South Carolina has 2 CSWE-accredited MSW programs. The University of South Carolina College of Social Work, accredited since 1969, is the flagship program and one of the most comprehensively equipped in the Southeast. USC operates from Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville, covering the state's three largest metropolitan areas, and added online delivery in 2024. The program offers dual degrees with Law, Public Administration, and Public Health, alongside certifications in Addictions, Trauma, and Military, the last of which is directly relevant to South Carolina's unusually large military population across Fort Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base, Joint Base Charleston, and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
Winthrop University in Rock Hill, accredited in 2005, is the state's second program. Winthrop's location in York County positions it within the Charlotte, North Carolina-South Carolina metropolitan area, giving graduates access to the labor market of one of the fastest-growing major metros in the Southeast. The Child Welfare certification and online delivery since 2018 make Winthrop a practical option for students in the greater Charlotte region on the South Carolina side of the state line.
South Carolina social work licensing is notable for using the LISW-CP (Licensed Independent Social Worker, Clinical Practice) as its clinical credential rather than the LCSW designation used by most other states. Practitioners who hold LCSW licenses in other states and wish to practice in South Carolina, or who are LISW-CP holders moving to an LCSW state, should verify reciprocity requirements with the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners. The LMSW is used for the entry-level master's credential in South Carolina, consistent with most states.
Which MSW programs in South Carolina are CSWE-accredited?
Every CSWE-accredited MSW program in the state is listed here, 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. USC online delivery added 2024 per CSWE; Charleston and Greenville sites active since 1969 per CSWE. Winthrop online delivery added 2018 per CSWE. South Carolina clinical license is LISW-CP, not LCSW.
- #1
University of South Carolina College of Social Work
Columbia, SC · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 1969
9.0
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingThe University of South Carolina College of Social Work holds the longest continuous accreditation history of any MSW program in South Carolina, dating to 1969. One concentration is offered: Advanced Generalist, supported by certifications in Addictions, Trauma, and Military, the latter being one of the more complete certification portfolios in the Southeast. Three dual-degree programs are available, with Law (JD), Public Administration (MPA), and Public Health (MPH), the broadest dual-degree offering of any South Carolina MSW program. Online delivery was added in 2024. Advanced Standing is available. The program operates from the main Columbia campus, a Charleston site, and a Greenville site, covering the state's three largest metropolitan areas. USC is South Carolina's flagship public R1 research university. The program's comprehensive certification portfolio, including Military and Trauma certifications, is particularly relevant to South Carolina's large active-duty and veteran military population at Fort Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, and Joint Base Charleston.
Public (University of South Carolina, R1 flagship research university). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
University of South Carolina College of Social Work - #2
Winthrop University Department of Social Work
Rock Hill, SC · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 2005
6.5
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingWinthrop University's Department of Social Work offers two concentrations: Advanced Generalist and Other. A Child Welfare certification is available. Online delivery was added in 2018. Advanced Standing is available. Multiple cohorts per year are offered per the CSWE directory. Winthrop is a public university in Rock Hill in York County, part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metropolitan statistical area, which straddles the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Rock Hill's position in the Charlotte metro creates access to a large and growing social work labor market that spans both states, with Atrium Health, Novant Health, and a range of York County and Mecklenburg County human services agencies providing field placement and employment opportunities. The Child Welfare certification is directly aligned to South Carolina's publicly funded child welfare workforce needs.
Public (Winthrop University). Contact the program for current tuition rates.
Winthrop University Department of Social Work
How long does an MSW take in South Carolina, and what does it cost?
An MSW in South Carolina takes two years of full-time study, and what it costs turns mostly on whether the program is public or private. The Master of Social Work here is built on 60 credits and 900 hours of supervised field placement. Every one runs an Advanced Standing track, which finishes the degree in about a year for BSW holders. All of them are public, so in-state residency is the main lever on cost. Each card links to the program's own tuition page. The field-hour rules that apply everywhere are set out in our guide to CSWE accreditation.
What is the job market like for MSW graduates in South Carolina?
Columbia is South Carolina's largest job market for MSW graduates and the location of most of the state's central government agencies. Prisma Health (the largest health system in South Carolina, formed from Palmetto Health and Greenville Health System), Providence Health, and the Dorn VA Medical Center are the primary healthcare employers for clinical and medical social workers in the Midlands region. The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS), which administers child protective services and foster care, and the Department of Mental Health (SCDMH), which operates the state's behavioral health system through a network of community mental health centers, are both headquartered in Columbia and employ the largest concentrations of public-sector MSW practitioners in the state. Fort Jackson, one of the largest US Army training installations in the country, generates significant demand for military family and community social work services in the Columbia metro.
Charleston is the state's second social work market and one of the fastest-growing metros in the Southeast. MUSC Health (the Medical University of South Carolina), Roper St. Francis Healthcare, and Trident Health anchor the healthcare social work market. The Charleston metro's rapid population growth has increased demand across behavioral health, family services, and aging services. Joint Base Charleston and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island are the primary military social work employers in the Lowcountry. USC's Charleston site provides direct field placement access to MUSC Health, the VA Charleston Healthcare System, and the state's coastal behavioral health infrastructure.
The Upstate region, anchored by Greenville and Spartanburg, is the third major market. Prisma Health Upstate, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System are the primary healthcare employers. The Greenville and Spartanburg county DSS offices, Greenville Mental Health Center, and Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center anchor the public and nonprofit social services sectors. Winthrop University in Rock Hill gives the greater Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill bi-state metro an additional access point for MSW education on the South Carolina side.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, South Carolina; SC Board of Social Work Examiners.
Which MSW programs in South Carolina offer a dual degree?
One MSW program in South Carolina offers a dual degree: University of South Carolina (Law and Public Administration). Each is recorded in the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs.
A dual degree takes longer than an MSW alone but less time than the two degrees taken separately, because a block of credits counts toward both. They suit a specific plan rather than general ambition: a JD pairs with policy, child welfare and forensic practice, an MPH with hospital and public health settings, an MBA with nonprofit management. If you do not have that plan yet, the standard MSW leaves the option open.
Which MSW program in South Carolina has been accredited the longest?
University of South Carolina has been accredited the longest of any MSW program in South Carolina, holding CSWE accreditation since 1969, which is 57 years of continuous standing as of 2026. The state's newest accredited program, Winthrop University, dates to 2005.
Longevity is worth something specific: it means a program has met the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards across many reaffirmation cycles rather than once. It is not the same as quality, and a recently accredited program has been held to the current standards rather than grandfathered against older ones. Both hold identical standing for licensure.
How did we rank these South Carolina MSW programs?
We ranked these South Carolina MSW programs on the same seven-factor model used in the national ranking, applied identically to every accredited program in the state. The state ranking uses identical criteria and weights. No South Carolina-specific adjustments are made. Programs are ordered by composite score. For the full methodology, see our ranking methodology page.
Accreditation is 25% of the score because it is the only pass-or-fail factor here: South Carolina licenses no graduate of an unaccredited program. Accredited programs in South Carolina run from one holding that status since 1969 to one accredited as recently as 2005, and a longer record means more reaffirmation cycles survived.
Weights: CSWE accreditation 25%, program leadership 15%, pathways 15%, delivery format 15%, employer signal 15%, cost 10%, reputation 5%. Each factor is defined in full on our ranking methodology page.
How do you become a licensed social worker in South Carolina?
You become a licensed social worker in South Carolina by completing a CSWE-accredited MSW, passing the ASWB examination at the level your license requires, and, for a clinical license, logging supervised hours afterwards. Licensing here is administered by the South Carolina social work licensing board. South Carolina offers more than one route to licensure, pick the branch that matches the kind of practice you want. License names, exams, and supervised-hour requirements come from the ASWB Social Work Regulatory Database.
Advanced generalist social work license route in SC
MSW → LMSW → LISW-AP
- 1
Earn a CSWE-accredited MSW.
- 2
Pass the ASWB Masters exam and apply for the LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker).
- 3
Complete 3,000 hours of supervised practice over 2 to 4 years and pass the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam, then apply for the LISW-AP (Licensed Independent Social Worker-AP), the state's independent (non-clinical) practice license.
Clinical social work license route in SC
MSW → LISW-CP
- 1
Earn a CSWE-accredited MSW.
- 2
Complete 3,000 hours of supervised practice over 2 to 4 years and pass the ASWB Clinical exam, then apply for the LISW-CP (Licensed Independent Social Worker-CP), which authorizes independent clinical practice and clinical diagnosis.
South Carolina social work licenses at a glance
Master's license
Licensed Master Social Worker
Advanced generalist (independent) license
Licensed Independent Social Worker-AP
Clinical license
Licensed Independent Social Worker-CP
Source: Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Social Work Regulatory Database, 2026. License requirements change, so always confirm current rules with the South Carolina licensing board before applying.
Common questions about MSW programs in South Carolina
Common questions about MSW programs in South Carolina, on accreditation, cost, format and licensure.
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in South Carolina?
What do social workers earn in South Carolina?
What are South Carolina's social work licensing requirements?
Which South Carolina program is best for military and veteran social work?
Does USC's MSW program serve more than one city in South Carolina?
Which South Carolina cities have MSW programs?
Find CSWE-accredited programs in and near specific South Carolina cities, with nearby campuses, online options, and local salary and job-market data.
Where does the data on this page come from?
The data on this page comes from the sources below, and from nothing else: no commercial directories, no other ranking sites.
- CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs covers which South Carolina programs hold accreditation, the year each was first accredited, approved campus locations, concentrations, dual degrees and plan-of-study options.
- Individual program pages (.edu) supply curriculum detail, field-hour requirements, delivery format and cohort scheduling. Each program card links to the page it was written from.
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, South Carolina supplies the employment and wage figures in the job-market section, May 2025 release.
- ASWB Social Work Laws and Regulations Database supplies license names, examination levels and supervised-hour requirements, read 2026.
- Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education supplies the research classification used in the ranking model.
What are the best MSW programs near South Carolina?
The best MSW programs near South Carolina are in the neighboring states below, all CSWE-accredited. Licensure is state by state, so check a program across the border against the rules where you intend to practice.