About BestMSWPrograms
Published
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
BestMSWPrograms gives prospective social work students one place to research programs, understand career paths, and compare compensation. Every page is built on published data from federal agencies and accreditation bodies, not advertising relationships.
What we cover
| What we cover | Count |
|---|---|
| CSWE-accredited MSW programs tracked | 350 |
| States and territories with at least one | 54 |
| Programs offering an online option | 235 |
| Programs with an Advanced Standing track | 331 |
| Earliest continuous accreditation on record | 1919 |
What we cover is the full decision arc for an MSW student, from choosing a program to understanding where the degree leads.
Rankings
- State-by-state MSW program rankings
Scored rankings of CSWE-accredited programs in every U.S. state, evaluated on accreditation standing, program structure, and delivery format.
- National MSW rankings
Top CSWE-accredited programs nationally, scored on selectivity, research output, clinical training infrastructure, and career outcomes.
- Best online MSW programs
Rankings focused on fully online and hybrid programs, evaluated on synchronous requirements, field placement support, and accreditation.
- Best advanced standing MSW programs
Programs offering accelerated pathways for BSW holders, with evaluation of credit recognition and time-to-completion.
Careers
- Career profiles
In-depth guides for five major MSW career paths, day-in-the-life, credential requirements, BLS employment projections, and long-term career paths.
- Salary guides
BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data for each major social work occupation, broken down by work setting, state, experience level, and license type.
Resources
- Credentials guide
ASWB licensing exams, NASW professional and specialty credentials, and the Board Certified Diplomat (BCD), including prerequisites and renewal requirements.
- Blog
Editorial coverage of accreditation news, program changes, workforce trends, and policy developments affecting the social work field.
How we work
How we work is simple to state: program data is sourced from CSWE's accreditation directory, individual program publications, and Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES). Wage data is drawn from BLS OES and O*NET OnLine. We do not fabricate rankings or invent data points. See our full methodology for the scoring model and data update schedule.
Accreditation status, wage data, and program structure information are reported the same way regardless of any partnership or advertising relationship. Sponsored placements are labeled where they appear.
Who is on the team?
The team is one editor: BestMSWPrograms is edited by Zoe MacDougall, Founder & Editor (BS). The site is focused on graduate social work education. For questions or corrections, contact us at taylor@savogroup.com.
The site was created and is published by Savo Group, a digital marketing agency specializing in Organic SEO & Web Design.