Best Online Social Work Programs in Worcester, MA (2026)

Worcester, Massachusetts has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs, with tuition ranging from $43,064 to $61,106 per year for indexed programs. Worcester has a population of about 205,501. Median household income is $67,544 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 34.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Worcester, MA metro area, the top-earning social work-related role is Social Worker, All Other at a median $112,960 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Social Work Schools to Worcester

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer social work programs near Worcester. Distances are calculated from Worcester city center.

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Massachusetts schools on the Massachusetts social work page.

Social Work Wages Near Worcester

Worcester is part of the Worcester, MA metro area (BLS area code 49340). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Massachusetts statewide.

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Worcester at a Glance

Other Worcester-Area Cities With Social Work Programs

• Marlborough, MA – 14.4 mi away (39,697 pop)
• Leominster, MA – 17.4 mi away (119,538 pop)
• Fitchburg, MA – 22.2 mi away (40,414 pop)
• Gardner, MA – 23.5 mi away (20,430 pop)
• Woonsocket, RI – 24.4 mi away (41,406 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited social work schools are near Worcester, MA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering social work programs near Worcester. The closest is Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA (7.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Rhode Island College (34.5 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying social work roles near Worcester?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying social work-related roles near Worcester are: Social Worker, All Other ($112,960), Social and Community Service Manager ($77,500), Healthcare Social Worker ($74,520). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Massachusetts statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Marlborough instead of Worcester?

Marlborough, MA is 14.4 miles from Worcester and has its own set of local social work programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Worcester an affordable place to study social work?

Worcester’s median household income of $67,544 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Worcester while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Massachusetts public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Social Work Programs

• Social Work accreditation: what to look for
• Social Work concentrations and specializations
• Is a Social Work degree worth it?
• Main Social Work degree guide
• Online Social Work programs in Massachusetts
• Social Work programs by state

Other Programs Available in Worcester

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Worcester:

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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.