by our College Data Analytics TeamClinical/Medical Social Work was the 261st most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 2,534 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 474 over the prior year, a growth of 18.7%.
This year's Best Clinical/Medical Social Work Schools ranking compares 31 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of clinical/medical social work programs later in this article.
Clinical/Medical Social Work majors are found most commonly in careers in which giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is important. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
clinical/medical social work degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific clinical/medical social work careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different clinical/medical social work degree levels. You can get anything from a in clinical/medical social work to the highest clinical/medical social work degree, a . Different clinical/medical social work degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to clinical/medical social work, with approximately 52.8% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to clinical/medical social work tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 52.7% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 15.8% |
| Doctoral Degree | 9.6% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 5.2% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 4.7% |
About 76.7% of workers in careers related to clinical/medical social work obtain at least master's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in clinical/medical social work have received.
The education level required is different depending on the clinical/medical social work career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your clinical/medical social work degree? Clinical/Medical Social Work careers are expected to grow 21.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to clinical/medical social work.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Social Workers | 212,000 | 20.1% |
| Mental Health Counselors | 194,200 | 23.1% |
| Substance Abuse Social Workers | 147,900 | 19.4% |
| Substance Abuse Counselors | 126,200 | 23.2% |
| Social Work Professors | 16,300 | 9.4% |
As you might expect, salaries for clinical/medical social work graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for clinical/medical social work graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers clinical/medical social work grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Social Work Professors | $77,520 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $58,470 |
| Substance Abuse Social Workers | $49,630 |
With over 63 different clinical/medical social work degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased clinical/medical social work school rankings to help you with this.
One of 11 majors within the Mental & Social Health Services area of study, Clinical/Medical Social Work has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mental Health Counseling/Counselor | 7,609 |
| Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling | 5,433 |
| Other Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 4,069 |
| Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling | 3,405 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician | 2,779 |
