduate degrees, certificates, and continuing education with comparable scale and research profile.
• University of Maryland School of Social Work: Regional public university peer offering MSW (including online), PhD, and dual-degree programs across a comparable mid-Atlantic footprint.
• University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work: Private university MSW/PhD program with similar certificates, dual-degree tracks, and research-intensive faculty profile.
• Columbia University School of Social Work: Elite private university MSW (online and on-campus) and PhD program with similar certificate offerings and continuing education portfolio.
• University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work: Public university school offering MSW, PhD, and certificate programs with strong continuing education and research enterprise similar to UNC.
• University of Washington School of Social Work: Public university MSW/PhD program with comparable CSWE accreditation, dual-degree options, and research focus on health, mental health, and equity.
• Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work: Nearby public university MSW program with online options, continuing education, and research centers operating in an overlapping Southeast geography.
• Boston University School of Social Work: Major private university MSW (on-campus and online), PhD, and CE programs competing for similar national graduate student pools.

Regional players

• University of Kentucky College of Social Work: Public university social work school serving a comparable Appalachian/Southeast geography with MSW and PhD programs.

Others

• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE): Accrediting body for social work programs in the US; not a competitor but the regulatory umbrella under which UNC's MSW/BSW operates and competes for recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/unc-school-of-social-work

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 UNC School of Social Work