Top Social Work Schools in New York for Military Service Members, Vets, and Military Spouses

According to the United States Census Bureau, there are more than half a million veterans living in New York. In 2010, almost 6,000 of those vets were homeless. A system that they risked all to defend had essentially failed them.

But social workers had seen enough of that injustice. In a concerted effort over the course of a decade, they brought that number down to just over 900. It took experts at every level of social work—macro social workers to develop federal funding and rental assistance funds from HUD, mezzo professionals at the VA to manage grant and supportive services programs, and clinical social workers to hit the streets and get the aid to the vets who needed it.

There’s no data on how many of those social workers were themselves American veterans. And there’s no telling how many vets focus on lifelines for their fellow veterans, and how many branch out into all the many other kinds of social work roles in the Empire State. Either way, there’s a common thread: service, dedication to community and country, a willingness to stand up and make a difference.

Those are qualities that New Yorkers respect. They are also qualifications that many schools of social work in the state actively work to support.

If you are a veteran, active-duty service member, or even a family member considering a degree in social work, these are the schools in New York for you.

Not All CSWE-Accredited Social Work Schools in New York Offer the Same Benefits to Veterans and Their Families

With some of the unquestioned top schools of social work based right here in New York, you have plenty of choices for excellent schooling here. So why narrow down your options to just the schools that are military-friendly?

First, with access to exclusive benefits and programs that other students don’t have, you may find these schools simply offer you more support and engagement. They are more than familiar with your federal benefits packages, offering you a shot at a degree that Uncle Sam will write the check for. They also tend to have experts on staff that can help explain and manage the snarl of paperwork that exercising your benefit options commonly requires.

Next, military-friendly schools often come with additional services that address the unique requirements of vets. From psychological supports to transitional assistance as you move from the highly-structured service environment to the free-form reality of college, you can get help at these schools for issues that most students never face.

Finally, military-friendly schools are likely to have more military and veteran students. That’s important from everything from building your social network to encountering professors and administrators who are familiar with both your skills and concerns.

Fortunately, you can get the best of both worlds here—some of the finest social work schools in the nation also happen to be the most supportive of veterans.

How We Picked the Top Social Work Schools in New York for Veterans

Many schools claim to be military friendly. But we went beyond the labels and looked for several other factors to find schools that go beyond PR to genuinely deliver meaningful support to vets.

Our first cut in figuring that out rests on the VA Yellow Ribbon program. Universities have the option of participating in the program by covering any tuition costs that exceed a student’s available GI Bill® payments. This shows that these schools put their money behind their values, actively supporting vets who need just a little extra help.

Since the State University of New York and City University of New York set all tuition rates for GI Bill®-eligible students at the in-state level, Yellow Ribbon benefits aren’t needed—making all SUNY/CUNY social work programs eligible for the list.

Next, we only picked schools that hold accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education. As the sole specialty accreditor for social work degree in the U.S., the CSWE stamp of approval tells you that your degree will be accepted toward an advanced-standing MSW program (if you are pursuing a bachelor’s), or toward New York state licensure (if you are earning a master’s).

Finally, we only selected schools that have an active chapter of the Student Veterans of America on campus. As the largest student veterans group in the country, they offer valuable resources and networking for vets. More importantly, though, their presence signals that there is already an active group of engaged veteran students at each of these schools, blazing the trail for you to follow to your social work degree.

The Top Military-Friendly Social Work Schools in New York

A recon report that just identifies the targets isn’t much good. So we’re filling in some of the SPOTREP lines for you as well as just naming names and providing links back to program websites.

We outline which degrees are available at each school as well as specialization options and other related program offerings. We also let you know how the program is delivered, whether online or on campus, because military students may have limitations when it comes to relocating near campus.

Then there’s the bullet points, some of the highlights of services offered and recognitions received that helps each school stand out from the pack. And finally, we give you a quick rundown of why we think the university is particularly well-suited to serving those who have served… a little taste of what campus life might look like or other evidence of commitments to welcoming and assisting vets and military-affiliated students.