Best institutions to study Forensic Social Work
A program that prepares individuals to serve as social workers in correctional facilities, mental health hospitals, the justice system, substance abuse treatment programs, and victim assistance.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 31 Forensic Social Work students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 44.0703, a specialization of Social Work (CIP 44.07), and leads most directly to the Healthcare Social Workers occupation (BLS SOC 21-1022).
About Forensic Social Work programs
A program that prepares individuals to serve as social workers in correctional facilities, mental health hospitals, the justice system, substance abuse treatment programs, and victim assistance. Includes instruction in forensic social work, criminal justice administration, domestic violence, ethics, juvenile justice systems, mental illness and crime, program evaluation, and research methods.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Forensic Social Work program prepares students to become social workers in various settings, including correctional facilities, mental health hospitals, and the justice system. This program is designed for individuals interested in addressing the social, emotional, and legal needs of clients affected by crime and mental health issues. Graduates will be equipped to advocate for clients and collaborate with other professionals in diverse environments.
Students in the Forensic Social Work program will gain essential skills in speaking, critical thinking, and active listening. Coursework covers topics such as forensic social work, ethics, domestic violence, and mental illness, providing a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between social work and the criminal justice system.
Credentials awarded
What Forensic Social Work graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree31 graduates / yr · 2 institutions100%
Graduates over time
Forensic Social Work completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 31 |
CIP 44.0703 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 2 institutions for Forensic Social Work, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAssociate's | 26 | 41% | — |
| 2 | York County Community College Wells, MEPublicAssociate's | 5 | 34% | — |
Offered in 2 states
Where Forensic Social Work graduates come from. Each state links to all Social Work programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 1 | 26 | Sinclair Community College26 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 5 | York County Community College5 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-1022, Healthcare Social Workers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Forensic Social Work program can pursue careers as Healthcare Social Workers, with a favorable job outlook. The field is expected to grow by 7.7%, resulting in approximately 18,400 annual openings. The median wage for social workers in this area is $68,090, typically requiring a Master's degree for advancement.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 44.0703
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Healthcare Social Workersprimary SOC 21-1022 | $67,880 | +7.7% Faster than average | ~18,400 | Master's degree |
Child, Family, and School Social Workers SOC 21-1021 | $59,550 | +3.4% About as fast as average | ~35,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Social and Community Service Managers SOC 11-9151 | $80,390 | +6.4% Faster than average | ~18,600 | Bachelor's degree |
Social Workers, All Other SOC 21-1029 | $71,900 | +3.9% About as fast as average | ~7,000 | Bachelor's degree |
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1113 | $77,570 | +2.3% About as fast as average | ~1,300 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Forensic Social Work programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Advocate for clients or patients to resolve crises.
- Educate clients about end-of-life symptoms and options to assist them in making informed decisions.
- Collaborate with other professionals to evaluate patients' medical or physical condition and to assess client needs.
- Refer patient, client, or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education.
- Utilize consultation data and social work experience to plan and coordinate client or patient care and rehabilitation, following through to ensure service efficacy.
- Monitor, evaluate, and record client progress according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan.
Tools and technology used
Other Social Work specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Social Work (CIP 44.07).
Common questions
What degree is awarded in this program?+
An Associate's degree is awarded upon completion.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 2 colleges offering this program.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, and active listening.
What is the job outlook for forensic social workers?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 7.7%.
What is the CIP code for Forensic Social Work?+
Forensic Social Work is CIP 44.0703 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Social Work (CIP 44.07). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to serve as social workers in correctional facilities, mental health hospitals, the justice system, substance abuse treatment programs, and victim assistance. Includes instruction in forensic social work, criminal justice administration, domestic violence, ethics, juvenile justice systems, mental illness and crime, program evaluation, and research methods.
How many institutions offer Forensic Social Work programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Forensic Social Work graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 31 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Social Work graduates.
How much do Forensic Social Work graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Healthcare Social Workers occupation, which Forensic Social Work most directly leads to, pays a median of $67,880 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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