Best Master’s Programs for Social Work
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Written by: Evan Thompson | Edited by: Jennifer Cuellar | Last Updated: April 2024
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities? If so, pursuing a master’s in social work (MSW) could be the right fit for your interests and career goals.
An MSW can open doors to a variety of fulfilling careers in the social work field, allowing you to tackle complex social issues and impact lives in profound ways.
Learn about some of the best MSW programs available, what to expect when pursuing an MSW, and potential career paths you could embark on after graduation.
What is a Master’s in Social Work?
A master’s in social work is a graduate-level degree that prepares students for advanced professional practice in social work. MSW programs typically take about two years to complete and prepare students for state licensure, which is necessary for clinical and generalist practice.
MSW programs often offer various tracks, such as full-time, part-time, accelerated, and advanced standing options, catering to students with different needs.
Popular Online MSW Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Master’s in Social Work Programs
Identifying the best MSW program for you depends on your needs, goals, and circumstances. What’s best for one student might not be the best for another. However, certain factors can help distinguish programs. These include experienced faculty, various electives, internship options, a strong emphasis on career preparation, and accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
The following schools are our rankings for the best master’s in social work programs. Learn about our ranking methodology to learn why these schools made the list.
1. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley offers a master of social welfare specializing in advancing health and well-being across the adult lifespan. Students learn to strengthen communities by supporting children, youth, and families. The program emphasizes leadership, professional responsibility, and social justice advancement.
The 54-unit curriculum includes generalist practice coursework, field practicum internships, and field integration seminars. Students also complete courses in diversity-sensitive, competent practice and social research methods.
Financial aid resources include fellowships, field-based stipends, and work study.
- Program: Master of Social Welfare
- Campus: Berkeley, California
- Type: Public
- Accreditation(s): Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Tuition: $6,132 per semester for California residents and out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; minimum 3.0 GPA; prerequisite coursework in liberal arts, humanities, social sciences, and statistics; 1-2 years of paid or volunteer social welfare or human services work
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Students with bachelor in social work (BSW) degrees can earn their master of social work at UNC in one year. UNC also offers two- and three-year programs for non-BSW holders, which require 62 credits and 1,100 field hours.
Students choose from two concentration options: direct practice working with individuals, families, and small groups or community, management, and policy practice. The community option helps prepare graduates for leadership, community organizing, and policy development roles.
- Program: Master of social work
- Campus: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Type: Public
- Accreditation(s): Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Tuition: $811 per credit for North Carolina residents; $1,841 per credit for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a background in various disciplines; for 12-month advanced standing track, BSW from a CSWE-accredited program, average GPA of 3.0-3.2, 400 direct service hours
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
3. University of Chicago
The master of social work curriculum at UChicago combines direct social work practice with interdisciplinary research, policy development, and social science theory. The program emphasizes framing individual distress in the larger social context and offers clinical and social administration concentrations.
First-year courses introduce the diversity of the human experience, fundamentals of behavior, and social intervention methods. The second year focuses on concentrations and includes classroom and field instruction. UChicago also offers part-time and one-year advanced-standing options.
- Program: Master of social work
- Campus: Chicago, Illinois
- Type: Private
- Accreditation(s): Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Tuition: $16,578 per quarter for full-time and advanced standing; $11,052 per quarter for part-time enrollment
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; bachelor’s in social work for advanced standing
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
4. Brigham Young University
Founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), BYU offers a master of social work with a clinical or research emphasis. Clinical enrollees prepare for their licensed clinical social work (LCSW) exams, and research participants can continue their studies in a Ph.D. program.
Courses include global issues-children at risk, refugee studies, and social justice and diversity. The 60-credit curriculum includes a master’s research project and supervised clinical practicums.
- Program: Master of social work
- Campus: Provo, Utah
- Type: Private
- Accreditation(s): Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Tuition: $8,096 per year for LDS students; $16,192 for non-LDS students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; minimum 3.0 GPA
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
5. University of Georgia
The University of Georgia’s master of social work program offers full-time, extended-time, or online formats. Students with a bachelor of social work (BSW) can apply for advanced standing.
Full-time students select among three specializations: micro (individuals, families, and groups), macro (communities, organizations, and policy), and integrated practice (combines micro and macro). Part-time and online programs focus on micro social work.
The program includes a generalist year (except for advanced standing) and subsequent specialization year(s) with field experiences.
- Program: Master of social work
- Campus: Athens, Georgia
- Type: Public
- Accreditation(s): Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Tuition: $402 per credit for Georgia residents; $1,091 per credit for out-of-state students; $629 per credit for online students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; minimum 3.0 GPA (BSW with 3.2 GPA for advanced standing); liberal arts background
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
6. University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin‘s master of social work requires 60 credits of coursework and 960 hours of supervised field internship experience. Students can select one of two concentrations: clinical social work or administration and policy practice.
Clinical social work topics include assessment and diagnosis, cognitive group therapy, motivational interviewing, and treatment of traumatized populations. Administration and policy practice focuses on culturally responsive practice in human service organizations and community-based agencies.
Enrollment options include a one-year track for bachelor of social work holders and a three-and-a-half-year program.
- Program: Master of social work
- Campus: Austin, Texas
- Type: Public
- Accreditation(s): Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Tuition: $1,400 per credit hour for Texas residents; $2,011 per credit for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (BSW for advanced standing); minimum 3.0 GPA; C in introductory statistics
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
7. University of Michigan
University of Michigan’s master of social work is 60 credits and offers full-time, part-time, and online enrollment options. Bachelor of social work graduates can apply for advanced standing.
MSW students can specialize in community change, global social work practice, management and leadership, policy and political social work.
- Program: Master of Social Work
- Campus: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Type: Public
- Accreditation(s): Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Tuition: Online: $16,600 per semester for Michigan residents, $26,719 for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (BSW with 3.5 GPA for advanced standing); liberal arts background
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
8. Florida International University
Florida International University‘s master of social work admits students on a rolling basis. Advanced standing requires a bachelor of social work and takes about a year to complete. The 60-credit regular MSW curriculum consists of a social work generalist year and a specialization year. Both tracks include field practicums and electives.
Coursework includes clinical assessment and intervention planning, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, and social work practice with diverse populations.
- Program: Master of social work
- Campus: Miami, Florida
- Type: Public
- Accreditation(s): Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Tuition: $4,101 per semester for Florida residents, $9,015 for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; minimum 3.0 GPA (BSW with 3.25 GPA for advanced standing); C in biology, statistics, and social science prerequisites
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
9. Tulane University
The master of social work at Tulane University focuses on affecting culturally relevant change through integrated clinical and community-based practice. The program requires 60 credits (48 credits for advanced standing) and 900 hours of field experience. Enrollees can complete their MSWs on campus in 16 or 32 months or online in 16 months.
Advanced-standing students with a bachelor of social work degree can finish in 12 or 24 months, depending on whether they enroll full or part-time.
- Program: Master of social work
- Campus: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Type: Private
- Accreditation(s): Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Tuition: $1,276 per credit hour for all students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree with 3.0 GPA (BSW with 3.3 GPA for advanced standing)
- Minimum Time Commitment: 12 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
10. California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach, offers a master of social work with specializations in adulthood and aging, child and family well-being, and integrated health.
Students can study on campus and finish in 2-3 years or enroll in online learning. Bachelor of social work holders can apply for advanced standing and earn their MSWs in one year.
The 60-credit curriculum emphasizes a person/system environmental approach and includes field placements during generalist and specialization years.
- Program: Master of social work
- Campus: Long Beach, California
- Type: Public
- Accreditation(s): Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Tuition: $8,442 per year for California and non-California residents
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with 2.5 GPA (BSW with 3.0 for advanced standing); C in elementary statistics
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
What to Expect in an MSW
Cost
The cost of an MSW can vary widely based on the institution, the program’s length, and whether it is online or on-campus.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average annual tuition and fees for a master’s degree in the social/behavioral sciences, which closely relates to social work, was approximately $14,646 in 2020.
This figure does not include other expenses like textbooks, supplies, and living costs.
Financial Aid
MSW students have various financial aid options available to them. These include scholarships, fellowships, loan forgiveness programs, and federal student aid. Several scholarships for MSW students are available through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), such as the:
Students can apply for federal student aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid awards include grants like Pell Grants, loans with potentially lower interest rates than private loans, and work-study programs offering part-time jobs to help cover education expenses.
Accreditation
Accreditation is a critical factor to consider when choosing an MSW program. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the main accrediting body for social work programs, and its approval signifies that a program meets rigorous academic and professional criteria.
CSWE accreditation is often a requirement for state licensing of clinical social workers and ensures the program covers core competencies necessary for effective social work practice.
Online vs. On-Campus
Online and on-campus MSW programs offer different experiences with their own sets of advantages and requirements. Online MSW programs generally take 2-3 years and offer flexibility for students to balance work or family obligations while in school.
However, online programs require self-discipline due to their independent nature. On the other hand, on-campus programs offer full-time options that can be completed in 2 years and part-time options taking up to 4 years, providing structured schedules and in-person faculty support.
Prepare for Licensure
Preparing for licensure in social work involves obtaining the necessary educational qualifications, gaining supervised experience, applying for your license, and passing the appropriate social work licensing exam. The specific process varies by state, so it’s essential to consult the state’s regulatory board where you intend to practice.
Generally, to become a licensed social worker, you need to earn a bachelor’s degree, an MSW, complete additional supervised clinical experience hours, and pass the appropriate social work licensing exam.
What Can You Do with an MSW?
An MSW can lead to many fulfilling careers in the social work field. You can impact communities and individuals in profound ways, tackling complex social issues and making a real difference. Let’s explore some of the career options and their potential salaries.
Careers with an MSW
- Mental Health Case Manager: Mental health case managers coordinate and provide services for people with mental health conditions. They assess client needs, develop treatment plans, and monitor progress.
- Child Welfare Specialist: Child welfare specialists work to protect children’s well-being. They investigate reports of child abuse or neglect and take appropriate action to ensure the child’s safety.
- Substance Use/Mental Health Social Worker: These social workers are typically licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs). They help individuals with mental health conditions and those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. LCSWs provide therapy, develop treatment plans, and help clients improve their lives or navigate recovery.
- Medical Social Worker: Medical social workers provide support to patients in healthcare settings. They assist with navigating healthcare systems, coordinating care, and providing emotional support during challenging health situations.
How Much Can You Make with an MSW?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for social workers was $51,760 as of May 2022 — the top 10% of earners made over $87,300. MSW holders have an increased earning potential due to opportunities for roles with greater responsibility and leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions about Getting Your MSW
How long does it take to complete an MSW?
A traditional MSW program typically takes two years for full-time students to complete. However, students with a bachelor of social work (BSW) may be eligible for advanced-standing programs, which they can complete in as few as 9 to 12 months of full-time study. Part-time students may take longer to earn their graduate degree.
Do you need an MSW to become a licensed social worker?
Yes, obtaining an MSW is necessary to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Becoming an LCSW includes earning a bachelor’s degree, earning an MSW, completing additional supervised clinical experience hours, and obtaining social work licensure in your state.
What prerequisites are required to pursue an MSW?
To pursue an MSW, the prerequisites vary by program but generally include the following: a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, a minimum undergraduate GPA (typically 3.0), successful completion of specific courses such as statistics, psychology, and biology, and a set number of references.
