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Key takeaway: Online social work degrees are offered at the associate, bachelor’s (BSW), and master’s (MSW) level by CSWE-accredited schools nationwide, and the MSW is the standard credential for advanced and clinical practice. Graduate earnings rise with credential level – from a median $51,410 four years after a BSW to $62,597 after an MSW (College Scorecard)1 – and related occupations pay a median $45,930 to $80,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025)2. Compare accredited programs below.
An online social work degree prepares students to support individuals, families, and communities through case management, counseling, advocacy, and program leadership, with coursework spanning human behavior, social welfare policy, practice methods, research, and ethics, plus supervised field education in a local agency. The field follows a defined ladder – a BSW opens entry-level generalist practice, an MSW is the standard credential for clinical roles, and state licensure tiers (LBSW, LMSW, LCSW) determine your scope of practice. Accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is required for licensure in every state, so verifying CSWE status is the single most important step when comparing programs.
These accredited schools offer online programs, report social work completions, and are ordered by our independent BOC Score. Request information to compare programs, costs, and formats.
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education SchoolsIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Can You Get A Social Work Degree Online? explains how accredited online social work programs work, including specializations, cost, and salary outcomes.
Browse social work programs by state
Online social work programs cover human behavior in the social environment, social welfare policy, practice methods, research, and ethics, plus supervised field education in a local agency.
A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is a four-year generalist degree that qualifies graduates for entry-level case management and, in many states, the Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) credential. A Master of Social Work (MSW) adds advanced or clinical practice training and is required for LMSW and LCSW licensure. BSW graduates from CSWE-accredited programs can often complete an advanced-standing MSW in about one year instead of two.
Yes. CSWE-accredited BSW and MSW programs require supervised field education (a practicum or internship) in an agency setting. Required hours vary by program and degree level, and online programs typically help students arrange placements near where they live.
CSWE (Council on Social Work Education) accreditation is essential. Every state requires a degree from a CSWE-accredited program for social work licensure. Verify program status in the CSWE directory and confirm institutional accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education database.
Most states license social workers at three broad tiers: LBSW (baccalaureate level, generalist practice), LMSW (master’s level, non-clinical or supervised practice), and LCSW (licensed clinical social worker – independent clinical practice, requiring an MSW plus supervised clinical experience and an exam). Titles and requirements vary by state.
Each step up the social work degree ladder corresponds to higher median earnings, with field education and licensure adding time after the degree.
| Degree level | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Associate | $40,502 |
| Bachelor's | $51,410 |
| Master's | $62,597 |
| Degree Level | Schools Offering | Median Earnings (1 yr) | Median Earnings (4 yr) | Median Debt | % Offering Distance Ed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 90 | $41,561 | $34,968 | $13,104 | 64.4% |
| Associate | 195 | $29,768 | $40,502 | $15,993 | 65.1% |
| Bachelor’s (BSW) | 622 | $37,303 | $51,410 | $23,087 | 81.4% |
| Master’s (MSW) | 363 | $51,342 | $62,597 | $39,330 | 52.6% |
| Doctoral (DSW/PhD) | 93 | $95,093 | $103,776 | $97,207 | 80.6% |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data for social work (CIP 44.07), latest reporting year. Certificate and doctoral earnings figures are based on small numbers of reporting schools (1-8) and should be interpreted with caution.
Typical annual tuition runs about $6,000-$12,000 (public in-state) to $20,000-$45,000 (private nonprofit) (NCES IPEDS); many online programs charge the same rate regardless of residency. For lower-cost options and the full value discussion, see Affordable Social Work Programs and Is a Social Work Degree Worth It.
CSWE-accredited programs organize coursework around nine core competencies, so most programs share a similar backbone: human behavior in the social environment, social welfare policy, practice methods with individuals and groups, research methods, and ethics under the NASW Code of Ethics – all paired with supervised field education, which CSWE calls the “signature pedagogy” of social work. MSW specialization years add clinical methods such as evidence-based therapies and diagnosis. Most MSW programs (and some BSW programs) let you focus through a concentration – clinical, school, medical, child and family, or macro practice.
See the full breakdown on the Social Work Curriculum and Social Work Concentrations pages.
Social work skills apply across child welfare, healthcare, mental health, schools, and community agencies. Human service assistant and case-aide roles are accessible with an associate or certificate; caseworker and case-manager roles generally require a BSW; clinical and managerial roles typically require an MSW plus licensure or experience.
| Occupation | Projected job growth (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Community Health Worker | 11.3% |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | 9.7% |
| Healthcare Social Worker | 7.7% |
| Social and Community Service Manager | 6.4% |
| Social and Human Service Assistant | 6.4% |
| Social Worker, All Other | 3.9% |
| Child, Family, and School Social Worker | 3.4% |
| Career | Median Annual Wage (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Manager | $80,390 |
| Social Worker, All Other | $71,900 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $67,880 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $60,280 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Worker | $59,550 |
| Community Health Worker | $51,850 |
| Social and Human Service Assistant | $45,930 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. National median annual wages.
Licensure is the social work profession’s gatekeeper to practice, and it follows a three-tier ladder in most states. Every tier requires a degree from a CSWE-accredited program plus an ASWB examination, and the LCSW adds a period of supervised clinical experience:
The fastest route to clinical-licensure eligibility for a new student is BSW plus advanced-standing MSW – about five years of combined study – while a career changer with any bachelor’s degree can reach the same point through a two-year traditional MSW.
Social work, psychology, or counseling? Choose social work for clinical skills plus systems-level reach and the widest employer flexibility; compare online psychology degrees and online counseling degrees for research/testing or therapy-focused paths.
Compare programs by level or specialty:
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data for social work (CIP 44.07), latest reporting year. ↩︎
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. National median annual wages. ↩︎
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