Last updated: February 25, 2026

Best MSW Programs by State (2026)

Find the top CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work programs in your state. Each guide covers every accredited program, state licensure requirements, salary data, and workforce context.

Taylor Rupe

Founder & Editor

B.A. in Psychology, University of Washington — Seattle

Best MSW Programs by State (2026)

Key Takeaways

  • There are over 300 CSWE-accredited MSW programs across the United States, and CSWE accreditation is required for licensure in all 50 states.
  • Social work licensure requirements vary by state. Supervised experience hours range from 2,000 to 4,000 depending on the state, and exam requirements differ between the ASWB Clinical and Advanced Generalist exams.
  • Social worker salaries vary dramatically by state. The national median is $58,380, but top-paying states exceed $72,000 while some states fall below $45,000.
  • Nine states have no income tax (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming), which significantly increases take-home pay for social workers.
  • Most states offer loan repayment or scholarship programs for social workers who commit to serving in mental health shortage areas after graduation.

Every state has different MSW programs, licensure requirements, salary ranges, and workforce needs. Our state-by-state guides go beyond program lists to cover what actually matters: in-state tuition costs, exactly what you need for licensure in your state, how much social workers earn in your area, and whether there are loan repayment programs you should know about before you choose a program.

Click on your state below to see every CSWE-accredited MSW program, state licensing board details, salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and honest advice on how to choose the right program for your goals and budget.

All 50 States: MSW Program Counts

States with detailed guides are linked below. More state guides are published regularly.

State Programs Median Salary
AL Best MSW Programs in Alabama 8 $40,450 View Guide
AK Best MSW Programs in Alaska 1 $60,880 View Guide
AZ Best MSW Programs in Arizona 3 $51,120 View Guide
AR Best MSW Programs in Arkansas 3 $38,680 View Guide
CA Best MSW Programs in California 25 $69,340 View Guide
CO Best MSW Programs in Colorado 6 $54,070 View Guide
CT Best MSW Programs in Connecticut 6 $75,020 View Guide
DE Best MSW Programs in Delaware 2 $54,480 View Guide
FL Best MSW Programs in Florida 12 $52,350 View Guide
GA Best MSW Programs in Georgia 8 $49,530 View Guide
HI Best MSW Programs in Hawaii 1 $60,250 View Guide
ID Best MSW Programs in Idaho 2 $47,270 View Guide
IL Best MSW Programs in Illinois 14 $60,740 View Guide
IN Best MSW Programs in Indiana 7 $47,500 View Guide
IA Best MSW Programs in Iowa 6 $54,840 View Guide
KS Best MSW Programs in Kansas 3 $47,090 View Guide
KY Best MSW Programs in Kentucky 10 $46,860 View Guide
LA Best MSW Programs in Louisiana 5 $40,990 View Guide
ME Best MSW Programs in Maine 3 $51,770 View Guide
MD Best MSW Programs in Maryland 3 $64,270 View Guide
MA Best MSW Programs in Massachusetts 11 $62,360 View Guide
MI Best MSW Programs in Michigan 9 $49,240 View Guide
MN Best MSW Programs in Minnesota 8 $63,590 View Guide
MS Best MSW Programs in Mississippi 4 $35,580 View Guide
MO Best MSW Programs in Missouri 7 $43,450 View Guide
MT Best MSW Programs in Montana 2 $48,800 View Guide
NE Best MSW Programs in Nebraska 2 $46,050 View Guide
NV Best MSW Programs in Nevada 2 $61,140 View Guide
NH Best MSW Programs in New Hampshire 1 $58,570 View Guide
NJ Best MSW Programs in New Jersey 7 $74,730 View Guide
NM Best MSW Programs in New Mexico 3 $54,760 View Guide
NY Best MSW Programs in New York 22 $63,150 View Guide
NC Best MSW Programs in North Carolina 9 $56,680 View Guide
ND Best MSW Programs in North Dakota 2 $61,160 View Guide
OH Best MSW Programs in Ohio 10 $48,250 View Guide
OK Best MSW Programs in Oklahoma 2 $47,070 View Guide
OR Best MSW Programs in Oregon 4 $57,990 View Guide
PA Best MSW Programs in Pennsylvania 14 $49,520 View Guide
RI Best MSW Programs in Rhode Island 1 $64,920 View Guide
SC Best MSW Programs in South Carolina 5 $45,190 View Guide
SD Best MSW Programs in South Dakota 1 $43,770 View Guide
TN Best MSW Programs in Tennessee 7 $48,340 View Guide
TX Best MSW Programs in Texas 16 $49,810 View Guide
UT Best MSW Programs in Utah 3 $47,900 View Guide
VT Best MSW Programs in Vermont 1 $59,700 View Guide
VA Best MSW Programs in Virginia 8 $61,680 View Guide
WA Best MSW Programs in Washington 7 $72,290 View Guide
WV Best MSW Programs in West Virginia 3 $45,470 View Guide
WI Best MSW Programs in Wisconsin 6 $47,890 View Guide
WY Best MSW Programs in Wyoming 1 $53,390 View Guide

Related Pages

Best Online MSW Programs

National ranking of the top online MSW programs

Best Online BSW Programs

Undergraduate social work programs

Best Online DSW Programs

Doctoral programs for experienced social workers

Clinical Social Worker Career Guide

What LCSWs actually do day-to-day

Clinical Social Worker Salary

Salary data by state and experience level

Frequently Asked Questions

There are over 300 CSWE-accredited MSW programs across all 50 states plus Washington D.C. and U.S. territories. CSWE accreditation is required for graduates to sit for ASWB licensing exams and qualify for social work licensure in every state.
Your MSW is portable nationwide as long as it's from a CSWE-accredited program. But your licensure is state-specific. Each state has different supervised experience requirements (2,000 to 4,000 hours), different exams, and different license titles. Some states offer reciprocity or expedited endorsement for out-of-state licenses, while others make you start parts of the process over. If you know where you want to practice, studying in that state can simplify the licensure process and help you build a professional network in the area.
The highest-paying states for social workers include California, Washington, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, all with median salaries above $65,000. But salary alone doesn't tell the full story. Washington and Texas have no state income tax, which significantly increases take-home pay. And cost of living varies wildly. A $60,000 salary in rural Texas goes much further than $80,000 in San Francisco.
Yes, as long as the online program is CSWE-accredited. CSWE accreditation is recognized by all 50 states for licensing purposes. The key requirement is that your field placement hours (typically 900+) must be completed in person at an approved site, usually near where you live. Check our best online MSW programs ranking for our top picks.