Tulane University School of Social Work

What Tulane University School of Social Work does

Tulane University School of Social Work (TSSW) is a nonprofit academic unit of Tulane University, founded in 1914 as the 7th oldest School of Social Work in the United States. Headquartered at 127 Elk Place in downtown New Orleans with 87 employees, it delivers graduate social work education through the Master of Social Work (MSW), Doctor of Social Work (DSW), and Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership (MS-DRL) programs, plus dual degrees combining MSW with public health (MPH), law (JD), and disaster resilience, and a 15-credit Disaster Resilience Leadership Certificate. Delivery spans on-campus and online modalities, with online programs supported by a synchronous monthly live-session platform that enables virtual classroom interaction. Field education is anchored by a network of 700+ certified practicum agency partners nationwide and a required 900 practicum hours per MSW student.

The school's revenue model is tuition-driven, supplemented by continuing education for licensed practitioners and sponsored research funding from federal agencies including NIH, CDC, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Adjacent research and clinical centers include the Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy (DRLA), the Porter Cason Institute for the Family, and the PEARL Lab. The MS-DRL program is the only graduate program in the country focused on FEMA's resilience framework, and the school maintains CSWE accreditation alongside consistently above-average ASWB licensure pass rates (88% first-time clinical in 2025 versus 76% North America). Go-to-market is recruitment-led, using the institutional website, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, an E2MA newsletter, and virtual/in-person campus tours to drive admissions, with a recent $100K National Academies Gulf Research Program grant funding the Consortium for Emergent Disaster Resilience (CEDR) alongside seven local nonprofit partners.

Name

Tulane University School of Social Work

Legal name

Tulane University School of Social Work

Website

https://tssw.tulane.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Tulane University School of Social Work is a nonprofit graduate school within Tulane University, founded 1914, offering MSW, DSW, and MS-DRL degree programs plus dual degrees and certificates, delivered on-campus in New Orleans and online nationwide with 700+ practicum partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

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. Degree Program Tuition: Revenue from tuition for Master of Social Work (MSW), Doctor of Social Work (DSW), Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership (MS-DRL) degree programs. Programs include on-campus and online delivery formats.
2. Continuing Education: Revenue from continuing education programs including professional development and training workshops for mental health providers and social workers.
3. Research Grants and Contracts: Sponsored research funding from government agencies and foundations including NIH, National Academies, CDC, and other research grants for faculty research programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tulane School of Social Work delivers accredited graduate education through the Master of Social Work (MSW), Doctor of Social Work (DSW), and Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership (MS-DRL) degree programs, available on-campus and online. The school also offers dual degrees combining MSW with law, public health, or disaster resilience, a graduate certificate, a focus area in Mental Health, Addiction, and the Family, and continuing education for licensed social workers and mental health professionals. Field-based practicum education (900 hours) is delivered through a national network of 700+ certified agency partners.

Product overview

Tulane University School of Social Work operates as a higher education institution offering a portfolio of degree programs and professional development offerings. The core programs include the Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership (MS-DRL), and Doctor of Social Work (DSW), with multiple delivery modalities (on-campus and online). These can be pursued individually or as dual degrees combining MSW with disaster resilience leadership, public health, or law degrees. Additionally, the school offers a standalone Disaster Resilience Leadership Certificate and a Mental Health, Addiction, and the Family Focus Area concentration. Supporting infrastructure includes practicum education with over 700 partner agencies, research centers such as the Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy, PEARL Lab, and Porter Cason Institute for the Family, and continuing education programs. The institution also provides non-degree seeking continuing education opportunities for professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy (DRLA): An academic program within TSSW focused on disaster resilience and humanitarian leadership, offering the only graduate program in the country focusing on FEMA's resilience framework.
• Porter Cason Institute for the Family
• PEARL Lab (Public Engagement, Accessibility, and Research Literacy)
• Consortium for Emergent Disaster Resilience (CEDR)
• Elk Place Health Spot

Products and services

• Master of Social Work (MSW) A fully CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work degree program delivering clinical, community, and policy-based practice training. Available on-campus or online with full-time (16-month) and part-time (2.5-year) tracks, including an Advanced Standing option for BSW graduates.
• Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership (MS-DRL) A graduate degree focused on FEMA's resilience framework, described as the only program of its kind in the country. Develops leadership and resilience skills for effective community programs, available on-campus or online.
• Doctor of Social Work (DSW) An online doctoral program meeting one weekend a month, designed for working professionals to develop knowledge and leadership skills for high-level positions in nonprofits, policy, and academia.
• MSW / MS-DRL Dual Degree A dual-degree combining the MSW and the MS-DRL, described as the first of its kind, offering an innovative focus on systems and programs that build resilience in individuals and communities. Available on-campus or online.
• MSW / MPH Dual Degree A joint degree combining Tulane's MSW with the Master of Public Health (MPH), preparing graduates to discern effective, culturally appropriate methods for engaging communities to improve health and well-being.
• MSW / JD Dual Degree A joint degree combining the MSW with the Juris Doctor (JD), providing interdisciplinary skills for forensic social work, juvenile justice, corrections, legislative advocacy, and public policy. Available only on-campus.
• Disaster Resilience Leadership Certificate A 15-credit graduate certificate in Disaster Resilience Leadership that can be completed on-campus or online in five classes. Covers disaster mitigation, planning and preparedness, response, recovery, and delivery of human services within communities.
• Practicum Education Required field education bridging theory with real-world practice; MSW students complete 900 practicum hours at sites nationwide, coordinated through a network of more than 700 certified practicum agency partners.
• Continuing Education Professional development and continuing education offerings for social workers and mental health professionals, including military-informed training workshops delivered in partnership with Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP).

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% First-Time Clinical Licensure Exam Pass Rate (2025)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization funded through the National Guard Bureau that offers free military-informed continuing education workshops for social workers and mental health providers. SBHP hosts a directory of trained civilian providers who serve military-connected populations. Tulane partners with SBHP to expand the pool of qualified mental health professionals supporting military-connected families in Louisiana.
• Porter Cason Institute for the FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitute within Tulane School of Social Work that partners with community organizations to provide innovative clinical training to family therapists. Affiliated with the Mental Health, Addiction, and the Family Focus Area. Funded by a large private contribution from a Tulane MSW alumnus for training purposes.
• Grace at the Green LightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit organization partnering with CEDR consortium for community-driven resilience initiatives in Greater New Orleans region as part of PLANS GNO project.
• Dr. Nyoki Cosey-Brown CounselingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in CEDR consortium conducting needs assessments and strategic planning for community resilience in Greater New Orleans.
• Ubuntu Village NOLAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit partner in CEDR consortium working on community-driven strategic action plan for Greater New Orleans resilience.
• lowernine.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization partnering with CEDR for disaster resilience and community recovery initiatives in Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans.
• Louisiana Just Recovery NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network partnering with CEDR for collaborative cross-sector solutions to disaster resilience challenges in Louisiana communities.
• Bayou Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation partner in CEDR consortium supporting community-driven resilience initiatives and strategic planning.
• Common Ground ReliefcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization partnering with CEDR for community resilience and recovery efforts in Greater New Orleans region.
• Practicum Agency Partners (700+)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of over 700 certified practicum agency partners nationwide providing field education placements for MSW students. Partners include nonprofits, schools, government organizations, hospitals, and healthcare facilities where students complete required practicum hours.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Columbia University School of Social Work: Ivy League MSW program offering on-campus and online pathways with extensive research centers; a natural comparator for Tulane's brand-driven positioning in the private MSW market.
• University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work: Top-ranked private university MSW program with on-campus and online delivery, large faculty, and a similarly broad portfolio of dual degrees and research centers — the most direct competitor to Tulane SSW in the private university social work segment.
• New York University Silver School of Social Work: Top-tier private university MSW program with online and on-campus formats, comparable dual-degree offerings, and a similarly broad continuing education portfolio for licensed professionals.
• University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice: Elite private university social work school with MSW, doctoral, and online programs; a peer for high-end applicants evaluating Tulane against similarly prestigious institutions.
• Boston University School of Social Work: Large private university MSW program with on-campus and online options, dual degrees, and an active research portfolio; another direct comparator in the private graduate social work segment.
• Washington University in St. Louis Brown School: Elite private university social work school with MSW, DSW, and dual degrees including public health, and a strong applied research profile — competes with Tulane for premium tuition-paying applicants.
• Case Western Reserve University Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences: Private university social work school with MSW, DSW, and online pathways; a relevant peer for benchmarking tuition pricing, licensure outcomes, and dual-degree structures.
• University of Michigan School of Social Work: Consistently top-ranked MSW program with comparable scale, dual-degree options, and a strong research footprint; competes head-to-head with Tulane for national applicants, particularly in the online modality.

Regional players

• Louisiana State University School of Social Work: In-state public MSW program that competes with Tulane for Louisiana applicants, particularly the on-campus MSW cohort; relevant for regional tuition and enrollment benchmarking.

Others

• Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine: Sister school within Tulane University that partners with TSSW on the MSW/MPH dual degree and shares research infrastructure; relevant as a strategic ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3gNv4ae1M4j_iWRkDK7t9Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/tulanessw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/tulanessw
• Instagraminstagram.com/tulanessw

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tulane University School of Social Work