North Carolina has 12 CSWE-accredited MSW programs anchored at one end by UNC Chapel Hill, one of the top-ranked social work programs in the country with accreditation since 1920, and distributed across the state's diverse geographic and demographic regions. Three historically Black universities (Fayetteville State, North Carolina Central, and Johnson C. Smith) hold CSWE accreditation, making NC one of the states with the highest proportion of HBCU MSW programs. The NC A&T / UNCG Collaborative is a distinctive nationally rare joint program that pairs an HBCU with a comprehensive public university.
Geographic access to MSW programs is notably uneven across the state. The Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) has three programs within a small area: UNC-CH, NC State, and NC Central. Charlotte has two programs: UNC Charlotte and Johnson C. Smith. The eastern and western regions of the state are served by ECU (Greenville), Appalachian State (Boone and Hickory), Western Carolina (Cullowhee and Asheville), and UNC Pembroke (Pembroke), with online delivery helping to close gaps in sparsely populated rural areas.
North Carolina's licensing structure differs from most states in that MSW graduates pursuing non-clinical practice paths obtain the CMSW (Certified Master Social Worker) credential, while those pursuing clinical practice first register as LCSWA (Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate), then accumulate 3,000 supervised clinical hours and pass the ASWB Clinical exam to earn the LCSW. Planning for the LCSW path requires identifying LCSW-supervised employment before or immediately after graduation to begin accumulating the required hours within the six-year maximum LCSWA window.
All 12 CSWE-Accredited MSW Programs in North Carolina
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. NCCU's Advanced Standing status is listed as not available in the CSWE directory; consult the program for current information. Western Carolina's online track began in 2026 per the CSWE directory.
- #1 National #3
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work
Chapel Hill, NC · On-Campus or Online
9.6
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1920Why It Ranks Here
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1920, the longest continuous accreditation record of any North Carolina program. The school consistently ranks in the top five nationally, reflecting sustained excellence in research, faculty, and practicum infrastructure. Two concentrations are offered: Clinical Practice and Community Development and Social Systems. Four dual-degree programs are available: MSW/JD, MSW/MPA (Public Administration), MSW/MPH (Public Health), and MSW/MDiv (Theology/Divinity), the broadest dual-degree menu of any program in North Carolina. Three program length options are available: a 2-Year MSW, a 3-Year MSW for Chapel Hill, and a 12-Month Advanced Standing program. An online MSW track was added in 2023. A Winston-Salem site that operated from 2004 to 2025 has since closed; students now access the program from the Chapel Hill campus or online. Graduate certificates in nonprofit leadership and substance use and addiction specialization are also available. Advanced Standing is available.
Public (UNC System flagship, UNC Chapel Hill). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #2
East Carolina University Department of Social Work
Greenville, NC · On-Campus or Online
8.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1974Why It Ranks Here
East Carolina University's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, the second-oldest continuous accreditation record in North Carolina. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. An online track was added in 2020. Advanced Standing is available. ECU is a public university in Greenville serving Eastern North Carolina, one of the most economically and demographically underserved regions in the state. Rocky Mount and New Bern satellite sites that operated since 1974 closed in 2020, with those students now served by the online track. Eastern NC has documented social work workforce shortages in rural behavioral health, child welfare, and healthcare settings across a large geographic area with limited access to services. ECU's long accreditation history and rural service orientation reflect a sustained commitment to this underserved regional labor market.
Public (East Carolina University, UNC System). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #3
North Carolina A&T State University / University of North Carolina at Greensboro Joint MSW
Greensboro, NC · On-Campus
7.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1999Why It Ranks Here
The Joint MSW Program at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro has held CSWE accreditation since 1999 and is one of a small number of formally accredited joint MSW programs between two separate universities in the country. NC A&T is a historically Black university and one of the largest HBCUs in the United States; UNCG is a comprehensive public research university. The program emphasizes multicultural clinical practice and culturally competent social work with diverse communities, drawing on both institutions' academic communities and student populations. A School Social Work specialization is available in the first year, preparing students for K-12 settings. Students designate a home campus for tuition, fees, and registration purposes. Federal HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) funding supports scholarships in the program. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is offered.
Public joint program. Students choose a home campus (NCA&T or UNCG) for tuition and fee purposes. Contact either institution for current in-state tuition rates. HRSA funding supports some scholarships.
View program page → - #4
Appalachian State University Department of Social Work
Boone, NC · On-Campus or Online
7.2
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2006Why It Ranks Here
Appalachian State University's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2006 and operates from two campus locations: the Boone main campus in the High Country and a Hickory site serving the Catawba Valley, with an online track added in 2022. Two concentrations are offered: Clinical Practice and Community Development and Social Systems. This combination of clinical and macro concentrations is uncommon among NC programs and serves both individual practice and community or organizational practice needs. Advanced Standing is available. The Appalachian region of North Carolina, including the High Country and Catawba Valley, has documented social work workforce shortages, particularly in rural behavioral health, substance use services, and child welfare. The Hickory site extends program access into the Foothills, a densely industrialized and economically diverse region between Charlotte and the mountains.
Public (Appalachian State University, UNC System). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #5
North Carolina State University Department of Social Work
Raleigh, NC · On-Campus
7.0
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2004Why It Ranks Here
North Carolina State University's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2004 and is housed within NC State's College of Humanities and Social Sciences, a large R1 land-grant research university in Raleigh. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. A dual MSW/JD degree is available, the only MSW/JD dual degree offered by a North Carolina program outside of UNC Chapel Hill. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. NC State's location in Raleigh, the state capital and a major component of the Research Triangle (with UNC Chapel Hill and Duke), provides access to state government agencies, research institutions, and a large healthcare and nonprofit practicum placement network. The Research Triangle labor market is one of the strongest MSW employment markets in the Southeast.
Public (NC State University, UNC System). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #6
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Department of Social Work
Charlotte, NC · On-Campus or Online
6.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2004Why It Ranks Here
UNC Charlotte's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2004 and offers both campus-based and online delivery formats, with the online program available since 2021. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Multiple study plans are available: a 2-year standard track, a 1-Year Advanced Standing track, a 2-Year Advanced Standing track, and a 3-year online plan. A School Social Work Licensure pathway and an Integrated Behavioral Health Program are also available. Advanced Standing is available. UNC Charlotte is located in Charlotte, the state's largest city and a major financial and healthcare center. Atrium Health is the dominant hospital system in the Charlotte metro, providing a substantial clinical practicum base. Charlotte's large population and rapid growth make it one of the strongest social work labor markets in the Southeast.
Public (UNC Charlotte, UNC System). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #7
University of North Carolina at Wilmington Department of Social Work
Wilmington, NC · On-Campus
6.7
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2004Why It Ranks Here
UNC Wilmington's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2004 and offers three concentrations per the CSWE directory: Clinical Practice, Macro Social Work, and Substance Use Disorders. The Substance Use Disorders concentration is uncommon nationally, addressing a specific and growing behavioral health workforce need. A Child Welfare Collaborative credential and a School Social Work credential are also available alongside the MSW. A dual degree in another discipline is available. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. UNCW is located in Wilmington on the Cape Fear coast, serving Southeastern North Carolina, including a large military and veteran population associated with Camp Lejeune in nearby Jacksonville, and coastal communities with distinctive social work workforce needs in healthcare and substance use services.
Public (UNC Wilmington, UNC System). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #8
Western Carolina University Department of Social Work
Cullowhee, NC · On-Campus or Online
6.4
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2006Why It Ranks Here
Western Carolina University's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2006 and operates from the Cullowhee main campus and an Asheville site, with an online track added in 2026. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. WCU is a public university in Cullowhee in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The Asheville site serves Buncombe County and the broader Mountain Region, which has significant behavioral health, substance use, and rural social work workforce needs. The 2026 online addition is very recent; students seeking fully online delivery should confirm current enrollment availability directly with the program. Western Carolina and Appalachian State together provide CSWE-accredited MSW coverage across the mountainous western third of North Carolina.
Public (Western Carolina University, UNC System). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #9
Fayetteville State University School of Social Work
Fayetteville, NC · On-Campus
6.2
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2003Why It Ranks Here
Fayetteville State University's School of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2003 and is a historically Black university in Fayetteville in South-Central North Carolina. Two concentrations are offered: Children, Youth, and Families and Mental Health. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. Fayetteville is adjacent to Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), the largest Army installation in the United States by population. This proximity creates a distinctive social work labor market in military social work, veterans behavioral health, and family services for active-duty military and veteran families. FSU's HBCU identity and its location in a majority-Black city with a significant military and veteran community position the program to address overlapping workforce needs that are not as prominent at other North Carolina programs.
Public (Fayetteville State University, UNC System, HBCU). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #10
North Carolina Central University Department of Social Work
Durham, NC · On-Campus
5.8
60 credits 900 field hours No Advanced Standing (confirm with program) Accred. since 2008Why It Ranks Here
North Carolina Central University's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2008 and is a historically Black university in Durham, within the Research Triangle. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. No online delivery is currently offered. Per the CSWE directory, Advanced Standing is not listed as available; prospective students should confirm current status directly with the program. NCCU is located in Durham adjacent to Duke University and the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, providing access to a dense healthcare and research practicum placement network. Durham's Research Triangle location, strong public transit infrastructure, and active nonprofit sector offer a robust social work labor market. NCCU's HBCU mission and Durham's historically Black community context shape the program's focus on culturally responsive generalist practice.
Public (North Carolina Central University, UNC System, HBCU). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #11
University of North Carolina at Pembroke Department of Social Work
Pembroke, NC · On-Campus or Online
5.7
60 credits 930 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2008Why It Ranks Here
UNC Pembroke's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2008 and offers both campus-based and online formats, with the online track available since 2021. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available (500 field hours for Advanced Standing; 930 field hours for the traditional track). A Graduate Certificate in Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery is also available. UNCP is a public minority-serving institution in Pembroke in Robeson County. Robeson County is home to the Lumbee Tribe, the largest Indigenous nation in North Carolina, as well as a large Latino immigrant community, and is one of the poorest counties in the state. UNCP's MSW program provides critical social work workforce capacity for rural Southeastern North Carolina, including Indigenous and Latino community health, child welfare, and behavioral health settings. The online track extends access to students across the region who cannot commute to Pembroke.
Public (UNC Pembroke, UNC System, Minority-Serving Institution). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #12
Johnson C. Smith University Department of Social Work
Charlotte, NC · On-Campus
5.4
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2013Why It Ranks Here
Johnson C. Smith University's Department of Social Work received CSWE accreditation in 2013 and is a private historically Black university in Charlotte. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered. No dual-degree programs are listed in the CSWE directory. JCSU is one of three HBCU programs in North Carolina with CSWE-accredited MSW programs, alongside Fayetteville State and North Carolina Central. Its location in Charlotte's Second Ward neighborhood, historically a center of Charlotte's Black community, and its proximity to Atrium Health, the Charlotte Area Urban League, and a large network of Charlotte nonprofits provide access to a strong urban practicum placement network. As the most recently accredited program in the state, its short accreditation history limits its composite score relative to longer-established programs.
Private (Johnson C. Smith University, HBCU). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page →
Job Market for MSW Graduates in North Carolina
North Carolina's social work labor market is divided into three distinct regional clusters. The Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) has the most developed MSW-level job market in the state, anchored by major healthcare systems including UNC Health, Duke Health, WakeMed, and a large network of community health centers and behavioral health agencies. The Triangle's nonprofit sector, state government agencies (Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Social Services), and research institutions together create substantial demand for MSW graduates in clinical, policy, and macro practice roles.
Charlotte is the second major social work labor market, with Atrium Health dominating the healthcare sector and a large network of Charlotte-area nonprofits serving a rapidly growing and diverse metropolitan population. Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), adjacent to Fayetteville, is a distinctive market for military social work and veterans behavioral health, served most directly by Fayetteville State's program.
Eastern North Carolina and the western mountain region both have documented social work workforce shortages. Eastern NC has high poverty rates, limited behavioral health infrastructure, and a large rural population across dozens of small counties, creating persistent demand for licensed social workers that ECU and online programs are helping to address. The western mountain counties, served by Appalachian State and Western Carolina, have notable needs in substance use disorders, rural mental health, and Indigenous community services.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Carolina; NC Social Work Certification and Licensure Board.
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 North Carolina-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.