North Dakota has one CSWE-accredited MSW program: the University of North Dakota Department of Social Work, which has held continuous accreditation since 1991. UND is the flagship research university of North Dakota, located in Grand Forks in the eastern part of the state. The program offers two concentrations, Advanced Generalist and Clinical or Direct Practice, along with an Addictions certificate that addresses one of the most pressing behavioral health challenges in the state. Online delivery was added in 2018, extending the program's reach across North Dakota's vast geography. Advanced Standing and multiple cohort entry points are available per the CSWE directory.
North Dakota's social work landscape is shaped by its large tribal nations, its agricultural and energy-sector economy, and its rural population distribution. Five federally recognized tribal nations are located in North Dakota, and social work practice in and adjacent to those communities involves tribal social service agencies, Indian Health Service facilities, and tribal colleges. The opioid crisis and methamphetamine use disorder have driven significant demand for licensed social workers in behavioral health settings across both urban centers including Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks, and rural communities. The energy boom in western North Dakota's Bakken region brought rapid population change and related social service demands to communities in McKenzie, Williams, and Mountrail counties that previously had minimal social work infrastructure.
North Dakota social work licensing is administered by the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners. The LMSW and LCSW credentials follow a standard national exam-based pathway. UND's program is the single CSWE-accredited MSW pathway in the state, making it foundational to North Dakota's social work workforce development at the master's level.
The 1 CSWE-Accredited MSW Program in North Dakota
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 year is the Initial Accreditation Date from the CSWE directory. UND Grand Forks campus plus online delivery (2018) per CSWE.
- #1
University of North Dakota Department of Social Work
Grand Forks, ND · On-Campus or Online
8.0
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1991Why It Ranks Here
The University of North Dakota Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1991 and is the only CSWE-accredited MSW program in North Dakota. Two concentrations are offered: Advanced Generalist and Clinical or Direct Practice. An Addictions certificate is available. Advanced Standing is available. Online delivery was added in 2018. Multiple cohorts per year and weekend or evening delivery options are offered per the CSWE directory. UND is the flagship research university of North Dakota, located in Grand Forks. The dual-concentration model is a significant academic strength: graduates can specialize in either generalist practice across systems levels or in direct clinical practice, making the program relevant to the full spectrum of North Dakota's social work workforce needs. The Addictions certificate is particularly relevant to North Dakota's behavioral health landscape, where opioid, methamphetamine, and alcohol use disorders drive a substantial share of social work caseloads in both urban centers and rural communities. The program's proximity to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Spirit Lake Nation, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara) makes it the primary academic pipeline for social workers serving North Dakota's large tribal communities.
Public (University of North Dakota). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
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Job Market for MSW Graduates in North Dakota
Fargo is North Dakota's largest city and its primary social work labor market. Sanford Health and Essentia Health, the two dominant health systems in the Fargo-Moorhead metro, are the largest healthcare social work employers. The region's behavioral health network, including Prairie St. John's, Southeast Human Service Center (a state-operated facility), and a network of community mental health centers, employs a significant share of licensed clinical social workers in the state. Fargo's growing immigrant and refugee population, including large communities from Sudan, Somalia, and East Africa, has created demand for social workers with cross-cultural and multilingual competencies.
Bismarck, the state capital, is the center of North Dakota state government social services employment. The North Dakota Department of Human Services, including its Economic Assistance Division, Children and Family Services Division, and Behavioral Health Division, employs the largest concentration of public-sector social workers in the state. CHI St. Alexius Health and Sanford Health Bismarck are the primary healthcare employers in the capital region. The proximity of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal headquarters at Fort Yates and the Three Affiliated Tribes at New Town extends the practice context for Bismarck-area social workers into tribal social services.
Grand Forks, home to UND, is the state's third-largest city and has its own social work market anchored by Altru Health System and the UND health professions programs. The Spirit Lake Nation at Fort Totten, approximately 75 miles southwest of Grand Forks, is the closest tribal social service employer to the UND campus. Western North Dakota, including Williston and Minot, has grown significantly due to Bakken oil development and has increasing demand for social workers in community mental health, substance abuse treatment, and family services.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota; North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners.
How We Ranked This Program
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 Dakota-specific adjustments are made. 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.