Our Student Body

Master’s-level students at the Brown School move through their program with a cohort of fellow students from across the world.  Together, this passionate and driven group of scholars is dedicated to creating positive social change and advancing public health solutions in neighborhoods and across the nations.

2024 Master’s-Level Student Body Profile

New Students

221 new students began programs at the Brown School

International students

36% of students are international students
Representing 17 countries 

1st Gen Graduate Students

50% are first-generation graduate-level students

Students of Color

40% of domestic students identify as students of color

Ages range from 20 – 58, with a median age of 25

Among all MSW students that began in Fall 2024:

  • 38% of domestic students identify as students of color
  • 21 U.S. states and 6 international countries are represented
  • 54% are first-generation graduate-level students

Among all MPH students that began in Fall 2024:

  • 57% of domestic students identify as students of color
  • 16 U.S. states and 13 international countries are represented
  • 44% are first-generation graduate-level students

*Statistics reflect the 2024-2025 academic year.

Retention, Completion, and Career Outcomes

Brown School graduates join a fellowship of more than 10,000 alumni affecting change and advancing equity and justice around the globe.  Benefitting from a strong and supportive alumni network and professional opportunities, our students find success in building off their connections and classwork during their time at the Brown School.

Among Brown School master’s-level students:

  • 95% of MSW and MPH students graduate within four years, with most graduating in two years
  • 100% of MSP students over in the first five years of the program have completed and graduated with their degree
  • In 2023, 91% of MSW students passed the LMSW licensure exam and 95% of MSW students passed the LCSW licensure exam on their first attempt
  • 90% of MPH students in 2022 and 2023 passed the Certified Public Health exam to become a credentialed public health professional
  • Starting salaries for Brown School alumni tend to be near $60,000 or more and graduates who wish to enter management positions often do so within two years of graduation, earning a higher salary because of their degree
  • 57% of 2022 MPH graduates had secured employment before the completion of their program
  • Four years after graduation, 86% of 2019 MPH graduates continued to be employed in the field, participating in fellowships, or pursuing further degrees
  • Read more about the social work licensure process and the public health certification process.

Among Brown School doctoral-level students:

  • Since 2012, the Social Work PhD program has a 97% retention rate
  • Since its inception in 2015, the Public Health Sciences PhD program has a 100% retention rate
  • The mean time from enrollment to graduation for doctoral studentsis 5.2 years
  • 95% of responding graduates from the social work PhD program were employed in research positions and 5% of graduates were employed in affiliated positions such as data analysts, administrators, or program evaluators for non-profit or government agencies
  • 100% of responding graduates from the public health sciences were employed, with the majority in academic research positions and others in tenure-track faculty roles, policy research, and other industry positions