Minnesota's 14 CSWE-accredited MSW programs reflect a state with a strong public research university anchor, a cluster of private Catholic and faith-affiliated institutions in the Twin Cities, and a set of online and regional programs serving Greater Minnesota. The University of Minnesota School of Social Work is the highest-ranked MSW program in the country on our scoring model, setting a benchmark that few state flagship programs can match nationally. The practical consequence for Minnesota students is that the state's top program is also among the most competitive to enter, making the full landscape of options more relevant than in states where the top program is more accessible.
The Twin Cities metro area is the dominant employment market for Minnesota social work graduates. Hennepin County and Ramsey County human services departments, Allina Health, M Health Fairview, HealthPartners, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services collectively represent the largest concentration of MSW-level positions in the state. The metro's large immigrant and refugee communities, including the largest Somali diaspora in the United States and significant Hmong and Karen populations, create distinct specialization demand that Saint Thomas's Immigrants and Refugees concentration and Augsburg's Cedar-Riverside community context both directly address.
Outside the Twin Cities, programs in Duluth, St. Cloud, and Mankato serve distinct regional labor markets. Northern Minnesota's tribal nations, rural communities, and Iron Range areas create social work workforce needs that differ substantially from metro practice. The fully online programs (Winona State, Saint Mary's, Bethel, MN State Moorhead, Walden, and Capella) extend access to students across Greater Minnesota who cannot relocate or commute to a campus program.
All 14 CSWE-Accredited MSW Programs in Minnesota
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. Saint Thomas and St. Catherine share a 1990 accreditation date from their former joint collaborative. Walden University and Capella University are for-profit institutions.
- #1 National #1
University of Minnesota School of Social Work
Saint Paul, MN · On-Campus or Online
9.7
53 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1919Why It Ranks Here
The University of Minnesota School of Social Work ranks first nationally on our seven-factor scoring model, the strongest MSW program in the country and the only Minnesota program in the national top fifteen. CSWE accreditation dates to 1919. The school is located on the Saint Paul campus of the University of Minnesota, a Big Ten research university. Five concentrations are offered: Children, Youth, and Families; Clinical Practice; Management and Administration; Mental Health; and Aging and Gerontological Practice. This concentration breadth, combined with dual-degree options in Public Health, Public Policy, and Urban Planning, makes it one of the most flexible and research-connected MSW programs in the country. The full MSW program is 53 credits; Advanced Standing is 34 credits. An online option is available in addition to the campus format. The Twin Cities metro area provides a deep practicum placement network spanning Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Allina Health, M Health Fairview, and hundreds of community-based organizations.
Public (Big Ten research university, University of Minnesota System), approx. $18,000�$22,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #2
University of Saint Thomas School of Social Work
Saint Paul, MN · On-Campus or Online
8.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1990Why It Ranks Here
The University of Saint Thomas School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1990, initially as part of a joint collaborative program with St. Catherine University (1990�2019) and subsequently as an independent program. Three concentrations are offered: Clinical Practice, Aging and Gerontological Practice, and Immigrants and Refugees. The Immigrants and Refugees concentration is particularly well matched to the Twin Cities, which has the largest Somali diaspora community in the United States and large Hmong and Karen populations. An online track has been available since 2018. A dual MSW/JD with the Saint Thomas School of Law is available. Advanced Standing is offered. Saint Thomas is a Catholic university affiliated with the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Private (Catholic, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #3
St. Catherine University MSW Program
Saint Paul, MN · On-Campus
8.0
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1990Why It Ranks Here
St. Catherine University's MSW program has held CSWE accreditation since 1990, initially as part of a joint collaborative program with the University of Saint Thomas (1990�2019) and subsequently as an independent program. St. Catherine is a Catholic women's university in Saint Paul, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. A Clinical Practice concentration is offered, with an emphasis on justice-oriented and culturally responsive practice. The Saint Paul location provides access to the full Twin Cities practicum placement network. Advanced Standing is available. The program does not currently offer online delivery. A dual degree in Holistic Health Studies is available. St. Catherine's institutional identity as a women's university with a strong social justice orientation shapes its curriculum and community partnerships.
Private (Catholic, Sisters of St. Joseph, women's university), approx. $760/credit. Contact the program for current rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #4
Augsburg University MSW Program
Minneapolis, MN · On-Campus
7.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1993Why It Ranks Here
Augsburg University's MSW program has held CSWE accreditation since 1993 and is located in Minneapolis's Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, one of the most demographically diverse urban neighborhoods in the country and the center of Minneapolis's East African community. Two concentrations are offered: Clinical Practice and Macro Social Work. Augsburg's Macro Social Work concentration addresses organizational management, policy, and community practice, providing a pathway beyond the clinical track that many programs emphasize exclusively. A dual MSW/MBA program in social work and business administration is available, preparing graduates for leadership roles in nonprofit and human services organizations. An MSW/LADC pathway for substance use disorder specialization is also offered. Advanced Standing is available.
Private. Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #5
University of Minnesota Duluth Department of Social Work
Duluth, MN · On-Campus or Online
7.4
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1989Why It Ranks Here
The University of Minnesota Duluth Department of Social Work holds CSWE accreditation dating to 1989, the current continuous accreditation following a break from an earlier 1973�1985 accreditation. UMD is part of the University of Minnesota System and is located in Duluth, the largest city in Northern Minnesota and the regional hub of the Lake Superior area. An online track was added in 2023. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. Duluth's location at the intersection of Northern Minnesota's Iron Range communities, tribal nations, and the Lake Superior port economy creates a distinct practicum placement landscape that includes rural, Indigenous community, and healthcare settings.
Public (University of Minnesota System), approx. $15,000�$20,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #6
St. Cloud State University Department of Social Work
St. Cloud, MN · On-Campus
6.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2007Why It Ranks Here
St. Cloud State University's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2007 and is a public institution in St. Cloud, the largest city in Central Minnesota. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. The St. Cloud metro area has a significant East African immigrant and refugee population, and the program's practicum network includes community-based organizations serving these communities alongside Stearns and Benton County human services agencies. St. Cloud State is part of the Minnesota State System and offers lower in-state tuition than the University of Minnesota System.
Public (Minnesota State System), approx. $9,000�$13,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #7
Minnesota State University, Mankato Department of Social Work
Mankato, MN · On-Campus
6.6
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2007Why It Ranks Here
Minnesota State University Mankato's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2007 and is a public institution in Mankato, the regional center of South-Central Minnesota. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. MSU Mankato is part of the Minnesota State System. The program serves students in the Mankato region, where access to MSW programs is more limited than in the Twin Cities metro, and its practicum placement network includes Blue Earth County social services and regional health systems.
Public (Minnesota State System), approx. $9,000�$13,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #8
College of Saint Scholastica MSW Program
Duluth, MN · On-Campus or Online
6.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2013Why It Ranks Here
The College of Saint Scholastica's MSW program received CSWE accreditation in 2013 and is a private Benedictine Catholic institution in Duluth. A Clinical Practice concentration is offered. An online track was added in 2026. Advanced Standing is available. Saint Scholastica operates in the same Duluth market as UMD but provides a private, faith-affiliated alternative with a Benedictine educational tradition. The Duluth location provides access to the Northern Minnesota and Lake Superior region practicum network, including Essentia Health and St. Luke's Hospital.
Private (Benedictine Catholic). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #9
Winona State University Department of Social Work
Winona (Online), MN · Online
6.1
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2019Why It Ranks Here
Winona State University's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2019 and delivers its MSW entirely online. Two concentrations are offered: Clinical Practice and Trauma, a pairing that directly addresses the demand for trauma-informed clinical social work practitioners in mental health and healthcare settings. The Trauma concentration is uncommon among Minnesota programs and differentiates WSU from programs offering only a generalist or standard clinical track. Advanced Standing is available. Minnesota students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. WSU is part of the Minnesota State System.
Public (Minnesota State System). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page → - #10
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota MSW Program
Online, MN · Online
5.9
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2019Why It Ranks Here
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's MSW program received CSWE accreditation in 2019 and is delivered entirely online. A Clinical Practice concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. Saint Mary's is a Catholic university in the De La Salle Christian Brothers tradition, headquartered in Winona, Minnesota, with graduate programs delivered online. Minnesota students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery.
Private (De La Salle Christian Brothers). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page → - #11
Bethel University MSW Program
Online, MN · Online
5.7
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2021Why It Ranks Here
Bethel University's MSW program received CSWE accreditation in 2021 and is delivered entirely online. Bethel is an evangelical Christian university affiliated with Converge (formerly the Baptist General Conference), located in Arden Hills, Minnesota. Advanced Standing is available. The program's faith-based mission and evangelical institutional context may shape curriculum emphases and practicum site selection. Minnesota students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery.
Private (Converge evangelical). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page → - #12
Minnesota State University, Moorhead MSW Program
Moorhead (Online), MN · Online
5.5
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2022Why It Ranks Here
Minnesota State University Moorhead's MSW program received CSWE accreditation in 2022 and is delivered entirely online. Two emphases are offered: Multicultural Clinical Practice and Social Change and Leadership, providing both a clinical and a macro practice pathway. Advanced Standing is available. MSUM is a public institution in Moorhead, across the Red River from Fargo, North Dakota, and is part of the Minnesota State System. As one of the most recently accredited programs in the state, the short accreditation record limits its composite score relative to longer-established programs.
Public (Minnesota State System). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page → - #13
Walden University MSW Program
Online, MN · Online
5.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2013Why It Ranks Here
Walden University's MSW program received CSWE accreditation in 2013 and is delivered entirely online. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. Walden is a for-profit institution owned by Adtalem Global Education, administratively headquartered in Minneapolis. Students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. As a for-profit institution, Walden's composite score reflects both the institutional context differences from nonprofit universities and public institutions, and the lower Reputation and Leadership factor scores characteristic of for-profit social work programs. Students should review outcomes data and the program's accreditation history on the CSWE directory before enrolling.
For-profit (Adtalem Global Education). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page → - #14
Capella University MSW Program
Online, MN · Online
5.1
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2015Why It Ranks Here
Capella University's MSW program received CSWE accreditation in 2015 and is delivered entirely online. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. Capella is a for-profit institution owned by Strategic Education, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis. Students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. As a for-profit institution, Capella's composite score reflects the institutional context differences from nonprofit and public programs, and the lower Reputation and Leadership factor scores characteristic of for-profit social work programs. Students should review outcomes data and the program's accreditation history on the CSWE directory before enrolling.
For-profit (Strategic Education, Inc.). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page →
Job Market for MSW Graduates in Minnesota
Minnesota's MSW labor market is heavily concentrated in the Twin Cities, which together account for the majority of the state's licensed social work positions. Hennepin County Human Services and Ramsey County Social Services represent the largest public-sector employers in child welfare and adult services. The state's major health systems, including Allina Health, M Health Fairview, HealthPartners, and Essentia Health in Duluth, employ substantial numbers of healthcare and medical social workers. The Minnesota Department of Human Services oversees a large network of contracted social services providers across all 87 counties.
Minnesota's large and well-established refugee resettlement infrastructure creates sustained demand for social workers with cross-cultural competency, particularly in Somali, Hmong, Karen, and East African communities. Community organizations such as Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota, Karen Organization of Minnesota, and Hmong American Partnership all employ MSW-level practitioners in case management, community practice, and advocacy roles. Saint Thomas's Immigrants and Refugees concentration and Augsburg's Cedar-Riverside campus location both directly respond to this labor market reality.
Outside the Twin Cities, social work workforce shortages are well documented in rural Minnesota, the Iron Range, and tribal communities. Social work graduates from UMD, St. Cloud State, and MSU Mankato who are willing to practice in Greater Minnesota often find strong employment prospects and less competitive hiring environments than in the metro.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Minnesota; Minnesota Board of Social Work.
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 Minnesota-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.