Pennsylvania has one of the largest concentrations of CSWE-accredited MSW programs in the country, with 17 programs spread across a state that includes two major metropolitan areas, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, as well as several mid-sized regional cities and extensive rural territory. The state's program landscape reflects two distinct tiers of public institutions: the state-related universities (Pitt, Temple, Penn State) and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) institutions, which include West Chester, Kutztown, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, Commonwealth, and Pennsylvania Western. PASSHE programs generally offer lower in-state tuition than state-related institutions, making them an important access point for students with cost constraints.
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh anchor the state's two largest MSW labor markets. Philadelphia's concentration of major health systems, including Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, Temple University Hospital, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, alongside the City of Philadelphia's large public human services infrastructure, creates substantial demand for MSW graduates in clinical, healthcare, and child welfare settings. Pittsburgh's labor market is shaped by UPMC's presence as the dominant regional health system and employer, alongside a well-developed nonprofit sector and Allegheny County's human services agencies.
A significant portion of Pennsylvania's accredited MSW programs have transitioned to fully online delivery in recent years following campus closures, including Carlow, Slippery Rock, PennWest, Alvernia, Eastern, and Lancaster Bible. For students in these programs, practicum placements are arranged locally regardless of where the online program is administratively based. Students evaluating these programs should contact individual programs directly to understand their practicum coordination and supervision models before enrolling.
All 17 CSWE-Accredited MSW Programs in Pennsylvania
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. Several programs are now fully online following campus closures; this is noted in each program's rationale.
- #1 National #14
University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work
Pittsburgh, PA · On-Campus or Online
9.1
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1934Why It Ranks Here
The University of Pittsburgh's School of Social Work is the oldest and highest-ranked MSW program in Pennsylvania, with CSWE accreditation dating to 1934 and a national ranking of fourteenth on our seven-factor scoring model, the only Pennsylvania program in the national top fifteen. Pitt's Oakland neighborhood location places the school adjacent to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) health system, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the country, providing extensive practicum placement infrastructure in hospital-based, behavioral health, and community health settings. Concentrations include Interpersonal Practice and Community Organization and Social Action, with dual-degree options available alongside Penn's Law, public health, and business programs. Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing enrollment options are available. An online track was added in 2025.
Public (state-related university), approx. $24,000�$28,000/year in-state. Out-of-state tuition is substantially higher. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #2
University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice
Philadelphia, PA · On-Campus
8.7
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1919Why It Ranks Here
The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice holds one of the oldest CSWE accreditations in the country, dating to 1919. Penn is an Ivy League research university, and SP2 draws on cross-school partnerships with Penn's Carey Law School, Wharton School, and Perelman School of Medicine for dual-degree and certificate options. The West Philadelphia location provides practicum placement access to Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the City of Philadelphia's Department of Human Services. Two concentrations are offered: Clinical Practice and Social Policy and Administration. Full-time and Advanced Standing enrollment options are listed. No online delivery is currently offered. Penn's institutional resources, research output, and Philadelphia network position it among the strongest MSW programs in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Private (Ivy League). Contact the program for current tuition rates. Substantial need-based financial aid is available through Penn's financial aid office.
View program page → - #3
Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research
Bryn Mawr, PA · On-Campus or Online
8.2
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1919Why It Ranks Here
Bryn Mawr College's Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research holds a CSWE accreditation dating to 1919, one of the oldest in the country, and operates as a dedicated graduate school within the historically women's liberal arts college. The GSSWSR also houses a doctoral program in social work and social research, giving MSW students access to faculty research engagement beyond what is typical at stand-alone master's programs. The Bryn Mawr campus is located on Philadelphia's Main Line, approximately 11 miles from Center City, with practicum placement access to Philadelphia and its surrounding suburban counties. An online track was added in 2026. Advanced Standing and full-time enrollment options are available.
Private (liberal arts college). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #4
Temple University School of Social Work
Philadelphia, PA · On-Campus or Online
7.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1969Why It Ranks Here
Temple University's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1969 and is a large public research university with strong urban community ties. Located in North Philadelphia, the school operates in one of the city's most historically underserved neighborhoods, providing direct practicum placement access to community-based organizations, behavioral health agencies, and public school social work settings throughout the city. An online track has been available since 2016, one of the earlier online adoptions among Pennsylvania programs. Three concentrations are offered: Clinical Social Work, School Social Work, and Community Practice. Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing enrollment options are available. Temple is a state-related university outside the PASSHE system, with tuition higher than PASSHE institutions but lower than most private programs in Philadelphia.
Public (state-related university), approx. $18,000�$22,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #5
Marywood University School of Social Work
Scranton, PA · On-Campus or Online
7.1
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1969Why It Ranks Here
Marywood University's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1969, matching Temple's accreditation history and representing one of the two longest records among programs outside Pennsylvania's state-related universities. The program is delivered from the Scranton campus in Lackawanna County, the primary city of Northeastern Pennsylvania. An online track was added in 2025. Two concentrations are offered: Clinical Social Work and Macro Social Work Practice. Marywood operates within a Catholic Institutional Humanistic Education tradition under the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM). Advanced Standing, full-time, and part-time enrollment are available. A Pocono campus that operated through 2022 has closed; all instruction is now delivered from Scranton or online.
Private (Catholic, IHM), approx. $900/credit. Contact the program for current rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #6
Widener University Center for Social Work Education
Chester, PA · On-Campus or Online
6.9
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1993Why It Ranks Here
Widener University's Center for Social Work Education has held CSWE accreditation since 1993 and is one of the earlier adopters of online delivery among Pennsylvania programs, having offered an online track since 2018. The Chester campus is located in Delaware County, adjacent to Philadelphia, giving students access to the full Philadelphia metro practicum placement network while also serving Chester's historically diverse industrial community. Two concentrations are offered: Direct Practice and Administration, Policy, and Community Practice. Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing enrollment are available.
Private. Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #7
West Chester University Department of Social Work
West Chester, PA · On-Campus
6.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1998Why It Ranks Here
West Chester University's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1998 and is a Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) institution, providing lower in-state tuition than the state-related universities Pitt and Temple. The program is delivered from the West Chester campus in Chester County, with an additional cohort location in Philadelphia, extending access to city-based students without the higher cost of a private Philadelphia program. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing, full-time, and part-time enrollment are available. No online delivery is currently offered.
Public (PASSHE), approx. $10,000�$14,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #8
Millersville University and Shippensburg University Collaborative MSW Program
Millersville / Shippensburg, PA · On-Campus or Online
6.5
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2006Why It Ranks Here
The Millersville University and Shippensburg University Collaborative MSW Program received initial CSWE accreditation in 2006 and is a joint offering between two PASSHE institutions. Students may complete coursework at either the Millersville or Shippensburg campus, or online since 2021. The collaborative model is uncommon in social work education and reflects a PASSHE-level strategy to extend MSW access across South-Central Pennsylvania, a region without other accredited MSW programs. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing, full-time, and part-time enrollment options are available.
Public (PASSHE), approx. $10,000�$14,000/year in-state. Contact either university for current rates.
View program page → - #9
Kutztown University Department of Social Work
Kutztown, PA · On-Campus or Online
6.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2003Why It Ranks Here
Kutztown University's Department of Social Work received initial CSWE accreditation in 2003 and is a PASSHE institution serving Berks County and the Reading-Allentown corridor in Eastern Pennsylvania. An online track was added in 2025. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered alongside a Social Work in Healthcare specialization. Advanced Standing, full-time, and part-time enrollment options are available. Kutztown's in-state PASSHE tuition rates make it one of the more affordable accredited MSW options in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Public (PASSHE), approx. $10,000�$14,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #10
Carlow University MSW Program
Pittsburgh (Online), PA · Online
6.1
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2017Why It Ranks Here
Carlow University's MSW program received initial CSWE accreditation in 2017 and transitioned to fully online delivery after its Pittsburgh campus location closed in 2024. The program now operates entirely online with an Advanced Generalist concentration. Pennsylvania students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. Carlow is a Catholic university founded by the Sisters of Mercy, headquartered in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood, and maintains alumni and agency-partnership networks across the Pittsburgh metro region. Advanced Standing, full-time, and part-time enrollment are available.
Private (Catholic, Sisters of Mercy). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page → - #11
La Salle University MSW Program
Philadelphia, PA · On-Campus
5.9
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2021Why It Ranks Here
La Salle University's MSW program received initial CSWE accreditation in 2021 and is delivered from the La Salle campus in North Philadelphia, with an additional cohort location in Plymouth Meeting, Montgomery County. La Salle is a Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition, with a strong community service orientation. The North Philadelphia campus location provides practicum placement access to behavioral health providers, community agencies, and social service organizations throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing, full-time, and part-time enrollment options are listed. No online delivery is currently offered.
Private (Catholic, De La Salle). Contact the program for current tuition rates and financial aid information.
View program page → - #12
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania MSW Program
Bloomsburg, PA · On-Campus or Online
5.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2021Why It Ranks Here
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania's MSW program received initial CSWE accreditation in 2021 and is anchored at the Bloomsburg campus in Columbia County, Central Pennsylvania. Commonwealth University was formed through the merger of Bloomsburg University, Lock Haven University, and Mansfield University in 2022. An online track was added in 2026. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. PASSHE in-state tuition rates apply. Advanced Standing, full-time, and part-time enrollment are available. As a recently accredited program within a newly merged institution, the short accreditation record limits its composite score relative to longer-established programs.
Public (PASSHE), approx. $10,000�$14,000/year in-state. Contact the program for current rates.
View program page → - #13
Slippery Rock University Department of Social Work
Slippery Rock (Online), PA · Online
5.7
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2020Why It Ranks Here
Slippery Rock University's Department of Social Work received initial CSWE accreditation in 2020 and transitioned to fully online delivery after the campus-based location closed in 2026. The program now operates entirely online as a PASSHE institution. Pennsylvania students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing, full-time, and part-time enrollment are available. PASSHE in-state tuition rates apply.
Public (PASSHE). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page → - #14
Pennsylvania Western University MSW Program
Online, PA · Online
5.6
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2022Why It Ranks Here
Pennsylvania Western University's MSW program received initial CSWE accreditation in 2022 following the merger of California University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro University, and Clarion University of Pennsylvania into a single PASSHE institution. The program is delivered primarily online; Pennsylvania students arrange local practicum placements regardless of delivery format. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing and part-time enrollment options are available. PASSHE in-state tuition rates apply. As the newest PASSHE MSW entity in the state, the short accreditation record as a merged institution limits its composite score relative to longer-established programs.
Public (PASSHE). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page → - #15
Alvernia University MSW Program
Reading (Online), PA · Online
5.5
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2019Why It Ranks Here
Alvernia University's MSW program received initial CSWE accreditation in 2019 and transitioned to fully online delivery after its Reading and Philadelphia area campus locations closed in 2025. The program now operates entirely online. Alvernia is a Franciscan university headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing, full-time, and part-time enrollment are available. Pennsylvania students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery.
Private (Franciscan Catholic). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page → - #16
Lancaster Bible College MSW Program
Lancaster, PA · Online
5.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2021Why It Ranks Here
Lancaster Bible College's MSW program received initial CSWE accreditation in 2021 and is delivered entirely online. Lancaster Bible College is a Christian liberal arts institution affiliated with evangelical Christianity, located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Advanced Standing, full-time, and part-time enrollment options are listed. Pennsylvania students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. The program's faith-based mission and evangelical institutional context may shape curriculum emphases and practicum site selection toward faith-based and community organizations.
Private (evangelical Christian). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page → - #17
Eastern University Department of Social Work
St. Davids, PA · Online
5.1
60 credits 900 field hours No Advanced Standing Accred. since 2021Why It Ranks Here
Eastern University's Department of Social Work received initial CSWE accreditation in 2021 and is delivered entirely online from the St. Davids campus near Philadelphia. Eastern is a Christian university affiliated with American Baptist Churches USA. Eastern is currently the only CSWE-accredited MSW program in Pennsylvania that does not offer an Advanced Standing track, which limits its composite score on the Pathways factor. BSW graduates must complete the full 60-credit curriculum regardless of prior professional preparation. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered. Pennsylvania students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery.
Private (Christian, American Baptist). Contact the program for current online tuition rates.
View program page →
Job Market for MSW Graduates in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania employs a substantial and geographically concentrated social work workforce. The Philadelphia metro area is dominated by large academic medical centers and health systems, including Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, Temple University Hospital, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which together employ large numbers of healthcare and medical social workers. The City of Philadelphia's Department of Human Services and its contracted provider network represent the largest public-sector employer of child welfare and community social workers in the state.
Pittsburgh's social work labor market is anchored by UPMC, which operates dozens of hospitals and outpatient facilities across the region and is consistently one of the largest employers in Western Pennsylvania. Allegheny County's human services system, the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, and a well-developed nonprofit sector round out the regional market. MSW graduates from Pitt's School of Social Work have historically had strong placement connections throughout this network.
Outside the two major metros, Pennsylvania's mid-sized cities and rural regions present a different picture. The Scranton-Wilkes-Barre corridor, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro, Harrisburg area, and Erie all have functioning social services infrastructures but smaller labor markets than Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. Northeastern, Central, and Northwestern Pennsylvania include large rural territories with documented social work workforce shortages, particularly in behavioral health and school social work. Programs like Marywood in Scranton and Millersville-Shippensburg in South-Central Pennsylvania explicitly serve these regional markets.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Pennsylvania; PA Department of State, Board 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 Pennsylvania-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.