Florida's 13 CSWE-accredited MSW programs serve a geographically sprawling state with several distinct regional markets. The Miami metropolitan area, the Tampa Bay area, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee each have at least one accredited MSW program anchored to a major research university or established private institution. Three of the state's five largest cities (Miami, Tampa, Orlando) are home to R1 research university MSW programs with substantial practicum placement infrastructure and online delivery.
Florida is notable for being one of the few states with a single clinical license tier for MSW graduates. Unlike Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Minnesota, Florida does not have an LSW or LGSW tier between degree completion and independent clinical practice. MSW graduates register as interns with the Board and pursue LCSW licensure directly, which simplifies the post-degree planning process but requires careful supervision arrangement from the start of post-degree employment.
Several features of the Florida MSW landscape stand out. FSU and FAMU are both in Tallahassee, giving the state capital two accredited programs with different missions: FSU as a major research program with dual degrees and policy-oriented tracks, and FAMU as Florida's HBCU with the state's only Macro Social Work concentration. Barry's Trauma concentration is the only explicitly trauma-focused MSW track in the state. Ana G. Mendez University's bilingual model addresses Florida's large Spanish-speaking communities. And UWF in Pensacola is the only MSW program in the Florida Panhandle west of Tallahassee.
All 13 CSWE-Accredited MSW Programs in Florida
Scored on the same seven-factor model used in the national ranking. All data sourced from the CSWE accreditation directory and official program pages (.edu). Accreditation years are Initial Accreditation Dates from the CSWE directory.
- #1
Florida State University College of Social Work
Tallahassee, FL · On-Campus or Online
9.0
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1950Why It Ranks Here
Florida State University's College of Social Work holds the longest CSWE accreditation history in Florida, dating to 1950, and is the highest-ranked MSW program in the state. FSU is a major public research university in Tallahassee, the state capital. Two concentrations are offered: Clinical Social Work and Social Leadership. The Social Leadership concentration addresses organizational management, policy, and administrative practice, making it one of the few Florida programs that offers a distinct macro pathway alongside the clinical track. Four dual degree options are available: MSW/MBA, MSW/MS in Criminology, MSW/JD, and MSW/MPA, providing the most dual-degree breadth of any Florida program. An online track with required weekend workshops has been available since 2018, and a separate Panama City campus serves Northwest Florida. Advanced Standing is available.
Public (State University System of Florida, R1), approx. $10,000�$14,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #2
Florida International University Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work
Miami, FL · On-Campus
8.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1981Why It Ranks Here
Florida International University's MSW program has held CSWE accreditation since 1981 and is housed in the Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work at one of the largest universities in the United States by enrollment. FIU is located in Miami, the most populous city in Florida and the center of the state's largest social work labor market. Two dual degrees are available: MSW/JD with the FIU College of Law and MSW/MPH with the Stempel College of Public Health, providing strong pathways for students oriented toward legal advocacy or public health social work. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. Miami's practicum placement network spans Jackson Health System, the City of Miami Department of Human Services, and a large nonprofit sector serving one of the country's most diverse urban populations.
Public (State University System of Florida, R1), approx. $10,000�$14,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #3
Barry University School of Social Work
Miami Shores, FL · On-Campus or Online
8.1
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1968Why It Ranks Here
Barry University's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1968, the second-oldest accreditation history in Florida after FSU. Barry is a private Dominican Catholic university in Miami Shores, adjacent to Miami. The program offers a Trauma concentration, a distinctive specialization in trauma-informed and resiliency-focused clinical social work practice that differentiates it from most Florida programs offering only a general clinical track. Both on-campus and online delivery have been available since 2018. Advanced Standing is available. A doctoral program (DSW and PhD) is also offered, situating Barry's MSW within a broader research and professional doctorate environment. The South Florida location provides practicum placement access to the full Miami metro social services infrastructure.
Private (Dominican Catholic). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #4
University of South Florida School of Social Work
Tampa, FL · On-Campus or Online
7.9
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1983Why It Ranks Here
The University of South Florida School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1983 and is part of a major R1 research university in Tampa. A Clinical Practice concentration is offered, with a dual MSW/MPH available through the USF College of Public Health. An online track has been available since 2018. A Sarasota location extends campus-based access to the Sarasota-Bradenton region. Advanced Standing is available. Tampa is Florida's third-largest city, with major healthcare employers including Tampa General Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center, and the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital providing a strong practicum placement infrastructure for clinical social work students.
Public (State University System of Florida, R1), approx. $10,000�$14,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #5
University of Central Florida School of Social Work
Orlando, FL · On-Campus or Online
7.5
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1993Why It Ranks Here
The University of Central Florida School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1993 and is part of one of the largest universities in the United States by enrollment. UCF is located in Orlando, the fourth-largest city in Florida and the center of a rapidly growing metro area. A Clinical Practice concentration is offered. An online track has been available since 2018. Advanced Standing is available. Orlando's practicum placement network includes Orlando Health, AdventHealth, Nemours Children's Health, and a large network of community mental health and social services agencies that has expanded alongside the metro area's population growth.
Public (State University System of Florida), approx. $9,000�$13,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #6
Florida Gulf Coast University School of Social Work
Fort Myers, FL · On-Campus
6.9
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2000Why It Ranks Here
Florida Gulf Coast University's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2000 and is a public university in Fort Myers, serving the Southwest Florida region including Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties. A Clinical Practice concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. FGCU serves as the primary MSW access point for Southwest Florida, a fast-growing region where licensed social work practitioners are in consistent demand. The school's practicum placement network spans Lee Health, the Lee County School District, and community organizations throughout the region.
Public (State University System of Florida), approx. $8,000�$12,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #7
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University School of Social Work
Tallahassee, FL · On-Campus
6.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2001Why It Ranks Here
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2001 and is the only HBCU (Historically Black College and University) with an accredited MSW program in Florida. Located in Tallahassee alongside FSU, FAMU serves a predominantly African American student body and maintains deep ties to Tallahassee's historically Black communities and Leon County's public human services network. A Macro Social Work concentration is offered, making FAMU the only Florida program with an explicitly macro-focused MSW concentration, addressing organizational, policy, and community practice. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered.
Public (HBCU, State University System of Florida). Contact the program for current tuition rates.
View program page → - #8
Florida Atlantic University School of Social Work
Boca Raton, FL · On-Campus or Online
6.7
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2002Why It Ranks Here
Florida Atlantic University's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2002 and is located in Boca Raton, in the South Florida metro between Miami and West Palm Beach. A Clinical Practice concentration is offered. An online track was added in 2025. Advanced Standing is available. FAU serves Palm Beach and Broward County students, providing access to a practicum placement network that includes the Palm Beach County Department of Community Services, Broward Health, and a dense nonprofit sector in one of the most populous corridor of the state.
Public (State University System of Florida), approx. $9,000�$13,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #9
University of West Florida Department of Social Work
Pensacola, FL · On-Campus or Online
6.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2008Why It Ranks Here
The University of West Florida's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2008 and is a public institution in Pensacola, serving the Florida Panhandle and Northwest Florida region. Two concentrations are offered: Healthcare and Behavioral Health, a pairing that addresses the dominant practice settings for MSW graduates in the military-heavy and healthcare-oriented economy of Northwest Florida. An online track has been available since 2019. Advanced Standing is available. UWF's Pensacola location is approximately 200 miles from the next-nearest MSW program, making it the primary MSW access point for the entire Florida Panhandle west of Tallahassee.
Public (State University System of Florida), approx. $8,000�$12,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #10
Saint Leo University MSW Program
Online, FL · Online
6.1
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2009Why It Ranks Here
Saint Leo University's MSW program received CSWE accreditation in 2009 and is delivered entirely online. Saint Leo is a private Benedictine Catholic university headquartered in Saint Leo, Pasco County. A Clinical Practice concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. Florida students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. Saint Leo has historically served a significant military and veteran student population, which is reflected in its online delivery model and the military-adjacent practicum placement infrastructure available to students near Florida's large military installations.
Private (Benedictine Catholic). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page → - #11
University of North Florida Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
Jacksonville, FL · On-Campus
5.9
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2017Why It Ranks Here
The University of North Florida received CSWE accreditation for its MSW program in 2017 and is a public university in Jacksonville, the largest city in Florida by land area and the most populous city in the state. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. UNF serves as the primary MSW access point for Northeast Florida, and its Jacksonville location provides access to a practicum placement network including UF Health Jacksonville, Baptist Health, and Duval County human services agencies. As a newer program, its shorter accreditation history limits its composite score relative to programs with decades-longer histories.
Public (State University System of Florida), approx. $8,000�$12,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #12
Southeastern University College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Lakeland, FL · On-Campus
5.7
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2017Why It Ranks Here
Southeastern University received CSWE accreditation for its MSW program in 2017 and is a private Pentecostal university affiliated with the Assemblies of God, located in Lakeland, Florida. A Clinical Practice concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. Southeastern's faith-based institutional mission may shape curriculum emphases and practicum site selection toward Christian ministry and community-based organizations. The Lakeland location is in Polk County, between Tampa and Orlando, serving a region that otherwise lacks nearby accredited MSW programs.
Private (Pentecostal, Assemblies of God). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #13
Ana G. Mendez University MSW Program
Orlando / Tampa / Miami Lakes, FL · On-Campus or Online
5.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2021Why It Ranks Here
Ana G. Mendez University received CSWE accreditation for its MSW program in 2021 and operates from four locations: Orlando, Tampa, Miami Lakes, and online. Ana G. Mendez is a nonprofit private institution headquartered in Puerto Rico, with a primarily Spanish-speaking student population and bilingual educational model. A Clinical Practice concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. The program's Spanish-English bilingual model directly addresses Florida's large Spanish-speaking Latino communities, particularly in Central and South Florida. As one of the most recently accredited programs in the state, the short accreditation record limits its composite score relative to longer-established programs.
Private (nonprofit). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page →
Job Market for MSW Graduates in Florida
Florida's social work labor market reflects the state's rapid population growth and its large older adult population, which generates persistent demand for healthcare and geriatric social workers. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro, the Tampa Bay area, and Orlando are the three largest employment markets, each anchored by major health systems: Jackson Health System and Baptist Health in Miami, Tampa General Hospital and Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, and AdventHealth and Orlando Health in Orlando. All three metros have expanded significantly in recent years, and social work demand has grown alongside.
Florida's large retired and older adult population creates particularly strong demand for geriatric and healthcare social workers. The state's Medicaid managed care system, operated through the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, employs large numbers of case managers and social workers across its contracted plans. Florida's child welfare system is operated through privatized contracted agencies under the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) rather than directly by the state, which shapes the employment landscape for child welfare social workers.
Florida's military presence, including major installations at NAS Pensacola, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Patrick Space Force Base on the Space Coast, and Naval Air Station Jacksonville, creates consistent demand for veterans' services social workers in those regions. UWF's Healthcare and Behavioral Health concentrations and Saint Leo's historically military-adjacent student population both reflect this workforce need.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Florida; Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling.
How We Ranked These Programs
Each program is scored on the same seven-factor model used in the national ranking. The state ranking uses identical criteria and weights. No Florida-specific adjustments are made. Programs are ordered by composite score. For the full methodology, see our ranking methodology page.
- CSWE Accreditation (25%): Active accreditation status and continuous accreditation history.
- Program Leadership (15%): Faculty credentials, research output, and peer-assessment scores.
- Pathways (15%): Concentration variety, Advanced Standing availability, and dual-degree options.
- Delivery Format (15%): Online, hybrid, and in-person availability; start-term flexibility.
- Employer Signal (15%): Field placement hours required, practicum site depth, and documented placement infrastructure.
- Cost & Affordability (10%): Published tuition per credit or per year, in-state vs. out-of-state differential.
- Reputation (5%): U.S. News peer-assessment scores and institutional recognition.