New York has the second-largest concentration of CSWE-accredited MSW programs in the United States, with 24 accredited programs spanning New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Western New York, Central New York, and the North Country. Three programs, Columbia, NYU Silver, and Fordham, rank among the top 20 MSW programs in the country on our seven-factor model, reflecting a depth of institutional resources and accreditation history concentrated in NYC that is unmatched outside of a few major metropolitan areas.
The CUNY system provides a distinct and valuable counterweight to the expensive private programs in the city. Hunter College, Lehman College, York College, and the College of Staten Island all offer CSWE-accredited MSW programs at public university tuition rates, providing access to the full NYC practicum placement network at a fraction of the cost of Columbia or NYU. The SUNY system similarly provides affordable options across upstate New York, with programs at Buffalo, Albany, Stony Brook, Binghamton, Brockport, and Plattsburgh.
New York's LCSW licensure framework differs from most other states. Rather than issuing a single licensed clinical social worker credential, New York issues both an LMSW (for which the MSW degree alone qualifies, upon passing the ASWB Masters exam) and a separate LCSW that requires additional post-degree supervised experience. This means that new MSW graduates in New York enter the workforce as licensed social workers immediately upon passing the ASWB Masters exam, which affects how students should think about practicum planning and supervised hours during their degree.
All 24 CSWE-Accredited MSW Programs in New York
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. Two programs (Roberts Wesleyan and Utica University) are fully online.
- #1 National #3
Columbia University School of Social Work
New York, NY · On-Campus or Online
9.3
60 credits 1,200 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1919Why It Ranks Here
Columbia's School of Social Work holds CSWE accreditation dating to 1919, the oldest continuously accredited MSW program in New York and among the oldest in the country. The program requires 1,200 practicum hours split between a generalist placement and a specialist placement, the highest field-education mandate of any program in this state ranking. The curriculum is organized around nine concentration areas, a breadth of focus that exceeds most other NY programs. Dual degree combinations with Law, Public Health, Business Administration, Public Administration, and Quantitative Methods are available. Both a residential NYC track and a fully online completion path are offered. Columbia also ranks third on our national MSW ranking, reflecting its research output, practicum infrastructure, and accreditation history.
View program page → - #2 National #17
Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service
New York, NY · On-Campus or Online
9.1
62 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1929Why It Ranks Here
Fordham's Graduate School of Social Service holds CSWE accreditation dating to 1929, making it the second-oldest continuously accredited MSW program in New York. The program operates from two campus locations, a Manhattan site at Lincoln Center and a Westchester site in West Harrison, along with an online track added in 2018. At 62 credits, the program is slightly larger than the standard 60-credit MSW, reflecting a curricular depth that includes both clinical and macro practice tracks. Fordham schedules primarily part-time, evening, and weekend cohorts, making it well suited for working adults across New York City and the Hudson Valley. Advanced Standing is available for eligible BSW holders. Fordham also appears at rank 17 on our national MSW ranking.
View program page → - #3 National #10
New York University Silver School of Social Work
New York, NY · On-Campus or Online
9.0
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1955Why It Ranks Here
NYU's Silver School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1955 and operates within NYU's global university structure, providing access to a wide range of practicum placement sites across New York City and, for international students, a Shanghai campus location. Concentrations and electives span clinical practice, policy, health, and international social work. An online track was added in 2024. The school maintains a strong financial aid infrastructure, with the majority of students receiving scholarship support. Advanced Standing is available. NYU Silver ranks tenth on our national MSW ranking.
View program page → - #4
University at Buffalo, State University of New York, School of Social Work
Buffalo, NY · On-Campus or Online
8.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1934Why It Ranks Here
The University at Buffalo's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1934, the oldest accreditation date of any SUNY-system MSW program in New York. As a Research I university, UB maintains a faculty with substantial externally funded research portfolios across child welfare, mental health, and health disparities. An online track has been available since 2018, and multiple cohort start dates and evening/weekend scheduling options accommodate working adult students across Western New York. Advanced Standing is available for eligible BSW graduates.
View program page → - #5
Adelphi University School of Social Work
Garden City, NY · On-Campus or Online
8.6
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1951Why It Ranks Here
Adelphi's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1951 and is the most geographically distributed MSW program in New York, operating from five campus locations, including Garden City (main campus on Long Island), Hauppauge (Long Island), Manhattan, Poughkeepsie (Hudson Valley), and Middletown (Orange County), plus an online track available since 2017. This network makes Adelphi accessible to students across Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and the New York City metro area without requiring relocation. Advanced Standing is offered for eligible BSW holders. Evening and weekend scheduling options are available at multiple locations.
View program page → - #6
Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work, CUNY
New York, NY · On-Campus
8.4
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1958Why It Ranks Here
Hunter College's Silberman School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1958 and is one of the largest producers of MSW graduates in New York City. As a CUNY school, it offers among the most affordable MSW tuition available anywhere in the state, making it a high-value option for students committed to urban social work practice. The school draws on an extensive NYC practicum placement network across all five boroughs. Concentrations include Clinical Practice and Community Organization, Planning and Development. Both full-time and part-time tracks are available, along with Advanced Standing. No online delivery is currently offered.
View program page → - #7
Syracuse University School of Social Work
Syracuse, NY · On-Campus or Online
8.2
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1958Why It Ranks Here
Syracuse University's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1958 and offers its MSW from both a Syracuse campus and an online track added in 2020. The program provides two primary concentration tracks, one focused on clinical social work and one on management and community practice, allowing students to align their degree with either direct clinical licensure pathways or macro-level organizational and policy careers. Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing enrollment options are available. Syracuse is located in Central New York, and the program's practicum network extends across Onondaga County agencies, regional healthcare systems, and upstate nonprofits.
View program page → - #8
Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work
New York, NY · On-Campus or Online
8.0
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1959Why It Ranks Here
Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1959 and is one of the few MSW programs in the country that maintains Group Work as a distinct concentration alongside Casework and Community Organization. This curricular distinction makes Wurzweiler notable for students interested in group modalities as a primary practice focus. The school operates within Yeshiva University's Jewish-affiliated institutional context but admits students of all backgrounds. An online track has been available since 2018. Multiple cohort start dates are offered, and Advanced Standing is available for eligible BSW graduates.
View program page → - #9
University at Albany, State University of New York, School of Social Welfare
Albany, NY · On-Campus or Online
7.9
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1968Why It Ranks Here
The University at Albany's School of Social Welfare has held CSWE accreditation since 1968 and is located in the state capital, giving students access to Albany County DSSCS, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the Office of Mental Health, and other state-level policy and human services agencies. An online track has been available since 2018. Dual degree options with Law, Public Administration, Public Health, and Education are offered, an unusually broad set of joint-degree options that reflect the school's proximity to Albany Law School and the university's policy-focused academic environment. Advanced Standing is available.
View program page → - #10
Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare
Stony Brook, NY · On-Campus or Online
7.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1971Why It Ranks Here
Stony Brook University's School of Social Welfare has held CSWE accreditation since 1971 and is embedded within Stony Brook Medicine, one of the largest academic medical centers on Long Island. This health sciences context shapes the school's concentration offerings and practicum placement network, which draws heavily from hospitals, behavioral health systems, and health-focused nonprofit agencies across Suffolk County. Three concentrations are offered: Clinical Practice, Health Social Work, and Policy, Planning and Administration. An online track was added in 2024. Advanced Standing is available.
View program page → - #11
Nazareth University, Department of Social Work
Rochester, NY · On-Campus or Online
7.6
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2002Why It Ranks Here
Nazareth University's MSW program has held CSWE accreditation since 2002, initially as part of a Rochester-area collaborative that also included SUNY Brockport, with independent accreditation established after 2019. The Rochester main campus is complemented by an online track added in 2023. The program offers multiple specialization options and multiple cohort start dates per year, accommodating students who cannot begin in a traditional fall semester. Advanced Standing is available for eligible BSW holders. Nazareth's liberal arts context shapes an MSW curriculum that emphasizes interdisciplinary preparation alongside social work practice methods.
View program page → - #12
Long Island University, School of Social Work
Brookville, NY · On-Campus
7.5
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2003Why It Ranks Here
Long Island University's MSW collaborative program has held CSWE accreditation since 2003 across its LIU Post (Brookville), LIU Brooklyn, and Brentwood campuses, making it one of the more geographically distributed private MSW programs on Long Island. Multiple cohort start dates and evening/weekend scheduling options are designed for working adults throughout Nassau, Suffolk, and Kings counties. The program offers a concentration in Forensic Social Work alongside clinical and macro-practice tracks, a specialization option that is uncommon in New York. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered.
View program page → - #13
Binghamton University, State University of New York, Department of Social Work
Binghamton, NY · On-Campus or Online
7.4
60 credits 1,000 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2003Why It Ranks Here
Binghamton University's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2003 and requires 1,000 field hours, above the 900-hour minimum and among the higher practicum requirements in New York State. An online track was added in 2023. The program serves the Southern Tier region of New York, with practicum placements drawing from Broome County agencies, regional healthcare systems, and nonprofits across the Binghamton metro area. Both full-time and part-time enrollment are available. Advanced Standing is offered for eligible BSW graduates.
View program page → - #14
Roberts Wesleyan University, School of Social Work
Rochester, NY · Online
7.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1997Why It Ranks Here
Roberts Wesleyan University's MSW program has held CSWE accreditation since 1997, the longest accreditation history among Christian-affiliated MSW programs currently operating in New York State. The program transitioned to fully online delivery in 2021, and its Rochester campus location ended in 2024. The program now operates entirely online, with multiple cohort start dates and evening/weekend scheduling options. Roberts Wesleyan's institutional context is grounded in the Wesleyan Holiness tradition, though the program is open to students of all backgrounds. Advanced Standing is available for eligible BSW graduates. New York students arrange practicum placements locally regardless of online delivery.
View program page → - #15
Lehman College, City University of New York, Department of Social Work
Bronx, NY · On-Campus
7.2
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2004Why It Ranks Here
Lehman College's MSW program has held CSWE accreditation since 2004 and is one of a small number of bilingual Spanish-English MSW programs in the United States, making it particularly well suited for students who intend to practice with Spanish-speaking communities in the Bronx, upper Manhattan, or across the New York City metro area. As a CUNY school, Lehman offers among the most affordable MSW tuition in the state. Practicum placements draw from Bronx County social services agencies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, and community mental health centers. Both full-time and part-time tracks are available, along with Advanced Standing. No online delivery is currently offered.
View program page → - #16
SUNY Brockport, Department of Social Work
Rochester, NY · On-Campus
7.1
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2002Why It Ranks Here
SUNY Brockport's MSW program has held CSWE accreditation since 2002, initially as part of a Rochester-area collaborative that also included Nazareth University, with independent accreditation established after 2019. The program is delivered from a Rochester location rather than the main Brockport campus, making it accessible to students across Monroe County and the greater Rochester metro area. Evening, weekend, and multiple cohort start date scheduling options are designed for working adult students. No online delivery is currently offered. Advanced Standing is available.
View program page → - #17
Touro University, Graduate School of Social Work
New York, NY · On-Campus or Online
6.9
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2007Why It Ranks Here
Touro University's Graduate School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2007 and operates from two New York City locations, a Manhattan site and a Brooklyn site, with an online track added in 2023. Touro is a Jewish-sponsored institution offering pluralistic, non-sectarian education across its graduate programs. Multiple cohort start dates and evening/weekend scheduling options accommodate students who are employed in human services during their degree. Advanced Standing is available for eligible BSW graduates.
View program page → - #18
Daemen University, Department of Social Work
Amherst, NY · On-Campus or Online
6.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2015Why It Ranks Here
Daemen University's MSW program has held CSWE accreditation since 2015 and is located in Amherst, in the Buffalo-Niagara region of Western New York. An online track has been available since 2018. A dual MPH degree is offered in partnership with another institution, providing a combined health-focused pathway that is particularly relevant in the Buffalo-Niagara healthcare market. The program enrolls on a full-time schedule with Advanced Standing available for eligible BSW graduates. Practicum placements draw from Erie County human services agencies, regional hospital systems, and Western New York nonprofits.
View program page → - #19
College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Department of Social Work
Staten Island, NY · On-Campus
6.7
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2014Why It Ranks Here
The College of Staten Island's MSW program has held CSWE accreditation since 2014 and is the only CUNY-system MSW program located on Staten Island. As a CUNY school, it offers among the most affordable MSW tuition available in New York. The program has developed a focus on practice with individuals with disabilities, a specialization that reflects the programmatic strengths of CSI's wider academic offerings in disability studies. Both full-time and part-time tracks are available. Advanced Standing is offered for eligible BSW graduates. No online delivery is currently offered.
View program page → - #20
Keuka College, Division of Social Work
Keuka Park, NY · On-Campus or Online
6.5
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2015Why It Ranks Here
Keuka College's MSW program has held CSWE accreditation since 2015 and is one of two programs in this ranking located in the Finger Lakes region, serving a rural and semi-rural geographic area with limited access to other nearby MSW programs. An online track was added in 2021, expanding access for students who cannot commute to the Keuka Park campus. Multiple cohort start dates and evening/weekend scheduling options are available. Previously operated satellite locations in Victor, Syracuse, and Corning, which closed in 2023. Advanced Standing is offered for eligible BSW graduates.
View program page → - #21
York College, City University of New York, Department of Social Work
Queens, NY · On-Campus
6.4
60 credits 900 field hours No Advanced Standing Accred. since 2018Why It Ranks Here
York College's MSW program received initial CSWE accreditation in 2018 and is delivered from the Jamaica, Queens campus of CUNY. As a CUNY school, it offers among the most affordable MSW options in the New York City metro area. The program emphasizes healthcare social work, positioning graduates for practice in the dense hospital and community health network that serves the Queens and southeastern Queens population. Evening and weekend scheduling options accommodate working adult students. No Advanced Standing or online delivery is currently offered.
View program page → - #22
Utica University, MSW Program
Utica, NY · Online
6.2
60 credits 900 field hours No Advanced Standing Accred. since 2021Why It Ranks Here
Utica University's MSW program received initial CSWE accreditation in 2021 and is delivered fully online, one of two fully online programs in this New York ranking. The program is offered on a part-time schedule. New York residents arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. As one of the newer programs in this ranking, it carries a shorter accreditation history than the programs ranked above it, though it holds full current CSWE standing. No Advanced Standing is currently offered.
View program page → - #23
St. Joseph's University New York, Department of Social Work
Patchogue, NY · On-Campus
6.0
60 credits 900 field hours No Advanced Standing Accred. since 2022Why It Ranks Here
St. Joseph's University New York's MSW program received initial CSWE accreditation in 2022 and is delivered from its Long Island campus in Patchogue, serving eastern Suffolk County and surrounding communities. The program offers multiple scheduling options including evenings, weekends, and weekends-only cohorts, providing flexibility for working professionals on Long Island. No online delivery or Advanced Standing is currently offered. As one of the newest programs in this ranking, its relatively short accreditation record is the primary factor separating it from longer-established programs with comparable program features.
View program page → - #24
State University of New York at Plattsburgh, MSW Program
Queensbury, NY · On-Campus or Online
5.8
60 credits 900 field hours No Advanced Standing Accred. since 2024Why It Ranks Here
SUNY Plattsburgh's MSW program received initial CSWE accreditation in 2024, making it the newest accredited MSW program in New York State. The program is delivered from a Queensbury campus location, near Glens Falls in Warren County, rather than the main Plattsburgh campus in Clinton County. An online track was added in 2025. The Queensbury location serves the Adirondack region and the Capital District-North Country corridor. No Advanced Standing is currently offered. As the newest program on this list by a wide margin, the program's short accreditation record accounts for its position at the bottom of the ranking despite its SUNY system affiliation and public tuition rates.
View program page →
Job Market for MSW Graduates in New York
New York is one of the largest employers of licensed social workers in the United States, driven by the scale and density of New York City's public human services system, hospital sector, nonprofit community, and state government agencies. The New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS), the Department of Homeless Services, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the city's HHC hospital system collectively employ thousands of licensed social workers. State agencies including the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Children and Family Services, and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports add to the public-sector demand across upstate regions.
Wages in New York City consistently rank among the highest in the country for all social work specialties, driven by the cost of living and the competitive labor market. Healthcare social work is particularly well compensated, reflecting the density of major medical centers including NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, NYU Langone, Montefiore, and Stony Brook Medicine. Nonprofit positions in NYC tend to pay less than hospital or government roles, though many qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) if the employer is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Upstate New York offers different market dynamics. Western New York (Buffalo-Niagara), the Capital Region (Albany), and Central New York (Syracuse-Utica corridor) have smaller labor markets but also lower costs of living, and public sector positions in county departments of social services often carry state pension benefits that significantly enhance total compensation over a career.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, New York; NYSED Office of the Professions.
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 New York-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.