What Are the Most Affordable Online MSW Programs?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual income for a social worker is $51,760. That's not chicken feed, but it's not Rockefeller money either.

If you've chosen the social work field for your career, you already know this, and it doesn't matter. You want to be a social worker because you are driven to help others in need. You are an organizer, a problem solver, a facilitator, and a fixer advocating for social change. Plus, you have a big heart.

If you're going to survive as a social worker, though, you also need to be pragmatic. You are probably not going to make big money, so it may not be wise to take on a ton of student debt. As you consider Master of Social Work programs, cost should be a major factor in your decision.

Fortunately, many schools offer very affordable online master's degree programs. Why choose an online MSW program? First, online study broadens your choices considerably over what would otherwise be available to you locally. Second, you can study somewhere outside your region without having to relocate or commute, which by itself will net you considerable savings. Third, online programs are virtually equivalent to on-campus programs; you don't forfeit anything in the way of academic quality or the value of your master’s in social work by studying online.

True, you won't benefit from face-to-face encounters with faculty and peers. And, you'll probably need an extra measure of self-motivation, since many of these social work programs are essentially self-paced. For most students, however, the ease and convenience of online study far outweigh these potential challenges. And now, thanks to this article, you will know how to find the most affordable online MSW programs.

In this article, we'll cover:

• Why get an MSW?
• Is an online MSW as valuable as an on-campus MSW?
• What are the cheapest online MSW programs for 2021?

Why get an MSW?

The short answer: you need a license to practice social work, and you need a social work degree to earn a social work license and be on your way to reaching your career goals.

It's a little more complicated than that, though. If you earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) as an undergraduate, you hold a social work degree that qualifies you to be a Licensed Bachelor of Social Work (LBSW). All right, you've got your social work degree, you have your licensure, you're set, right? A little yes, but mostly no. As an LBSW, you'll be limited in the responsibilities you can take on. Your prospects for career advancement will be similarly limited.

You can't practice clinical social work, and you will likely be closed out of jobs in administration, policymaking, research, and other areas with broader social impact.

We do have some most excellent news for you, though. Your BSW allows you to enter an MSW program with an advanced standing track. That can cut the number of credits required to earn the MSW degree—and the amount of time and money it takes—in half for advanced standing students.

If your bachelor's degree is in a field other than social work, then you'll need a social work degree to earn a license. Since you can earn an MSW in two years with the advanced standing option, and since it will qualify you for significantly better jobs than a BSW would, pursuing the MSW at this point is, for you, a no-brainer. You will need to enroll in a standard MSW degree program, which typically requires about 60 credit hours (two years of full-time study) to complete.

Regardless of which path you follow, you will need to complete MSW coursework and a fieldwork practicum. The latter typically requires 900 to 1,200 hours of field experience in a social work setting. You should expect to spend two to three full days each week fulfilling this obligation, which typically occurs during the second year of full-time standard MSW study.

Between your field practicum and your online courses, you will be pretty busy. It's not impossible to meet family and work obligations in addition, but most people find it challenging at a bare minimum. Prepare to feel a little overwhelmed as you pursue this degree (many MSW students do).

Is an online MSW as valuable as an on-campus MSW?

A few years ago, the answer might have been: "Well, maybe in a few years." Now, however, the answer is an unqualified "yes." Here's why:

Technology advancement

Online delivery has gotten much better recently: Increases in bandwidth capacity mean that online classes—typically hosted in an online conferencing app like Zoom or Adobe Connect—are finally glitch-free. Likewise, interactive learning and testing apps no longer freeze, break down, fail, or start smoking. The Internet has caught up with online learning.

Improved student experience

Schools have learned from past mistakes: Online educators have had time to see what works and what doesn't for online students. They’ve stopped doing what doesn't, and are doing a lot more of what does.

More program options

More schools are offering online MSW degrees: Competition improves quality. Also, it accelerates the process of learning from each other's mistakes. Online programs are improving more rapidly than ever. They have to if they want to stay ahead of the competition.

Increased popularity

As online graduate degrees gain acceptance, more people enroll: More enrollment results in greater acceptance of online degrees. Which spurs increased enrollment. Call it a lovely circle (as opposed to a vicious circle). The end result is the ever-growing legitimation of online degrees.

Schools do not distinguish between their online and on-campus degrees—all enrolled students receive the exact same Master of Social Work to frame on their wall. The only way anyone will ever know you studied online is if you tell them.

What are the cheapest online MSW programs for 2021?

In selecting the schools listed below, we focused on two criteria: tuition rates, and if the program is accessible to the greatest number of students. (Also, don’t forget to research financial aid and scholarships available to social work students.)

In considering cost, we took into account the cost to both in-state and out-of-state students. When considering accessibility, we favored master’s in social work programs that are open to students in all (or at least most) states, and that require few, or no, on-campus visits. As a result, we omitted a few programs that had low in-state tuition, but were not open to students from other states, or that required so many campus visits as to make long-distance learning highly impractical, if not impossible.

Every one of the listed programs has earned Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation, the essential standard of social work education excellence.

_Arizona State University - Downtown Phoenix_

Format

100 percent online; no campus visits; content delivered primarily asynchronously.

Tuition

$543 per credit ($32,580 for the standard MSW).

Graduation requirements

60 credits for the standard MSW; 39 credits for the advanced standing MSW.

Core/foundational courses

Micro Human Behavior/Social Environment; Social Policy and Services; Macro Human Behavior/Social Environment; Diversity and Oppression in a Social Work Context; Macro Social Work; Research Methods; Assessment of Mental Disorders; Program Evaluation; Policy Practice; Advanced Social Work Practice; Advanced Generalist Social Work Practice; Field Internship/Practicum.

Concentration/specialization options

Advanced Generalist

Features

960 hours of mandatory hands-on field education at two unique internship sites (placement facilitated by the School of Social Work's Field Education Office); ranked number 25 social work graduate school by US News & World Report.

_Boise State University_

Format

100 percent online, no campus visit required; full-time and part-time, standard and advanced standing.

Tuition

$495 per credit ($30,195 for the standard MSW).

Graduation requirements

61 credits for the standard MSW; 37 credits for the advanced standing MSW.

Core courses

Foundation of Social Work Practice; Foundation of Social Welfare Policy; Human Development Thru LC; Ethnicity, Gender, and Class; Social Dimensions of Human Behavior; Foundations of Research; Foundations of Field Work; Advanced Issues in Human Diversity; Research and Statistics for Social Work; Program Leadership and Management; Advanced Social Work Interventions; Evaluation and Treatment of Mental Disorders.

Elective courses

School Social Work; Substance Use and Other Addictive Disorders; Social Work in Healthcare; Foundation and Application of Trauma-Informed Practice.

Concentration options

None.

Features

1,000 hours of fieldwork in standard program, 600 hours in advanced standing; BSU provides assistance in selecting agencies for field education experience; continual CSWE accreditation since 1993.

_Campbellsville University_

Format

100 percent online, no campus visit required; full-time and part-time; standard and advanced standing.

Tuition

$559 per credit ($33,540 for the standard MSW).

Graduation requirements

60 credits for the standard MSW; 30 credits for the advanced standing MSW.

Core courses

Human Development; Research; Cultural Competency; Policy and Practice; Individuals; Families; Communities; Groups; Psychopathology; World Problems and Advocacy; Advanced Practice with Children and Families; Change Theory; Program Evaluation; Leadership and Supervision; Community Development and Grant Writing.

Elective courses

Global Policies & Social Programming; Addictions; Ethics, Legal and Professional Issues; School Social Work; Clinical Diagnosis and Psychopharmacology.

Concentration options

None listed.

Features

Open only to residents of Kentucky and surrounding states (Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois); school is affiliated with the Baptist church; curriculum "rooted in ethical and Christian ideals"; school is "military-friendly"; school offers "generous transfer policies" for online programs.

_Delaware State University_

Format

100 percent online, no campus visit required; standard and advanced standing.

Tuition

$438 per credit ($26,280 for the standard MSW).

Graduation requirements

60 credits for the standard MSW; 30 credits for the advanced standing MSW.

Core courses

Social Welfare Policies & Services Policy; Human Behavior & the Social Environment; Generalist Practice; Research & Evaluation; Engagement & Assessment with Individuals, Families & Treatment Groups; Intervention & Assessment with Individuals, Families & Treatment Groups; Engagement & Assessment with Communities & Organizations; Intervention & Evaluation with Communities & Organizations; Theories of Personality & Adult Psychopathology; Administration, Management & Supervision; Practice & Program Evaluation for the Advanced Practitioner; Advanced Generalist Practice in a Public Health Context.

Elective courses

None listed.

Concentration options

Advanced generalist.

Features

Only MSW program in the state of Delaware; emphasis on experiential learning (two internship practicums).

_Edinboro University of Pennsylvania_

Format

100 percent online and asynchronous (no campus requirement) and hybrid; standard and advanced standing.

Tuition

$516 per credit for Pennsylvania residents ($30,960 for the standard MSW); $568 per credit for non-residents ($34,080 for the standard MSW).

Graduation requirements

60 credit hours for the standard MSW; advanced standing requirements vary based on previous coursework.

Core courses

Social Work Practice; Social Work Policy; Human Diversity; Addictions Assessment and Treatment for the Individual and Family; Trauma: Theory and Treatment; Trauma-Informed Policy; Social Work Administration; Psychopathology; Cognitive-Behavior Treatment; Social Work Research.

Elective courses

None listed.

Concentration options

None listed.

Features

900 hours of field education in standard MSW; 500 hours of field education in advanced standing MSW; generalist approach to curriculum to "prepares graduates to work in a wide range of practice settings" including "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, policy settings, within the military, and in private practice."

_Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College_

Format

100 percent online and asynchronous (no campus requirement) and hybrid; standard and advanced standing.

Tuition

$539 per credit hour ($32,340 for the standard MSW).

Graduation requirements: 60 credit hours for the standard MSW; 33 credit hours for advanced standing MSW

Core courses

Human Behavior and the Social Environment; Social Welfare History and Policy; Social Work Practice; Social Work Research; Human Diversity and Oppression; Differential Diagnosis; Program & Practice Evaluation; Advanced Direct Practice; Community & Agency Contexts for Direct Practice Community; Advanced Social Policy.

Elective courses

None listed.

Concentration options

None listed.

Features

Seven-week module format, year-round with one- to two-week breaks between terms; six start dates per year for standard program, two start dates for advanced standing; open to students in all states; 960 hours field placement for standard program, 480 for advanced standing program.

_New Mexico State University - Main Campus_

Format

Full-time only; 100 percent online (no campus visits required); courses delivered in synchronous, asynchronous, and blended formats; standard and advanced standing.

Tuition

$399.50 per credit ($23,970 for the standard MSW).

Graduation requirements

60 credits for the standard MSW; 30 credits for the advanced standing MSW.

Core courses

Socio-cultural Concepts and Populations of the Southwest; Human Behavior and Social Environment; Social Work Practice; Social Problems and Social Welfare Policy; Human Behavior and the Social Environment; Policy Analysis & Change; Advanced Practice with Individuals; Advanced Practice with Groups; Social Work Mental Health Practice; Advanced Practice with Families; Advanced Practice with Organizations and Communities.

Elective courses

Two electives in standard program, one elective in advanced standing program. Suggested elective disciplines: sociology, anthropology, psychology, health science, family & consumer science, counseling & educational psychology, economics, management, government, statistics, women's studies, criminal justice, business, nursing, and special education.

Concentration options

Advanced generalist.

Features

Advanced generalist focus with a collaborative practice approach; focus on serving multicultural communities; program founded in 1990 to address shortage of child welfare services personnel in New Mexico; field placement facilitated by NMSU MSW Field Coordinator.

_University of Alabama at Birmingham_

Format

Primarily online (live, in-person orientation sessions for program and field education; live, in-person skills labs held on select Saturdays at study centers across Alabama and in Jackson, MS and Atlanta, GA); standard and advanced standing.

Tuition

$440 per credit ($26,400 for the standard MSW).

Graduation requirements

60 credits for the standard MSW; 42 credits for the advanced standing MSW.

Core courses

Social Welfare Policy; Human Behavior and Social Environment; Social Work Practice with Families; Social Work Practice with Groups; Social Work Practice with Communities; Models and Methods of Social Work Practice with Adults in Mental Health; Models and Methods of Gerontological Social Work Practice; Models and Methods of Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescents in Mental Health; Models and Methods of Social Work Practice in Child Welfare and Family Services; Advanced Social Welfare Policy Analysis.

Elective courses

Social Service Planning and Program Development; Practice in Health Care; Chemical Dependency; Psychopathology; Family Preservation; Spirituality and Social Work Practice; Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice; Social Service Program and Agency Administration; Crisis Intervention.

Concentration options

Children, Adolescents, and their Families; Adults and Their Families.

Features

1,000 hours of field placement for the standard MSW, 500 hours for advanced standing; dual degree MSW/JD and MSW/MPH available; two start dates per year for standard (summer and fall) and for advanced standing (summer and spring).

_University of Arkansas_

Format

100 percent online program; primarily asynchronous (some webcasting); full-time 12-month advanced standing only.

Tuition

$437.54 per credit ($17,064 for advanced standing MSW).

Graduation requirements

39 credit hours for the advanced standing MSW.

Core courses

Evidence-Based Social Work; Advanced Practice Using the Multi-System Life Course Perspective; Social Work Research & Technology; Advanced Practice with Children & Youth Using the MSLC Perspective; Advanced Practice with Adults Using the MSLC Perspective.

Elective courses

Three electives required; electives "may be taken outside of the program, with advisor's approval."

Concentration options

None listed.

Features

Field internships arranged within the vicinity of student's home location; 900 hours of fieldwork over 12 months.

_University of Central Florida_

Format

100 percent online; three-year part-time, standard and advanced standing; cohort-based; some electives or prerequisites may not be offered online.

Tuition

$487.45 per credit ($30,209.50 for the standard MSW).

Graduation requirements

62 credit hours for the standard MSW; 32 credit hours for the advanced standing MSW.

Core courses

Human Behavior in the Social Environment; Diverse Client Populations; Foundations of Behavioral Health Policy and Social Work Practice; Social Welfare Policies and Services; Generalist Practice; Intervention Approaches; Research; Psychosocial Pathology; Clinical Practice with Groups; Clinical Practice with Individuals; Clinical Practice with Families; Theories for Evidence-Based Clinical Practice in Social Work; Clinical Evaluation in Social Work Practice.

Elective courses

Human Sexuality in Social Work Practice; Child Welfare Services; Social Work in Health Settings; Medications in Social Work Practice; Clinical Practice with Military and Veteran Families or Groups; Interventions with Older Adults and Their Families; Clinical Social Work Practice with LGBTQ+; Clinical Social Work Practice with Substance Addictions; Documentation Skills for Helping Professionals; Behavioral Health Skills for Clinical Social Workers.

Concentration options

None listed.

Features

Available to students in all states except Nebraska; seven-week terms; cohort-based; 400 hours minimum fieldwork for generalists, 600 hours for clinical students; three admission dates per year for the standard MSW, one per year for advanced standing.

_University of Missouri - Columbia_

Format

100 percent online (no campus visits required); standard and advanced standing.

Tuition

$414 per credit ($24,840 for the standard MSW).

Graduation requirements

60 credits for the standard MSW; 39 credits for the advanced standing MSW.

Core courses

Professional Social Work Practice; Social Policy and Service Delivery in Social Work; Foundations of Human Behavior; Social Work Skills; Large Group Theory; Social Justice Seminar; Research Methods in Social Work.

Concentration options

Advanced clinical practice or policy, planning and administration in human services.

Advanced clinical practice concentration courses

Strategies of Clinical Social Work Intervention; Fundamentals of Social Work Administration; DSM V and Psychopathology: A Social Work Perspective; Advanced Social Work Practice in Integrated Healthcare; Evaluative Research in Clinical Social Work Practice.

Policy, planning and administration concentration courses

Fundamentals of Social Work Administration; DSM V and Psychopathology: A Social Work Perspective; Advanced Foundations of Human Behavior for Administrators; Management of a Social Agency; Evaluative Research in Social Work.

Electives

Six hours of electives for advanced standing MSW; nine hours for the standard MSW.

Features

Open to students from Missouri and surrounding states (Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois).

_University of South Florida - Main Campus_

Format

100 percent online, combined asynchronous and synchronous content (two live online sessions per week); standard and advanced standing.

Tuition

$347.91 per credit ($20,874 for the standard MSW). Non-residents pay an out-of-state fee.

Graduation requirements

Graduation requirements: 60 credit hours for the standard MSW; 35 credit hours for the advanced standing MSW.

Core courses

Foundations in Human Behavior; Foundations of Social Work Micro Practice; Diversity and Social Justice; Foundations of Social Work Macro Practice; Foundations of Social Welfare and Policy; Foundations of Social Work Research & Statistics; Psychopathology; Social Work Practice with Individuals; Social Work Practice with Couples and Families; Evaluations of Clinical Practice in Diverse Settings; Health, Illness, & Disability; Social Work Practice with Groups; Social Welfare Policy Development & Analysis.

Elective courses

Three electives required; none listed on website.

Concentration options

None listed.

Features

GRE not required for admission; program designed to develop skilled clinical social work practitioners; 900 hours of field placement required.

_The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley_

Format

100 percent online (no campus visit required); advanced standing only.

Tuition

$444.44 per credit hour ($14,667.52 for the advanced standing MSW).

Graduation requirements

33 credit hours for the advanced standing MSW.

Core courses

Social Work with Diverse Populations; Social Work Practice with Latinos; Advanced Policy Analysis and Development. Administration and community practice: Advanced Family Practice; Advanced Clinical Assessment; Advanced Social Work Practice with Individuals; Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups. Direct practice with Latino individuals, families, and groups: Advanced Macro Assessment; Advanced Social Work Practice with Organizations; Advanced Social Work Practice with Communities; Accountability and Evaluation in Macro Practice.

Elective courses

Gerontology Social Work; Spirituality and Social Work; Special Topics.

Concentration options

Administration and community practice; direct practice with Latino individuals, families, and groups.

Features

Open to students in all states except California; program focus on serving Latinx students and the Latinx community.

_Western New Mexico University_

Format

100 percent online or hybrid; standard or advanced standing.

Tuition

$315.62 per credit for New Mexico residents; $380.77 per credit for non-residents (up to 6 credits per semester; subsequent credits are more expensive).

Graduation requirements

60 credit hours for the standard MSW; 39 credit hours for the advanced standing MSW.

Core courses

Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice; Introduction to Advanced Generalist Social Work; Human Behavior and the Social Environment; Generalist Social Work Practice; Group Dynamics in Social Work Practice; Theories and Techniques of Clinical Social Work; Foundations of Social Work Research Methods; Social Work Administration and Supervision; Clinical Intervention and Assessment; Advanced Psycho-Social Approaches to Practice; Community Organization and Development; Social Welfare Policy.

Elective courses

Sustainable Development; Social Work Practice with the Aged; Child Welfare; Grant Writing; Psychopharmacology for Social Workers; Program Evaluation; Human Trafficking; Professional Writing for Social Work; Social Work in the Community; Introduction to Psychopathology for Clinical Social Work Practice.

Concentration options

None listed.

Features

All course content is asynchronous.

(If you live in any of these states, the following schools/university systems offer highly regarded and affordable online MSW programs: California State University - Los Angeles, Indiana University, University of North Dakota, as well as both the City University of New York and State University of New York.)

Questions or feedback? Email editor@noodle.com