Forbes Advisor has ranked Dordt University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) as a top program on its list of “Best Master of Social Work Online Programs of 2024.”
Forbes Advisor has ranked Dordt University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) as a top program on its list of “Best Master of Social Work Online Programs of 2024.”
Dr. Erin Olson, director of Dordt’s MSW program and a professor of social work, is encouraged by the recognition as it means that others are seeing the quality of Dordt’s MSW program. “It is very encouraging for an organization like Forbes Advisor to recognize the quality of our program and the hard work that has gone into developing it.”
Dordt’s MSW program offers a unique perspective in that “we are focused on helping students to build their identity as Christian social workers,” she says. “We want to give students opportunities to engage in critical thinking around foundational social work knowledge and practical skills from a Reformed Christian perspective.”
Many students assume that it will be challenging—if not impossible—to build strong relationships with professors and students through an online program, adds Olson. “But we have found very creative ways to build community in the program and in every class we offer.”
“Earning an MSW is a big commitment, and this ranking shows that Dordt’s program is a good choice."
Joe Bakker, dean for graduate and online programs, says the Forbes Advisor ranking is important because it shows that the structure of Dordt’s MSW program is student-friendly compared to other programs. “Earning an MSW is a big commitment, and this ranking shows that Dordt’s program is a good choice,” he says.
For the “Best Master of Social Work Online Programs of 2024” list, Forbes Advisor ranked 75 accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online MSW programs in the U.S. using 16 data points in the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes, student experience and application process. They pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System; private, third-party data sources; and individual school, and program websites.
“We are thrilled to hear that Dordt’s MSW program has been ranked so highly by Forbes Advisor,” says Dr. Leah Zuidema, vice president for academic affairs. “At Dordt, we seek to equip students ‘to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life,’ including in social work. Forbes Advisor, with its strong reputation and broad reach, is helping us to further our mission by making our program more visible to those interested in pursuing an MSW degree.”
According to their website, Forbes Advisor is committed to producing unbiased rankings, making use of data from the National Center for Educational Statistics, education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. Rankings undergo five rounds of fact-checking, and only 7.12 percent of all colleges, universities, and bootcamp providers Forbes Advisor considers are awarded.
About Dordt University
As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.
Five Dordt University finance students recently won the state of Iowa’s local section of the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Challenge. They competed against 9 other teams, including University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, and Grinnell College.
Dr. Matthew Beimers will serve as speaker at Dordt University’s two commencement ceremonies.
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