The Students Before Profits Award was created to promote nonprofit colleges and universities offering online degree programs that put students before profits and education before the bottom line.
For our online MSW programs award winners, we selected online programs from accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities with objectively lower than average tuition cost and have ranked the programs according to their affordability.
While affordability, accreditation and nonprofit status are our primary criteria when it comes to ranking these programs, many of these programs are consistently ranked at the top by other national publications and we believe they deserve to be considered among the best online master’s in social work programs available.
The social work profession shows up in all areas of social life: in schools, hospitals, the work place, health care settings, prisons, and beyond. Social workers serve individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, helping people navigate a range of problems that occur across the human life span. Social workers assist veterans, persons with developmental disabilities, and people with mental health needs. Social workers engage in social advocacy, social planning, and administration. Above all else, social work is a profession that places value on individuals life and works to maximize the quality of life for the populations it serves. Thus, social work can be a highly rewarding profession. Additionally, according to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, the social work is an area of labor expecting 19% growth between 2012 and 2022 which puts it above average so social workers are and will continue to be in high demand.
Among the programs ranked here are several non-traditional social work degree programs that are not accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and thus will not lead to licensure as social worker, yet are still focus on equipping individuals for human service and other social work related careers. We believe these programs are still valuable educational opportunities though they will not necessarily credential students for work with the kind of social work agencies that many students pursuing these degrees will need. Make sure to check that the program is accredited not only by regional accrediting bodies, but also by the CSWE if your career goals include licensure as a practicing social worker. Many programs, though offered online, are only offered to students residing in select states. Check to make sure given programs are offered in your region before beginning the application process.
Note that tuition rates listed below are based on cost per credit and individual programs may have additional fees.
Ranking the Best Online MSW Programs
#1. University of Alabama
Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the University of Alabama is the flagship university of the University of Alabama System. Established in 1831 and enrolling over 36,100 students, UA is the oldest and largest university in the state. As one of the first universities established in the early 19th century southwestern frontier of the United States, UA has made a great impact on the region and the nation. The school was a center of activity during the US Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. UA offers degree programs in 13 academic divisions leading to bachelor’s, master’s, Education Specialist, and doctoral degrees.
MSW Online Programs
University of Alabama’s Bama By Distance offers a primarily online program leading to a Master of Social Work designed to increase knowledge of social problems and their solutions, learn to improve social conditions for those in Alabama and throughout the U.S., and Develop the skills to promote social justice and human dignity for all people. Two options for completion are available, the advanced standing option for students who already hold a Bachelor’s degree in social work accredited by the CSWE which consists of 42 credits of coursework and the non-advanced standing program consisting of 60 credits. Both options offer two concentrations: Children, Adolescents and their Families or Adults and their Families.
Accreditation: The University of Alabama is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The Social Work program is recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $14,868-$21,240
#2. Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University is a Roman Catholic liberal arts university located in Saint Leo, Florida. Founded in 1889 by a group of Benedictine monks, it is the oldest Catholic college in Florida. The university only enrolls about 3,000 students at its main campus, but enrolls approximately 16,000 worldwide, most of which are military-related. The university operates dozens of military base education centers, 17 continuing education centers in 7 states, as well as their global online campus.
MSW Online Programs
Saint Leo University offers an online Master of Social Work with Concentration in Advanced Clinical Practice. The program prepares students to engage, assess, intervene with and evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Graduates are prepared to be leaders in advanced clinical social work practice serving all populations, in particular the elderly, military personnel, members of the workforce, and peoples and groups that experience discrimination and oppression. The program is available to those living in the states of Florida, Georgia, and Virginia. A minimum of 63 credits are required for completion of the program. Advanced standing students who hold a bachelor’s degree in social work can complete the program for 32 credits.
Accreditation: Saint Leo University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $14,400-$28,350
#3. University of North Dakota
Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, the University of North Dakota is still located in Grand Forks. The campus sits on over 550 acres. US News and World Report ranked UND among the top 100 public universities in the country.
MSW Online Programs
The University of North Dakota’s College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines offers an online Master of Social Work for individuals who hold a bachelor’s of social work. The program offers advanced generalist curriculum that prepares students to practice competently in a variety of settings and across practice levels with the necessary knowledge, values, and skills to enhance human well-being and to serve as leaders in their communities in North Dakota, the region, and beyond. The program requires 36 credits for completion.
Accreditation: The University of North Dakota is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Social Work program is recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $16,450
#4. Louisiana State University
Located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Louisiana State University is the largest university in the state with an enrollment of over 30,400 students. The university was founded in 1853 as a military academy and to this day retains in the military tradition. LSU is the flagship institution of the Louisiana State University System and is noted for its extensive research facilities operating over 800 sponsored research projects. LSU is consistently ranked by numerous national publications for the quality of its schools and programs.
MSW Online Programs
Louisiana State University is beginning a restructured asynchronous online Master of Social Work program beginning in fall of 2015 and will begin an advanced standing program in Spring of 2016. The program is not available for students in all 50 states and list of available states is currently being complied. Check LSU’s website for an updated list of available states before applying. The program requires 60 credits for completion.
Accreditation: Louisiana State University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $28,500
#5. Washburn University
Washburn University is a public university founded in 1865 and located in Topeka, Kansas. The school enrolls nearly 7,000 students in over 200 certificate, baccalaureate, master’s and juris doctor programs of study through the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Schools of Law, Business, Nursing, and Applied Science.
MSW Online Programs
The Master of Social Work program at Washburn University offers much of the required coursework online. This MSW program is committed to providing quality education for students with or without a baccalaureate social work degree. Therefore, the curriculum may include liberal arts components and generalist social work preparation to maximize each student’s readiness for entry into the clinical concentration. In addition, the program focuses on providing a supportive environment for a diverse group of students, including those who may otherwise experience barriers to educational opportunities. The program requires 66 credits for completion. Advanced standing students who hold a bachelor’s degree in social work will be eligible for 33 credit waiver.
Accreditation: Washburn University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $14,289-$28,578
#6. Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus university system with its flagship campus located in Bloomington, Indiana. Established in 1820, IU Bloomington is the largest institution in the IU system with over 40,000 students. The university has been recognized by the US News & World Report, The Institute of Higher Education at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Global University Ranking, USA Today, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, the Princeton Review, and Newsweek, and is considered a Public Ivy. In 2001, Time named IU Bloomington its “College of the Year.”
MSW Online Programs
The School of Social Work at Indiana University offers an online Advanced Generalist Master of Social Work program designed to prepare students to master multi-faceted roles for practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities within diverse systems and settings. Our graduates engage multi-faceted roles as clinicians, group facilitators, supervisors, community organizers, advocates, and policy analysts. The program is available to students everywhere! A minimum of 60 credits are required for completion. Advanced standing status may be available to exceptional students who possess a bachelor’s degree in social work waiving 30 credits.
Accreditation: Indiana University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $15,600-$31,200
#7. University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming sits between the Laramie and Snowy Range Mountains and is located on Wyoming’s high Laramie Plains, The school is a land-grant university and was founded in 1887, four years before Wyoming was admitted as the 44th state. The university offers 41 degree and certificate programs in addition to its traditional on-campus programs.
MSW Online Programs
The University of Wyoming offers an online Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with concentrations in Human Development and Family Science, and Human Nutrition and Food. These programs will prepare students for advanced career placement in the particular family oriented area of social as opposed to generalist practice. These programs require 30 credits for completion. Though not strictly considered a “social work” degree and not fulfilling requirements for licensure as a social worker, the program will prepare students for a variety of careers in human services.
Accreditation: The University of Wyoming is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition
In-State: $6,630
Out-of-State: $18,180
#8. Texas State University
Established in 1899 as a normal school for the training of teachers in the region, Texas State University is a public university located in San Marcos, Texas. It has since grown to be the largest institution in the Texas State University System and the fourth largest university in the state. Enrolling over 36,800 students. TSU offers 97 different bachelor’s degree programs, 87 master’s programs, and 12 doctoral programs.
MSW Online Programs
The School of Social work at Texas State University offers a Master of Social Work Administrative Leadership Track online. The program offers advanced curriculum which provides a launching pad for future Leaders for Change. Students enter the advanced curriculum with a solid foundation of basic social work skills and knowledge upon which to build a specialized, focused approach to practice in Administrative Leadership. The online option is only available to advanced students who hold a bachelor’s degree in social work that can skip the first, foundational year which is only offered on campus. The advanced program requires 36 credits for completion.
Accreditation: Texas State University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition
In-State: $10,392
Out-of-State: $23,424
#9. Western New Mexico University
Western New Mexico University is a public university located in Silver City, New Mexico. The university was founded in 1893 as a normal school for the preparation of teachers in the state and surrounding areas and has since developed into a comprehensive university enrolling over 3,500 students. WNMU offers more than 70 areas of study and over 150 courses online and is known for its programs in Education, Criminal Justice, Occupational Therapy, Business Management, Nursing, and Social Work.
Online MSW Programs
Western New Mexico University offers an online Master of Social Work program emphasizing the core social work values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence in a caring and nurturing environment with small class sizes. The program requires a minimum of 66 credits for completion. Also offered is a 45 credit advanced standing program for students holding a bachelor’s degree in social work.
Accreditation: Western New Mexico University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition
In-State: $13,050-$19,14
Out-of-State: $25,507-$36,587
#10. Northeastern University
Northeastern University was founded in 1898 as the “Evening Institute for Younger Men” at a YMCA in Boston, Massachusetts. It is now an increasingly competitive and esteemed private research university. Northeastern University’s online school offers over 70 certificates and degree programs that adhere to the rigorous academic standards of the on-ground campus.
Online MSW Programs
The College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University offers an online Master of Science in Human Services that provides the foundation for rewarding careers with nonprofit organizations, government, or nongovernmental organizations. Often responsible for working with vulnerable populations, human service professionals may provide direct services, supervise personnel, or administer programs and policies. In addition to these tasks, they must also be adept at conducting assessments, developing service plans and policies, leading interdisciplinary teams, and managing care for at-risk clients. The program requires a minimum of 45 credits for completion.
Accreditation: Northeastern University is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Tuition: $27,675
#11. Metropolitan State University of Denver
MSU is a public university located in Denver, Colorado founded in 1965. The school has the second-largest enrollment of undergraduates of any college in Colorado enrolling over 24,000 students. MSU offers 56 different major programs of study at the undergraduate level and recently began offering master’s programs in teacher education, accounting and social work.
Online MSW Programs
Metro State University of Denver’s Master of Social Work Program is available online and is designed to educate social workers to serve the needs of individuals, families, groups, communities and organization in a multicultural and global society. The program combines academic, research and field experience into a rigorous curriculum that teaches ethical decision making, scientific inquiry, cultural sensitivity, and global awareness as well as clinical assessment and intervention skills, leadership and management skills, and community organizing. The full program requires 60 credits for completion while individuals with advanced standing and a bachelor’s degree in social work will have 30 credits waived.
Accreditation: Metropolitan State University of Denver is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. It’s programs in Social Work are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition
In-State: $9,086-$18,172
Out-of-State: $19,904-$39,808
#12. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Edinburg University of Pennsylvania is a public liberal arts university associated with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The school was founded in 1857 as the Edinboro Academy, a private academy for the training of teachers in the region. The school has since grown to a comprehensive university enrolling over 9,100 students and is northwestern Pennsylvania’s largest university.
Online MSW Programs
The School of Graduate Studies and Research at Edinboro University offers an online Master of Social Work program that prepares graduates to work in a wide range of practice settings. These include family-based and mental health agencies, addiction treatment centers, schools, medical and psychiatric facilities, rehabilitation and correctional facilities, hospitals, veterans’ agencies, foster care and adoption agencies, nursing homes and policy settings. The regular program requires a minimum of 60 credits for completion, while the advanced standing program for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in social work requires 39 credits.
Accreditation: Edinboro University of Pennsylvania is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition
In-State: $17,706-$27,240
Out-of-State: $26,559-$40,860
#13. Salisbury University
A public university located in Salisbury, Maryland, Salisbury University was founded as a Normal School for the training of teachers to serve the state of Maryland. Today the university enrolls over 8,000 students in 42 undergraduate and 14 graduate degree programs.
Online MSW Programs
The online Master of Social Work program at Salisbury University offers students the opportunity to earn their degree online in a student-centered, supportive environment. This program is open to individuals living in Maryland, Virginia, or Pennsylvania, and who hold a bachelor’s degree. The program consists of 62 credits and recent graduates of a bachelor’s in social work program can apply for the 32 credit advanced standing program. Students will be required to identify their field placement and communicate that information to the Field Director. Field Seminars are online and site visits will be performed via Skype.
Accreditation: Salisbury University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. It’s Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $23,200-$44,950
#14. Our Lady of the Lake University
Our Lady of the Lake University is an independent Catholic, co-ed university located in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1895 by the Sisters of Divine Providence, a religious institute originating in Lorraine, France, during the 18th century. The Texas chapter of the institute still sponsors the university. Our Lady of the Lake University was the first San Antonio institution of higher education to receive regional accreditation, and its Worden School of Social Service is the oldest school of Social Work in Texas. The university enrolls over 2,600 students in 33 bachelor’s, 14 master’s, and 2 doctoral degree programs.
Online MSW Programs
The Worden School of Social Service at Our Lady of the Lake University offers an online master’s degree program that is designed to help social work students change the lives of children and families in need while building the foundation for their careers in social service leadership and advanced direct practice. The program is one of three MSW programs in the country emphasizing service of hispanic populations. Students who have competed a bachelor’s degree in social work can complete the program in just under 2 years for 30 credits of coursework. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in another discipline can complete the program in just over 3 years with additional foundational coursework and total requirements 57 credits.
Accreditation: Our Lady of the Lake University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It’s Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $24,660-$46,854
#15. Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C.in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops. The university was founded as a graduate research center in 1887 and today enrolls nearly 6,800 students. CUA has been widely acclaimed by multiple national publications for its quality of education, value, eco-frienlieness, and community service and involvement.
Online MSW Programs
The online clinical Master of Social Work from The Catholic University of America’s National Catholic School of Social Service prepares students to obtain their license in clinical social work practice. The program includes all aspects of clinical practice with individuals, families, couples and groups. Dimensions of assessment and diagnoses are thoroughly addressed across the life span. The program requires 60 credits for completion. Students fulfilling requirements for advanced standing, including a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, are eligible to waive 30 credits of foundational coursework.
Accreditation: The Catholic University of America is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. It’s programs in Social Work are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $24,900-$49,800
#16. Boston University
Boston University is a private, nonsectarian research university founded in 1839 as the Newbury Bible Institute in Newbury, Vermont. The school went through a number of changes before relocating to Boston in 1847. The university boasts many notable alumni and academics including Helen Magill White, the first woman to receive a Ph.D. from an American university; Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone; American Civil Rights Movement Leader Martin Luther King, Jr.; poets Robert Lowell and Robert Pinsky; Elie Wiesel, winner of the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize, Holocaust survivor, activist, and Jewish-American professor; and Pulitzer Prize winner and author Jhumpa Lahiri. Seven Nobel Laureates and 35 Pulitzer Prize winners are among BU’s faculty and graduates.
Online MSW Programs
The online Master of Social Work from Boston University’s School of Social Work is designed to educate professional social workers who practice within a variety of contexts, from clinical counseling to community based settings. This part-time MSW Program offers a concentration in Clinical Social Work Practice and is designed for individuals seeking to expand their knowledge and skills, advance professionally, and become eligible for professional licensure. The program requires 65 credits for completion. Students who hold a bachelor’s degree in Social Work can qualify for the advanced standing track which requires 43 credits for completion.
Accreditation: Boston University is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Schools. The Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $31,390-$47,450
#17. Humbolt University
Humbolt State University is a public research university located in Arcata, California and is a member of the 23 campus California State University System. The University was founded in 1913 as a teacher’s college and today the University enrolls over 8,300 students in programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. HSU was named in the Princeton Review as a “College with a Conscience,” due to its outstanding service learning opportunities and blending of academics with community work.
Online MSW Programs
The Master of Social Work program offered by Humbolt University’s Department of Social Work is available online and emphasizes advanced generalist practice in rural and Native American communities. The online course of study is offered on a part-time basis and can be completed in 3.5 years or 2 years for students with advanced standing. The program requires a minimum of 60 credits. Students who hold a bachelor’s degree in social work are eligible to apply for the advanced standing program which requires 30 credits for completion.
Accreditation: Humbolt State University is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $28,776-$54,183
#18. Fordham University
Located in New York City and founded by the Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841, Fordham University is a private nonprofit university in the Jesuit tradition. The university enrolls over 15,000 students across three campuses located across the state of New York as well as study abroad centers in the U.K., Spain, and South Africa. Fordham is considered to have selective admissions criteria and is graduate programs in law, business, English, social work, and education are consistently ranked among the top programs in the nation.
Online MSW Programs
The online Master of Social Work offered by the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University is designed to prepare our students to have a positive impact on the lives of others. Graduates are able to step into exciting, rewarding careers serving clients in clinical settings, leadership, macro practice, and research. The program offers areas of concentration in clinical social work, leadership and macro practice and research. A minimum of 66 credits are required for completion of the program while 33 credits can be waived for students qualifying for the advanced standing option. The program is specifically designed for students living in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.
Accreditation: Fordham University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The programs in Social Work are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $29,205-$58,410
#19. Rutgers University
Rutgers University is a public research university located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and is the largest institution of higher education in New Jersey. Rutgers was originally chartered as Queens College in 1766 and is the eighth oldest college in the United States and one of the original nine “Colonial Colleges” founded before the American Revolution. The university enrolls over 65,000 students and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high activity.
Online MSW Programs
Rutgers University’s School of Social Work offers a fully online Master of Social Work in Clinical Social Work. The program prepares skilled direct-service providers to function in both public and private sectors of social welfare; and also prepares students for advanced social work practice, including administrative leadership roles in the state’s social welfare departments and agencies, and at all levels of government, as well as in the voluntary sector. The program consists of 63 credits. Students with advanced standing who have completed a bachelor’s degree in Social Work are eligible to waive 27 credits of foundational coursework.
Accreditation: Rutgers University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Social Work program are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $27,600-$59,400
#20. University of New England
The University of New England is a nonprofit university with campuses in Biddeford, Maine, Portland, Maine, and Tangiers, Morocco founded in 1939. The university currently enrolls more than 9,300 students and is ranked #87 by U.S. News Best Regional Universities (North).
Online MSW Programs
The University of New England offers a Master’s in Social Work available entirely online covering a wide range of topics relating to social work and human behavior. The practice and profession of social work is covered in detail, including the ethical issues, societal and personal influences, incorporating and utilizing theory into practice, growth strategies, and more. The program offers clinical (individual & family) and macro (organizations & communities) concentrations and traditional as well as advanced placement tracks. The traditional completion track requires a minimum of 64 credits and the advanced standing track for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in social work requires 37 credits.
Accreditation: The University of New England is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It’s Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition: $37,450-$54,400
#21. University of Tennessee—Knoxville
A sun-grant and land grant university, the University of Tennessee Knoxville was founded in 1794, 2 years before Tennessee entered the Union and is one of the oldest universities in the nation. It is the flagship university of the University of Tennessee System and enrolls over 27,400 students in over 300 distinct degree programs.
Online MSW Programs
The University of Tennessee—Knoxville’s College of Social Work offers an online Master of Social Work degree program available on a part-time or full-time basis. The program offers a comprehensive and vigorous curriculum that prepares students to address pressing individual, family, community, and societal needs through use of cutting-edge knowledge and skills. The program combines state-of the art coursework with in-depth internship experiences. Students complete either a clinical (individual & family) concentration or a macro (organizations & communities) concentration in order to focus their education to meet their professional goals. The program requires 60 credits for completion and can be completed in 2 to 4 years depending on full vs. part time study. An advanced standing program is available for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work which requires 36 credits for completion and can be completed in one year.
Accreditation: The University of Tennessee—Knoxville is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The program in Social Work is recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition
In-State: $11,602-$23,204
Out-of-State: $30,050-$60,100
#22. Florida State University
A space-grant, land-grant and public research university, Florida State University was founded in 1851 and is located in Tallahassee, the state’s capital. FSU is renowned for its prestigious faculty which includes recipients of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, Guggenheim Fellowships, and Academy Awards. A diverse conglomeration of Florida State’s academic programs are nationally ranked – the school has received accolades in the sciences, social policy, engineering, film, theatre, dance, business, political science, psychology, social work, medicine, and law. Florida State University is considered a “Budget Ivy,” and has been recently recognized by USA Today, the Princeton Review, The Academic Ranking of World Universities, and U.S. News & World Report. Most of FSU’s degree programs rank nationally among the top 25 public universities.
Online MSW Programs
Florida State University’s College of Social Work offers an online Master of Social Work degree program with Clinical concentration designed to prepare students for advanced, evidence-based clinical social work practice with a variety of client types in numerous community settings. A minimum of 61 credits are required for completion of the traditional program. Advanced standing students who hold a bachelor’s degree in social work can complete the program for 39 credits.
Accreditation: Florida State University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The Social Work program is recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition
In-State: $18,681-$29,219
Out-of-State: $43,318-$67,754
#23. Virginia Commonwealth University
Located in Richmond, Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public research university founded in 1838 as a Medical College. Today the school enrolls over 31,100 students in over 220 different degree and certificate programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level. The Carnegie Foundation classifies VCU as an institution with very high research activity and is ranked by various national publications as a top university with many of its programs recognized as among the best programs of their kind.
Online MSW Programs
The School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University offers a Master of Social Work degree available through distance education hybrid online and in-person delivery. Students must attend two in-person Saturday classes per semester, while all other coursework is delivered online. The program is designed to help students find their focus as advanced practitioners and position themselves to make immediate impacts in the lives and communities they touch, through intensive, specialized course work, research and field experience. The online format is only available on a part-time basis and can be earned between 2.5 and 4 years depending on the student’s standing. The program requires 60 credits for completion. Advanced Standing students with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work can complete the program with 42 credits.
Accreditation: Virginia Commonwealth University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition
In-State: $25,074-$35,820
Out-of-State: $50,988-$72,840
#24. University of New Hampshire
Located in Durham and Manchester, New Hampshire, the University of New Hampshire is the flagship university of the University of New Hampshire system. With over 15,000 students enrolled between its two campuses it is the largest university in the state. UNH was founded in 1856 as a land, sea, and space grant institution and is one of only nine such institutions in the nation. UNH ranks lowest in the nation for amount of subsidy it receives from the state.
Online MSW Programs
The University of New Hampshire, Department of Social Work offers a fully online Master of Social Work program designed to educate social work professionals to work effectively with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to optimize human potential for productive participation in society.” Our Advanced Generalist Curriculum prepares students for effective advanced intervention with client systems of various sizes and to work in any setting where social workers are employed. The program consists of 62 credits and can be completed in as little as 28 months. No advanced standing option is currently available.
Accreditation: The University of New Hampshire is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It’s Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition
In-State: $46,500
Out-of-State: $51,150
#25. Case Western Reserve University
Located in Cleveland, Ohio, Case Western Reserve University is a private non-profit research university founded in 1967 by the federation of Case Institute of Technology. The university enrolls over 10,300 students and has been ranked several years in a row among the top 10 national universities by the Washington Monthly. In 2014 The Times ranked Case Western Reserve #114 in top universities worldwide.
Online MSW Programs
Case Western Reserve University’s online Master of Science in Social Administration prepares students with the practical knowledge they’ll need to become influential leaders in the field, promoting social justice and empowerment in communities through social work practice locally, nationally and internationally. The program features concentrations in Community Practice for Social Change, and Direct Practice. The Direct Practice concentration features specialization options in Children, Youth, & Families, as well as Mental Health. The traditional program requires 60 credits for completion. An advanced standing option is available for students who hold a bachelor’s degree in social work and can be completed with 45 credits.
Accreditation: Case Western Reserve University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. It’s programs in Social Work are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation
Tuition: $41,550-$83,100
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