Dr. Tarkington Newman teaching in class
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 28, 2026) — The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) is experiencing one of the most significant periods of growth in its history, and new student learning outcomes show that academic achievement is keeping pace with that expansion.
Since 2019, enrollment has increased by nearly 400%. During that time, the college expanded its academic portfolio to include criminal justice, welcomed more than 50 new faculty members and celebrated more than 850 graduates in May 2026, the largest graduating class in college history.
The college’s most recent program assessments offer another measure of that momentum. Across its Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW), Master of Social Work (MSW) and Doctor of Social Work (DSW) programs, students substantially exceeded established benchmarks for competency and expertise.
BASW students were assessed across nine competencies established by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), including ethical and professional behavior, human rights and justice, aspects of belongingness, research, policy, engagement, assessment, intervention and evaluation with individuals, families, organizations and communities. Aggregate outcomes ranged from 90.33% to 97.64%, well above the program’s 70% achievement benchmark.
Those results were consistent across both online and on-campus students and reflect an applied approach to learning in which students demonstrate competency through assignments such as family assessments, research proposals, policy analyses, ethical decision-making exercises and intervention activities.
Graduate students posted similarly strong results. Across the MSW program’s nine generalist practice competencies, aggregate achievement ranged from 95.89% to 99.23%. Advanced generalist outcomes ranged from 92.5% to 95.94%, again exceeding the program’s benchmark across every measure.
The results were strong across the college’s hybrid, online and Army MSW options. Army students achieved 100% outcomes in seven of nine generalist competencies.
That preparation extends beyond the classroom. In 2026, CoSW supported the largest practicum cohort in its history through a national network of more than 3,500 agency partners, giving students opportunities to apply research, policy, cultural humility and evidence-based interventions in professional settings.
At the doctoral level, students in UK’s fully online DSW program demonstrated equally strong achievement. Across core expertise areas of focus including administrative leadership, clinical social work, military behavioral health and social work education, outcomes ranged from 96.63% to 97.83% in students’ ability to disseminate practice-relevant, research-informed knowledge. Leadership outcomes ranged from 95.83% to 100%.
The DSW program also recently earned Quality Matters Standards for Higher Education Certification for its Core Plus curriculum and all five concentrations following a research-based peer review of course design, learning objectives, assessments, engagement and accessibility.
“The most exciting part of these results is that they allow us to see growth and quality happening together,” said Lindsey Muñoz, assistant dean of pedagogical possibilities. “As we expand access to our programs and welcome more students, we are continually examining whether they are receiving rigorous, meaningful learning experiences that prepare them to think critically, apply knowledge and lead in their professions. These outcomes give us strong evidence that they are.”
Together, the numbers tell a larger story about the college’s trajectory: substantially more students are gaining access to CoSW programs while continuing to demonstrate high levels of academic achievement.
As the college enters its next phase of growth, continued assessment will help ensure that expanded access remains paired with rigorous instruction, meaningful experiential learning and strong preparation for the professions and communities its graduates will serve.