Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Family And School Social Workers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Park University, University of Missouri, UMKC, and University of Missouri-St Louis.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Southeast Missouri State, University of Missouri-St Louis, UMKC, and Central Missouri State.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Stephens College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Lindenwood, Lincoln, Washington University in St Louis, and Park University.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider William Woods University, Lindenwood, Avila, and Crowder.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Washington University in St Louis, Saint Louis University, Evangel University, and Park University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Evangel University, College of the Ozarks, Washington University in St Louis, and Northwest Missouri State.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Washington University in St Louis, Saint Louis University, University of Missouri, and UMKC.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at College of the Ozarks, Washington University in St Louis, Avila, and Missouri State.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Washington University in St Louis, Forest Institute, Saint Louis University, and Evangel University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Sort Reviews By:Sorting by: • Show All Details • Hide All Details
Lindenwood University • St. Charles, MO
Studying Social Work (completion in 2009)
• 11/3/2011
"So-So. I was satisfied with my education, but I was not satisfied with the recreational side of it. I felt like I was just a number and not an individual. The social aspect could have been much, much better."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's hard, but if you want to learn the ins and outs, it's a good school. I'd only recommend the social work program if Dr. Jacobs is involved. He's the heart of the program. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I was told a degree from Lindenwood was the best accredited degree you could get for social work because of Dr. Jacobs. But it's extremely difficult to get credits from other universities to transfer over. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Dr. Jacobs is a well-known name in the social work field, so I feel I got the best education. Although his tests were extremely detailed and difficult, I feel more confident in my job because I was tested rigorously. |
| Instruction | 2 | I only say this because I was EXTREMELY dissatisfied with my practicum assignment. My sponsor was lazy and rarely gave me reasonable hours to work. She almost refused to sign my time sheet. |
| How Difficult | 9 | As I said, Dr. Jacobs was a very stern and tough teacher. I almost thought of quitting because the work load was tremendous. We'd have to read at least 30 pages a night for one course and would have pop quizzes weekly. The pop quizzes were about the most knit picky details. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I thought it was a good mix. We read a ton outside of class. During class we'd have open discussions and do role-playing. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I thought it was pretty reasonable. I was able to do my schoolwork and learn while working a regular job on the weekends. It was very difficult, though, because there was a lot of work. Also, J-term was offered where we could choose to take one course 3 hours a day for 3 weeks. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I thought the media resources we had were great. I got a lot of articles because of having access to J-STOR. There were also many relevant books and on-line work books to help. We also had a writing lab where we could take papers to be proofread. |
| Social Life | 2 | Well, we couldn't have boys and girls in the same dorm, which I thought was ridiculous. We were lied about earning visitation after the first semester. People had to sneak around to have a good time. |
| Placement Services | 4 | Michelle Geisman really didn't help all that much since I did an internship with ECH through the Summer. I haven't heard any of my friends talk about career placement. It didn't seem very advertised. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Some Alumni had controversial views toward Dr. Jacobs, so the social work program didn't seem as if it was a priority to them. BUT I do think my professors were great. They were all approachable |
Central Missouri State University, But Now Its Name Has Been Changed To University Of Central Missouri • Warrensburg, MO
Studying Psychology/Rehabilitation (completion in 1999)
• 4/9/2012
"Overall I would say I feel lucky to have attended the program and the university I did. There were many more positives than negatives about my overall experience, and I also felt well prepared for work in my field."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely recommend the program I did to others, as I feel it would prepare them for a career, as well as give them a positive undergraduate experience. Even though it has been years since I graduated I still feel strongly that at least in my chosen field, the program would be kept up, as it was current and things were moving toward improvement when I was there. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I graduated 13 years ago and live in another state, and still within the last few years have met 2 people who have heard of the program and asked me about how it was to go there. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The program I took was a functional major, so I didn't have a minor and was able to learn more in depth about my chosen area while earning my degree than if I had chosen a regular major. I had a list of classes that I had to take, and then was allowed to choose some from a list related to my major. The only reason I chose 9 instead of 10 is because there were a few tenured professors that needed to be replaced, a few other smaller frustrations, and therefore things were great, but could have improved in some areas. |
| Instruction | 9 | I explained the quality I believed I got by choosing a functional major in my answer to 8, and also my belief that some of the professors were past due for replacement. I was thinking mostly about the Psych department though, and overall I believe I was luckier than most people in that I only had 2 graduate students as teachers during my undergraduate experience. Many other people I have discussed college experiences with had graduate students, who were often teaching for the first time, for most of their General Ed. classes and lower level classes in their major. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I believe the challenge and workload were above average, and again I determined that by conversations with others. There were people I knew who didn't want to do all of it, and switched to a different major or school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I had several classes that provided hands-on experiences both in my major and General eds, and also an undergraduate internship that gave me a whole semesters worth of hands-on experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The options were limited, except for summer options. However, they may have more options now than when I attended, and I wouldn't know about it. It was not a geared for working adults program though, and flexibility seems more standard in those types of degree programs. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I felt like I had access to most things I needed, when I needed them. The only exception to that is probably academic advisors, I didn't have great experiences in that area with ease of access, or feeling like any of the one's I met with were listening or cared a whole lot. |
| Social Life | 7 | I called it above average, because I was a non-traditional student and still felt I had some good experiences in these areas. I may not be the best qualified to answer the question though, because many things went on that I didn't participate in at all due to having children and different priorities. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I answered most of this in 11. What I didn't say there though was that had I chosen to I could have gone straight into a job where I did my internship, and many people in my program did so if they chose to stay in the area. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I don't feel qualified to rate it now, because I have mostly ignored the offers due to some medical issues in my family and moving to another state. However, for a few years after I graduated I would have given it a 7, as in it was good, but not great. Although, I went to a small town school, and then went back to the city I came from, so some of that may have been different had I stayed there. Even working toward a job elsewhere though, there were resources and support that I used in my search. The explanations of students loans and how all that works could have been improved. |
University Of Missouri St. Louis • St. Louis, MO
Studying Social Work (completion in 2008)
• 4/10/2012
"I am very satisfied with my education. I would recommend it to anyone."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UMSL is a great school. It also gives one a great education. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I have met many other social workers who received their degree from UMSL. It's a great school. |
| Program Quality | 9 | They prepared me for my new career. They also got me in contact with great regional support providers. |
| Instruction | 9 | I felt very prepared for work. The curriculum was spot on. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It was not too difficult. They gave us just the right amount of work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I learned a lot from practicums and from in-class lectures. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | As a full time student, it was hard to work and do school. Classes were all in the morning/during the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Everything I needed was provided. If the library did not have something I needed, they would get it. |
| Social Life | 10 | St. Louis is a great city. There were many things to do there no matter who you are. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Job placement was great. I found a job right after school. |
| Alumni Network | I did not know too many alumni. |
Online Course Finder
Find the path to your
education in 3 easy steps.