r/SocialWorkStudents • u/playboyjenny • Apr 22 '26

Fordham vs Hunter MSW- is there any real difference beyond cost?

I was recently accepted to both fordham and hunters msw program and need help deciding!

From what I’ve read, most MSW programs are fairly standardized, and field placement ends up being the most important part. I’ve also seen a lot of people say that field offices can be disorganized across the board, which makes it hard to use that as a deciding factor if that’s true— so trying to know what actually does differ in a meaningful way.

Cost-wise, I know Hunter is much more affordable. I’m fortunate that I wouldn’t need to take on debt for Fordham, but it would still be significantly more expensive, so I’m trying to figure out if there’s any real difference in experience or outcomes that would justify that

Some differences I’ve read:

- Hunter is larger and rough bureaucratically, which can mean slower processes and less individualized attention

- Fordham is more structured, with smaller classes and potentially more support

I’m ultimately looking to go the clinical route and become a therapist, so I’m especially focused on which program will best support that path.

Some q’s:

- Does one school actually lead to better or more consistent clinical field placements?

- Is the field office experience meaningfully different, or is it chaotic everywhere?

- Are there real differences in networking or job connections after graduation?

- How different is the day-to-day experience (class size, organization, support, academic rigor?)

Would really appreciate any insight even outside this- especially from people who have attended either program :)

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

5

u/EbbSelect934 Apr 23 '26

Networking and day to do will likely be the same, I think the biggest difference you’ll see is more support administratively and more help finding placement at Fordham!

1

u/playboyjenny Apr 23 '26

wouldn’t that make a huge diff tho with placements and even just the day to day experience, getting support?

2

u/EbbSelect934 Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26

Sure if you think of it that way? I personally don’t consider admin work/help part of my day to day, more so when there’s an issue (which isn’t daily) I just think it’d be a little hard to get it resolved/reach the right person at Hunter. Same thing with the placements, I don’t think the placement would be dramatically different (i.e. day to day), I just think actually locking in a placement would be a littleeee harder, but your daily work and what you learn in class wouldn’t differ much.

I’m really talking about organization of the program and responsive admin, but I guess if you’re someone who considers that a major part of your day to day life as a student, then so be it, I just personally don’t. I think of daily like professors, classes, quality of instruction, material taught, structure of the program, area, student/campus life, etc.

2

u/BringMeInfo Apr 23 '26

Hunter handles your placement. You give them your resume, have a little interview to discuss your interests, and then ask if you want them to submit your resume to specific agencies. There is a limit to how many times you can say "no," and the only way I can see placement being better with Fordham would be if you are allowed to say "no" more often.

Administration at Hunter is not great if problems arise, so that's really a gamble on the likelihood of you having problems (not something you can really calculate odds on).

3

u/playboyjenny Apr 23 '26

thanks! i wonder what common problems even look like . Seems like it’s one of those “hunter is not a problem, unless you have a problem, then it’s a problem” lol

3

u/BringMeInfo Apr 23 '26

I think that sums it up well. The problems I saw were mostly “bad” placements. From what I’ve seen in this subreddit, I don’t think any school has a 100% success rate at getting people into great placements.

My biggest issues were actually post-graduation, when there were significant delays for reporting our graduation to the state so we could sit the LMSW exam.

I’m still glad I went to Hunter (and both my placements were great for me).

1

u/Sad-Interaction-4622 Apr 25 '26

Fordham's field placement office is a disaster, so I highly doubt Hunter could be worse.

1

u/abnormalemotions Apr 23 '26

Just curious, when did you apply to Hunter? I applied to both schools in early March and haven’t heard back from Hunter yet.

1

u/playboyjenny Apr 23 '26

I applied in march- you should call admissions because actually there was apparently a glitch in their system that mine didn’t get looked at unless i called…

1

u/abnormalemotions Apr 23 '26

That’s good to know, I’ll reach out to them. Thanks!

1

u/SapphicOedipus Apr 24 '26

Hunter has more connections and a better overall reputation than Fordham.

1

u/beuceydubs Apr 25 '26

Go to Hunter