Massachusetts has 12 CSWE-accredited MSW programs, with an unusually dense concentration of nationally recognized schools in Greater Boston. Boston College, ranked eighth nationally by U.S. News (2024), Boston University, and Simmons University all operate within the city or inner suburbs, joined by Smith College's clinical program in Northampton with accreditation dating to 1919. This concentration of strong programs in one metropolitan area makes Massachusetts one of the most competitive MSW markets in the country, with correspondingly deep practicum placement networks across academic medical centers, research hospitals, and a large nonprofit sector.
For students outside Greater Boston, Massachusetts also has several accessible public and private options. Springfield College and Westfield State serve Western Massachusetts, with Westfield State's Worcester site extending into Central Massachusetts. Bridgewater State serves Southeast Massachusetts. Salem State covers the North Shore corridor with an online track added in 2022. These programs offer more affordable public or moderately priced private tuition while maintaining CSWE accreditation and Advanced Standing availability.
Massachusetts uses a four-tier licensing structure: LSWA, LSW, LCSW, and LICSW. MSW graduates typically pursue the LCSW first, which authorizes clinical practice under supervision of an LICSW, then accumulate the additional supervised experience needed for the LICSW, the independent clinical practice license. Students targeting the LICSW should plan for supervised post-degree hours and factor in employment with a qualified LICSW supervisor alongside program planning.
All 12 CSWE-Accredited MSW Programs in Massachusetts
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. Boston College's six concentrations are verified from the official BC SSW website. Smith College uses a three-summer low-residency model rather than a traditional semester format.
- #1 National #8
Boston College School of Social Work
Chestnut Hill, MA · On-Campus
9.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1936Why It Ranks Here
Boston College School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1936 and ranks eighth nationally according to U.S. News and World Report (2024), the highest national ranking of any Massachusetts program. The school offers six distinct practice concentrations: Black Leadership in Social Work, Children, Youth, and Families, Global Practice, Health, Latinx Communities, and Mental Health. This is the broadest and most specialized concentration menu among Massachusetts programs, and the school operates the only dedicated social work library in New England. Three dual-degree programs are available: MSW/MBA, MSW/JD, and MSW/Pastoral Studies. Advanced Standing is available. The program operates entirely on-campus in Chestnut Hill, in Boston's western suburbs, with no online delivery. BC's Greater Boston practicum network spans more than 1,000 field agency partners locally and internationally. Research-active faculty generated $10.5M in grant expenditures in 2025, reflecting substantial research infrastructure.
Private (Jesuit Catholic, Boston College). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid. The school reports 100% of master's students receive some form of financial support.
View program page → - #2
Boston University School of Social Work
Boston, MA · On-Campus or Online
9.1
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1939Why It Ranks Here
Boston University School of Social Work traces its educational roots to 1918 and received CSWE accreditation in 1939. U.S. News and World Report ranks BU SSW in the top 4% of social work programs nationally. The school offers three delivery formats: an on-campus track in Boston, a fully online track (available since 2011, among the earliest online MSW programs in New England), and a Worcester hybrid format serving Central Massachusetts students. Three dual-degree programs are available: MSW/EdD (Education), MSW/MPH (Public Health), and MSW/MTS (Theology). Advanced Standing is available. BU's Boston campus is embedded in a dense healthcare and nonprofit ecosystem spanning Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Health, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and a wide network of Greater Boston community-based organizations. The program reports more than 10,000 global alumni.
Private (Boston University). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #3
Simmons University School of Social Work
Boston, MA · On-Campus or Online
8.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1919Why It Ranks Here
Simmons University School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1919, tied with Smith College for the longest continuous accreditation history among Massachusetts programs. Two concentrations are offered: Advanced Generalist and Clinical Practice. The school offers four program pathways: standard MSW, an accelerated 16-month format, an Advanced Standing track for BSW graduates, and a fully online track added in 2014, one of the earliest online MSW offerings in New England. Simmons emphasizes psychotherapy skills within a social justice framework and reports high licensing exam pass rates and strong six-month post-graduation employment outcomes. The Boston campus is adjacent to the Longwood Medical Area, providing access to a concentrated cluster of major academic medical centers and research hospitals for clinical practicums.
Private (Simmons University, Boston). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #4
Smith College School for Social Work
Northampton, MA · On-Campus (Summer Residency)
8.5
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1919Why It Ranks Here
Smith College School for Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1919, tied with Simmons for the longest accreditation history among Massachusetts programs, and is nationally recognized for its depth of clinical training. The program follows a distinctive low-residency model: students complete three intensive summers of coursework on the Northampton campus and carry out supervised clinical fieldwork in their home communities between summer sessions, over a 27-month total program. This format offers geographic flexibility while preserving intensive residential learning. The concentration is Clinical Practice, with no macro or generalist track; Smith's reputation is anchored in its clinical orientation and its record of practicum placement, with nearly 90% of students placed in their first-choice geographic location for fieldwork. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is offered during the academic year. Smith College is a highly selective liberal arts college in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts.
Private (Smith College, Northampton). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #5
Salem State University School of Social Work
Salem, MA · On-Campus or Online
7.2
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1977Why It Ranks Here
Salem State University School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1977, making it the oldest continuously accredited public MSW program in Massachusetts. The program offers an Integrated Practice concentration, combining clinical and macro perspectives within a single curriculum track rather than bifurcating the degree into separate pathways. An online track was added in 2022, expanding access for students beyond the North Shore corridor. Advanced Standing is available. Salem State is a public university in Salem on Massachusetts's North Shore, serving Northeast Massachusetts and the greater Essex County region. No dual-degree programs are listed in the CSWE directory. The public tuition structure makes Salem State one of the most affordable MSW options in the state, particularly for students in the Northeast Massachusetts and Merrimack Valley areas.
Public (Salem State University). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #6
Springfield College Department of Social Work
Springfield, MA · On-Campus or Online
6.9
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1989Why It Ranks Here
Springfield College's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1989 and is based in Springfield, the largest city in Western Massachusetts. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. An online track was added in 2023. A dual MSW/JD degree is available. Advanced Standing is available. Springfield College is a private institution in Springfield with a longstanding focus on health sciences and human services. Western Massachusetts, including the Springfield-Holyoke-Chicopee corridor, has significant social work workforce demand in healthcare, child welfare, and behavioral health settings, particularly in the large Puerto Rican and Latino community served by agencies throughout the Connecticut River Valley.
Private (Springfield College). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #7
Bridgewater State University Department of Social Work
Bridgewater, MA · On-Campus
6.5
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2003Why It Ranks Here
Bridgewater State University's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2003 and is a public university in Bridgewater in Southeast Massachusetts. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. A dual MSW/JD degree is available. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. Bridgewater State is the southernmost public MSW program in Massachusetts, drawing practicum placements from Bristol County social services, Southeast Massachusetts health systems including Signature Healthcare and Southcoast Health, and the Greater New Bedford and Fall River areas. The public tuition structure makes it an accessible option for students in Plymouth, Bristol, and Norfolk Counties.
Public (Bridgewater State University). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #8
Westfield State University Department of Social Work
Westfield, MA · On-Campus or Online
6.2
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2010Why It Ranks Here
Westfield State University's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2010 and operates from three locations: the Westfield main campus, a Worcester site, and an online track added in 2021. A Clinical Practice concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. Westfield State is a public university in Westfield in Western Massachusetts. The Worcester site extends access into Central Massachusetts, one of the state's most geographically underserved MSW markets. No dual-degree programs are listed in the CSWE directory. The multi-site model and public tuition structure make Westfield State one of the more accessible MSW options for students in the Pioneer Valley and Central Massachusetts regions.
Public (Westfield State University). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #9
Anna Maria College Department of Social Work
Paxton, MA · On-Campus or Online
5.9
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2017Why It Ranks Here
Anna Maria College's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2017 and is a private liberal arts college in Paxton, just west of Worcester in Central Massachusetts. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. An online track was added in 2024. Advanced Standing is available. No dual-degree programs are listed in the CSWE directory. Anna Maria is a small Catholic institution with close ties to the Worcester-area healthcare and human services community, providing access to practicum placements in UMass Memorial Health, Saint Vincent Hospital, and a network of Central Massachusetts social service agencies.
Private (Anna Maria College). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #10
Regis College Department of Social Work
Weston, MA · Online
5.7
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2018Why It Ranks Here
Regis College's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2018 and has delivered its MSW entirely online since its initial accreditation. A Clinical Practice concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. Three start dates are offered annually. No dual-degree programs are listed in the CSWE directory. Regis College is a private Catholic institution in Weston, Massachusetts, in the western Boston suburbs. The fully online format, cohort-based learning model, and clinical concentration make Regis a practical option for working professionals seeking licensure-qualifying credentials without campus attendance requirements. Field placements are arranged locally in students' own communities.
Private (Regis College). Tuition approximately $932 per credit hour as of 2025. Contact the program for current rates. Three start dates per year.
View program page → - #11
Lesley University Department of Social Work
Cambridge, MA · On-Campus
5.5
60 credits 1,000 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2020Why It Ranks Here
Lesley University's Department of Social Work received CSWE initial accreditation in 2020; the program graduated its first cohort in 2022 and holds accreditation through 2030. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. A dual MSW/MA degree combining social work and expressive arts is available, integrating art therapy and creative modalities with clinical social work practice (uncommon nationally). Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. Field education requires two immersive practicums totaling 1,000 hours. A Scholar Partner Program guarantees practicum placements to all admitted students, eliminating placement competition. One placement partner is Threshold Programs, an on-campus program serving neurodiverse young adults. Lesley University is a private institution in Cambridge, adjacent to Harvard Square and near the Longwood Medical Area, with access to Greater Boston's dense healthcare and nonprofit practicum network.
Private (Lesley University, Cambridge). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #12
Merrimack College Department of Social Work
North Andover, MA · On-Campus
5.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2022Why It Ranks Here
Merrimack College's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2022, making it the most recently accredited MSW program in Massachusetts. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. A dual MSW/MS Criminal Justice degree is available, addressing the intersection of social work and the criminal justice system (uncommon among Massachusetts programs). Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. Merrimack College is a private Catholic Augustinian institution in North Andover, northeast of Boston in the Merrimack Valley. As the most recently accredited program in the state, its short accreditation history limits its composite score relative to programs with longer continuous records, though the Criminal Justice dual degree is a distinctive pathway not offered elsewhere in Massachusetts.
Private (Merrimack College, North Andover, Catholic Augustinian). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page →
Job Market for MSW Graduates in Massachusetts
Massachusetts's social work labor market is anchored by Greater Boston, which has one of the most concentrated clusters of academic medical centers in the country. Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the UMass Memorial Health system collectively employ a large number of licensed social workers in clinical, case management, and care coordination roles. The Longwood Medical Area alone, adjacent to the Simmons and Harvard campuses, is one of the densest single-campus concentrations of hospital social work positions in the nation.
Outside healthcare, Greater Boston has a substantial nonprofit social services sector and a large network of community mental health centers, community health centers, and integrated behavioral health programs operating under the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership. The Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Department of Mental Health (DMH), and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) represent the major public-sector social work employers in Massachusetts, with positions distributed across all fourteen counties.
Western and Central Massachusetts offer a different labor market profile: Springfield's healthcare and nonprofit ecosystem serves a large Latino community, and Holyoke Medical Center and Baystate Health are the major hospital social work employers in the region. Worcester, the state's second-largest city, is anchored by UMass Memorial Health and Saint Vincent Hospital, and Westfield State's Worcester site and Bridgewater State's Southeast Massachusetts reach specifically serve these regional workforce needs.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Massachusetts; Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers.
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 Massachusetts-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.