by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 53 U.S. colleges awarded 3,399 degrees and certificates in Clinical/Medical Social Work. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 92% of graduates. College Factual ranks 43 schools in its 2027 Best Clinical/Medical Social Work Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $45,762 one year after completing, rising to $55,481 after four years.
A major in Clinical/Medical Social Work covers Clinical/medical Social Work. A Program That Prepares Individuals For The Specialized Professional Practice Of Social Work, In Collaboration With Other Health Care Professionals, In Hospitals And Other Health Care Facilities And Organizations. Includes Instruction In Social Work, Psychiatric Case Work, Clinical Interviewing Techniques, Therapeutic Intervention Strategies, Patient Testing And Evaluation, Patient And Family Counseling, Social Rehabilitation, Patient Care Planning, Record-Keeping, And Support Services Liaison.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, clinical/medical social work draws strong interest, with 3,399 degrees awarded annually. 53 colleges award clinical/medical social work degrees, an average of 64 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 450.
By level, the 3,399 awards include 41 certificates, 90 associate degrees, 127 bachelor’s degrees, 3,117 master’s degrees and 24 doctorates.
Women earned 87% of clinical/medical social work degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,966 of 3,399). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,772) and Hispanic or Latino (715), and international students earned 35.
College Factual ranks 43 schools in its 2027 Best Clinical/Medical Social Work Schools ranking, including 6 for associate degrees, 6 for bachelor’s degrees and 32 for master’s degrees. It also ranks clinical/medical social work schools within 16 states. In all, 53 colleges offer clinical/medical social work programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Clinical/Medical Social Work Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common clinical/medical social work credential is the master’s degree: 3,117 of the 3,399 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to clinical/medical social work call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Social Perceptiveness, and for knowledge of Therapy and Counseling, Psychology and Sociology and Anthropology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a clinical/medical social work degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 41 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 90 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 127 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,117 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 24 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to clinical/medical social work, at 52.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 52.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.2% |
| First professional degree | 4.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Clinical/Medical Social Work, with an average median salary of $65,451; the strongest outlook belongs to Healthcare Social Workers, at 12.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Assistant Professor, University Faculty Member, Social Work Lecturer and Health Social Work Professor.
The occupation related to clinical/medical social work with the most projected jobs is Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary, at 839,680.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 839,680 | 7.7% |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 253,503 | 5.8% |
| Healthcare Social Workers | 251,555 | 12.1% |
| Mental Health Counselors | 246,978 | 2.8% |
| Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors | 55,443 | 3.3% |
Clinical/Medical Social Work graduates earn a median $45,762 one year after completing their program, $55,481 after four years and $50,915 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $45,762 |
| 4 years | $55,481 |
| 5 years | $50,915 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to clinical/medical social work, with a median salary of $78,044.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Social Workers | $78,044 |
| Mental Health Counselors | $72,983 |
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | $65,510 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $58,560 |
| Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors | $52,157 |
Clinical/Medical Social Work has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 32,717 degrees a year; the largest are Mental Health Counseling/Counselor (12,039), Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling (6,362) and Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling (4,547). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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