Annual Survey of Social Work Programs

2023–2024 Annual Survey

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2023–2024 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Survey. This year's annual survey data collection will consist of one streamlined survey which will be distributed to primary program contacts on March 5, 2024. The annual survey collects data regarding faculty, student enrollment, graduation, and programmatic data. The data collected through this survey is used by the social work education community for research, program planning, and advocacy work.

Enclosed, please find a reference copy for the 2023–2024 Annual Survey that will open in another window.  This document can be used to preview the survey and prepare your program's data collection. The survey will close on June 30, 2024. 

If your program needs to update your primary program contacts, please fill out the CSWE-Accreditation and Candidate Program Record Update form to update your contacts in our directory. If you have any questions about the form, please email [email protected].

We ask that you submit data based on the 2023–2024 academic year, except for graduation data, which should be based on students who graduated between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023.

We thank you in advance for your participation in this important survey. Your contributions will help us improve social work education and advance the field. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].  

 

2022–2023 Annual Survey

We are pleased to announce that the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has undergone a rigorous process of reviewing and revising the Annual Survey to streamline data collection and reporting. As a result of this process, the existing survey, which collects data using a long questionnaire, will be split into two components and administered at two points in time. Part I  consists of student enrollment, graduation, and programmatic data, while Part II will consist of a Faculty Survey. The data collected through this survey is used by the social work education community for research, program planning, and advocacy work.

A link to the 2022 Annual Survey Part I was sent to the primary contacts of all CSWE-accredited programs and contacts for baccalaureate, masters, practice doctorate, and research doctorate programs on April 10, 2023, and is scheduled to close on June 9, 2023. Please see the 20222023 CSWE Annual Survey (Part 1) – Reference Copy and Instructions.

If your program needs to update your primary program contacts, please fill out the CSWE-Accredited and Candidate Program Record Update form to update your contacts in our directory. If you have any questions about the form, please email [email protected].

We ask that you submit data based on the 20222023 academic year, except for graduation data, which should be based on students who graduated between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022.

Part II of the 20222023 Annual Survey is scheduled to go live on May 11, 2023, and will close on June 30, 2023. See the following PDF for instructions: 2022-2023-Annual-Survey,-Part-II-Reference-Copy-Instructions-5-2023.pdf

We thank you in advance for your participation in this important survey. Your contributions will help us improve social work education and advance the field. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].  
 

2021 Annual Survey

The Annual Survey of Social Work Programs collects information about social work programs, students, graduates, and faculty members. This information is used by the social work education community in research, program planning, and advocacy work. 

CSWE is undergoing a process of reviewing and revising the Annual Survey to streamline data collection and reporting. One result of that process is the modification of data collection procedures – the existing survey, which collects data using a long questionnaire, will be split into multiple components and administered at various times throughout the year to each social work program’s primary contact. Read more about this change.

The data collection instrument for the 2021 Annual Survey will be sent to the primary contacts of all CSWE accredited programs and contacts for practice doctorate and research doctorate programs between March and May 2022. The data submitted will be based on the 20212022 academic year except for graduation data, which should be based on students who graduated between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. 

A reference copy with instructions and definitions for each part of the 2021–2022 Annual Survey is available for download below:

2021–2022 CSWE Annual Survey (Part I) 
2021–2022 CSWE Annual Survey (Part II)

Please direct any questions to the Research team at [email protected].
 

2020 Annual Survey

The 2020 Annual Statistics on Social Work Education in the United States report is now available. It includes the most comprehensive and current information on the state of social work education and is used to inform policy decisions, identify issues and trends, and assist in social work education research. The summary report provides a broad picture of social work programs and their offerings, including

  • students and graduates at all levels,
  • enrollment numbers,
  • degree conferral rates, and
  • graduate loan debt information.

The report also includes an in-depth analysis of online education and the numerous ways that online education was being administered.
 
Data collection for the 2020 Annual Survey began on December 16, 2020, and closed in March 2021. If your program did not submit data during this time period and you would still like to submit data, please contact us.

A reference copy of the 2020 survey instrument is provided. 

Thank you to the 838 programs that submitted data for the 2020 Annual Survey. Your efforts help inform policy decisions, identify issues and trends, and assist in social work education research.

Past Annual Survey data can be found on the Research Briefs and Publications page.

 

View Your Program's Past Annual Survey Submissions

Member programs can access their past Annual Survey submissions. If you would like an electronic copy of your submission, contact [email protected].