Online Social Work Masters Programs

Earning a master's in social work online can lead to a meaningful career working directly with individuals, children, and families. During an online social work degree, students learn to diagnose behavioral issues, advocate for at-risk communities, and help individuals and groups manage challenges in their daily lives. With a growing number of families falling into poverty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the social work field will need more experienced professionals to support struggling communities. 

Online MSW programs are a flexible route to meaningful work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects faster-than-average job growth for social workers from 2020-2030. The median annual salary in 2020 was $51,760.

Our list ranks the best online MSW programs. Future online MSW students can use this ranking to find the right program for them. This article also introduces social work concentrations, licensure requirements for sreocial workers, and common social work careers.

Featured MSW Programs

What Is an Online Master's in Social Work?

An online MSW program trains students in areas like social welfare policy, social work research, and clinical social work. Many online MSW programs offer concentrations in children and families, school social work, or social work administration. The degree builds strong interpersonal, research, and analytical skills.

Pursuing a master's in social work online allows enrollees to complete practicum requirements in their local areas. Completing an MSW degree online generally takes two years for full-time students, though some programs offer an accelerated option. After earning an online MSW, graduates can apply for social work licensure and pursue employment in the field.

The Best Online Master's in Social Work (MSW) Degree Programs

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Online Master's in Social Work (MSW) Programs Ranking Guidelines

We selected the programs based on the quality of the program, the types of courses offered, the faculty, rankings, awards, and reputation, including the school's reputation for effectively providing online degree programs.

Our Methodology

Here at TheBestSchools.org, we take the trust and welfare of our readers very seriously. When making our school and program rankings, our top priority is ensuring that our readers get accurate, unbiased information that can help them make informed decisions about online education. That's why we've developed a rigorous ranking methodology that keeps the needs of our readers front and center.

Our proprietary, multi-criteria ranking algorithm analyzes key data indicators — as collected by the federal government — for each school or program. What data we use depends on the focus of each specific ranking, but in all cases, our ranking methodology is impartial: Schools cannot buy better rankings at TBS.

While specific criteria under consideration can vary by ranking, there are a few data points that we value most highly. They are affordability, academic quality, and online enrollment. Below, we break down our algorithm to help you understand what you're getting when you use one of our rankings.

• Academics
• Affordability
• Online Enrollment

Data Sources

The data used in TBS rankings comes primarily from the federal government, and much of it is provided by the schools themselves. We aggregate and analyze this data to build our rankings.

The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is our primary source. Its data comes from annual surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Every college, university, or technical school with access to federal financial aid must participate in these surveys, which include questions about enrollment, graduation rates, finances, and faculty qualifications. This is publicly available data, which you can access yourself through the College Navigator.

Additionally, because we value a personal touch and the professional experience of our staff and Academic Advisory Board, we vet all results and adjust rankings as necessary based on our collected knowledge of schools and degree programs. Depending on the ranking, we may obtain additional input from AcademicInfluence.com, subject matter experts, prior TBS ranking lists, or other sources we deem relevant to a particular ranking.

Breakdown of Our Rankings Methodology

About Our Ranking Factors

Here at TBS, we value what you value: quality education, affordability, and the accessibility of online education. These factors guide all of our program rankings.

Each of these factors are further broken down into weighted subfactors. For example, retention rates are weighted more heavily than availability of program options because they are a better indicator of student success.

We chose the following factors for our rankings because of their influence on learning experiences and graduate outcomes. However, students should always balance our rankings against their personal priorities. For instance, a learner who needs a fully online program may prioritize online flexibility more than our rankings do. Our rankings are designed to help you make a decision — not to make a decision for you.

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Academics - 75%

Affordability - 15%

Online Enrollment - 10%

In all our school rankings and recommendations, we work for objectivity and balance. We carefully research and compile each ranking list, and as stated in our advertising disclosure, we do NOT permit financial incentives to influence rankings. Our articles never promote or disregard a school for financial gain.

If you have questions about our ranking methodology, please feel free to connect with our staff through contact page.

We thank you for your readership and trust.

Featured MSW Programs

Choosing a Master's in Social Work Online Program

When researching online colleges, prospective applicants should consider factors like cost, MSW program length, and specialization options. Rather than comparing tuition rates, candidates should research the total cost. This includes fees, the total number of credits required, and textbook prices. Some programs offer accelerated options, which can mean tuition savings.

MSW students should also research the graduate placement record and field experience opportunities. Online programs often connect distance learners with local opportunities. Some programs have larger placement networks than others. By researching these factors, social work students can find the program that best suits their goals.

Accreditation for Online MSW Programs

Prospective students should always choose accredited MSW programs. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredits schools of social work, including online programs. Only a CSWE-accredited degree meets the requirements for a social work license. As a result, attending an unaccredited program will limit a social worker's career options.

In addition to checking program accreditation, applicants should see if the school has regional accreditation. Some institutions have national accreditation, which doesn't meet the same standards as regional accreditation when it comes to social work degrees.

What Can I Expect When Pursuing a Master's in Social Work Online?

Degree-seekers enrolled in a master's in social work online can expect to take classes in social justice, social work practice, and social welfare policy. Additionally, social work students often choose concentrations to prepare for specialized career paths after graduation. Online learners must often complete in-person requirements for practical experience.

Social Work Curriculum

• Diversity and Social Justice in Social Work: Most social work programs include courses on diversity and social justice. MSW students engage with diversity in practice, promote social justice, and explore social identity. The course also considers theories of social oppression, the roles of privilege and power in society, and conflict resolution.
• Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Social environments shape how people behave. In this course, students learn to interpret human behavior and critically examine the relationship between social settings and behavior. The course also covers concepts like social network theory and social-cognitive-behavioral theory. Learners apply these concepts through case studies to strengthen their practical skills.
• Social Welfare Policy: Topics in this course may include the development of new policies, the implementation and evaluation of social welfare policies, and the broader service delivery network. Learners also examine the relationship between policy development and delivery. The course prepares graduates for policy-making roles.
• Social Work Research: Enrollees learn about research methods, including quantitative and qualitative approaches. They also study the connection between research and practice and strategies for sampling and data collection. Learners also examine ethical issues, such as informed consent, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity in conducting research.
• Social Work with Individuals and Families: Learners build interpersonal skills and strengthen their professional practices. Coursework covers the assessment process, building relationships with clients, and appropriate social work interventions. The class prepares graduates for clinical roles working with individuals and groups.

Social Work Concentrations

Aging

This concentration prepares students for careers working with older adults. Coursework covers services aimed at aging communities, social justice issues for older adults, and program development. Core topics include healthcare, memory care, and elder abuse. Graduates are prepared for clinical roles or policy-making positions in aging services organizations.

Children and Families

A children and families social work concentration examines mental health among children. Students learn to assess children, provide early intervention services, and offer clinical treatment for children and families. The concentration emphasizes mental health support, protective factors, and risk factors.

Clinical Social Work

This concentration trains social workers to help people facing mental and emotional challenges. Learners examine counseling practices, including methods of identifying and evaluating challenges and both individual and group treatment approaches. They also explore behavioral issues, professional challenges, and family conflicts. Graduates can pursue careers in clinical social work.

Community and Social Systems

A community and social systems concentration focuses on macro-level social welfare organizations. Students examine social systems to identify potential improvements or policy needs. They also learn to conduct macro assessments and evaluate social problems. The concentration prepares graduates for roles in social work policy-making and social welfare institutions.

Forensic Social Work

This concentration uses social work tools to address problems in the legal system. Forensic social workers represent clients within the justice system, acting as consultants or advocates in legal settings. A forensic social work concentration includes training in the criminal justice system and social services that connect to the legal system.

School Social Work

A school social work concentration examines the barriers children face in school settings. The concentration trains MSW students in issues like homelessness, violence, truancy, and challenges related to special education programs. Degree-seekers learn to work with different student populations and design student support systems in schools

Advanced Standing MSW Programs

A student with a bachelor's in social work from a CSWE-accredited program may receive advanced standing status in an online MSW program. This allows them to graduate more quickly. Typically, an MSW takes two years of full-time study to complete, but advanced standing programs usually allow students to graduate within one year.

Social Work Licensure and Certification

Social workers pursuing clinical social work, school social work, and similar fields need licenses. Each state issues its own social work licenses and sets specific licensure requirements. Generally, a licensed social worker (LSW) needs an MSW and must meet supervised experience requirements. Some states only require a bachelor's degree. 

Social workers licensed in one state can often apply for a reciprocal license in other states, but it isn't automatic. They may need to meet additional requirements. Learn more about social work licensure from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) licensing guide.

Social Work Jobs and Salaries

Featured MSW Programs

Ask a Social Worker

TheBestSchools sat down with social worker, Anne Inwood to discuss how she chose to pursue a master's in social work and give advice to prospective students.

Anne Inwood

Anne Inwood works at Successful Families Together, where she provides parent coaching, parent support and resources, and parent education. She helps families create successful routines and provide therapy and counseling. She has an LCSW and a master of science in child development.

Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

What was your favorite aspect of earning a master of social work degree?

When I was earning my MSW, I was able to have first-hand experience working with families in various situations while learning and working under regular supervision. I had group supervision in my courses with a professor and other students, which meant we could all learn from each other and our experiences. I learned from my internship experiences as well as the experiences of my peers.

What should students interested in social work be good at?

Students studying social work should be able to have meaningful and critical self-reflection. Social workers need to be able to reflect on who they are and how their values and beliefs impact how they work with their clients. These beliefs and values may be ingrained in who a social worker is even if it's not readily apparent to them.

Social workers interact with a variety of clients who hold beliefs that can range from extreme on either end of the spectrum to more in the middle. This means that a social worker needs to be able to respond to clients with dignity and respect, no matter how similar or different their belief systems are.

This does not mean that social workers need to change their beliefs and values for a client, but they do need to be aware of what these are to make it easier to respond appropriately to clients from a variety of backgrounds.

What makes social work a popular field for online study?

Social work is a field that can be filled with nontraditional work hours, which also include being on call. This can make it more difficult to have courses at the same time each week as they may not be as confident of what their schedule will look like from week to week.

While there may be some specific times for course meetings, online learning can be more flexible in terms of when the student needs to be online, as long as assignments are submitted on time. It can also provide a more varied experience for students as they can learn from the experiences their peers are having in a variety of communities and environments.

Are there any advantages to studying social work online as opposed to in a traditional brick-and-mortar setting?

In an online program, you can interact with students in a variety of states. By contrast, while students from a brick-and-mortar setting may come from various locations, they are not having their internship experiences from a variety of states.

While the Code of Ethics provides social workers with the same ethical code, this does not mean that states have the same resources and laws. I am currently teaching in an online social work program, and students are able to learn about the variety of different social work experiences — such as hospice, child welfare, and inpatient programs — and they are able to see how different laws and regulations also impact social work. It is a valuable learning experience to see the role that advocacy can play in the field.

What makes social work such a versatile and meaningful degree?

Social work provides theories and ideas around clinical skills and providing therapy and counseling, but it also helps people learn who they are and the ideas around interacting with others. These attributes are important for everyone.

Specifically, how does a therapist help clients to know and understand themselves and their passions if the therapist is not clear on who they themselves are? If someone does not know who they are and what values and beliefs they have, how can they work effectively with others when their beliefs differ?

All of these skills can transfer to other fields and professions and are especially valuable when interacting with a client who may or may not share the same beliefs or life experiences.

Featured MSW Programs