The Wayne State University School of Social Work has been named among the top 50 social work graduate programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

The school’s Master of Social Work Program (MSW) was one of more than 50 Wayne State programs to be named to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Graduate Schools lists.  

“These top rankings reflect our faculty’s commitment to providing a world class education especially as Michigan’s only urban institution with a Carnegie R1 classification,” said Laurie Lauzon Clabo, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “We are honored to have our programs recognized, as it not only reflects the quality of our graduate curriculum, programs and unique specialty areas, but also the expertise of our faculty and staff who dedicate themselves to student success.” 

The School of Social Work has been listed at #36, the same ranking it received in 2023, however the number of schools increased from 296 to 319, increasing our overall position into the top 11 percent of ranked schools nationwide.

In 2023, the program rose significantly from #44 to #36, reflecting the school’s revamped MSW program that introduced specialized focal areas that allow students to customize their learning experience to gain additional skills that allow them to meet the needs of the diverse clients and communities they serve are now available to master's students.

"The launch of our fully online asynchronous program option in July 2023 also plays an important role in maintaining our strong position among the top social work programs in the country," said Acting Dean Debra Patterson. "The MSW asynchronous online program affords students with flexibility and convenience while still receiving the best education possible. The inception of the MSW asynchronous online program marks an important milestone in our commitment to reducing barriers and empowering students to complete their degree."

Wayne State’s School of Social Work has served as a national leader in social work education and research for nearly 90 years, preparing students to uphold the core values of the social work profession while having ample opportunity to collaborate with faculty, grow professionally and work directly with community members and organizations to empower social change in our Detroit neighborhoods and beyond. 

The U.S. News and World Report Best Graduate Schools for Social Work score reflects its average rating based on a survey of academics at peer institutions. Only fully accredited programs in good standing during the survey period are ranked, which totaled 319 schools for the 2024 rankings. Schools with the highest average scores appear in the rankings sorted in descending order based on their average peer assessment score.

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Writer: Sarah Freeman, Editor: Betsy Vanderstelt