Texas has the third-largest concentration of CSWE-accredited MSW programs in the country, with 22 accredited programs distributed across a geographically vast state. The UT System and Texas A&M System together account for the majority of the state's public MSW programs, providing in-state tuition access across multiple metro areas and several rural regions. Private programs from Baylor, TCU, Our Lady of the Lake, and Abilene Christian add clinical and religious-affiliated options, particularly in the DFW, San Antonio, and Abilene markets.
The scale of Texas's major metro areas creates distinct regional labor markets for MSW graduates. Houston (fourth-largest city in the US) and DFW (fourth-largest metro area) each have larger social services infrastructures than most entire states. Austin's role as the state capital gives UT Austin graduates unique access to state-level policy placements. The Rio Grande Valley, El Paso, and South Texas border regions represent a different environment entirely, characterized by high demand, workforce shortages, and a predominantly Hispanic and Latino population.
Texas's two-tier licensing structure (LMSW and LCSW) mirrors New York's approach. New MSW graduates can obtain the LMSW immediately upon passing the ASWB Master's exam, which affects how students plan for post-degree employment and supervised hours toward the LCSW. Students who arrange clinical supervision early in their post-degree employment are better positioned to reach the 3,000 supervised hours required for LCSW licensure.
Which MSW programs in Texas 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. Four programs (East Texas A&M, West Texas A&M, Texas Woman's University, and Prairie View A&M) are fully online.
- #1 National #9
The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work
Austin, TX · On-Campus · CSWE-accredited since 1952
9.2
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingThe Steve Hicks School of Social Work at UT Austin ranks eighth on our national MSW ranking, the only Texas program to appear in the national top ten. The school offers three concentration areas, Clinical and Social Work Practice, Management and Policy, and Social Work with Individuals, Families, and Groups, covering both direct clinical and macro career pathways. Austin's location as the state capital provides practicum placement access to Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and numerous state-level agencies. The program does not offer online delivery, maintaining a full-time residential campus experience. Advanced Standing is available for eligible BSW graduates.
The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work - #2
University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work
Houston, TX · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 1970
8.8
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingThe University of Houston's Graduate College of Social Work is one of the larger social work schools in the South, serving students across the Houston metropolitan area through both a campus-based track and an online track available since 2018. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, with a practicum placement landscape that includes Texas Medical Center (one of the world's largest medical complexes), Harris County social services agencies, and a dense nonprofit sector. The program offers two concentrations, Clinical Practice and Macro Social Work, along with a weekends-only cohort option designed for working professionals. Multiple cohort start dates and Advanced Standing are available.
University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work - #3
University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work
Arlington, TX · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 1970
8.6
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingUT Arlington's School of Social Work offers five concentrations, the most of any Texas MSW program: Children, Youth, and Families; Healthcare; Management and Administration; Mental Health; and Aging and Gerontological Practice. This concentration breadth makes it well suited for students who want to specialize in areas beyond the standard clinical or generalist tracks. The DFW metroplex is the fourth-largest metro area in the United States, providing extensive practicum placement infrastructure. An online track has been available since 2018. Multiple cohort start dates and Advanced Standing are offered.
University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work - #4
Our Lady of the Lake University Worden School of Social Service
San Antonio, TX · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 1945
8.3
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingOur Lady of the Lake University's Worden School of Social Service holds the longest CSWE accreditation history in Texas, dating to 1945, predating UT Austin's 1952 accreditation. The school was founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence and operates within a Catholic liberal arts institutional context, serving predominantly Hispanic and Latino communities in San Antonio and South Texas. A La Feria campus in the Rio Grande Valley extends access to students in the border region, alongside an online track available since 2021. The Worden School is one of the oldest continuously accredited social work programs in the South and has a substantial alumni presence in San Antonio's public human services and nonprofit sectors. Advanced Standing is available.
Our Lady of the Lake University Worden School of Social Service - #5
Texas State University School of Social Work
San Marcos, TX · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 1997
7.9
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingTexas State University's School of Social Work is one of the earliest online adopters in the state, having offered an online track since 2004. This history of online delivery has produced a more developed asynchronous infrastructure than more recently online programs. Located in San Marcos on the Austin-San Antonio corridor, the program draws practicum placements from both metro areas. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered, with full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing enrollment options available.
Texas State University School of Social Work - #6
Baylor University Diana R. Garland School of Social Work
Waco, TX · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 2001
7.7
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingBaylor University's Garland School of Social Work is one of a small number of R1 research universities in the country with a Baptist institutional affiliation. The school is named after Diana Garland, a former dean and prominent social work educator. Two concentrations are offered: Clinical Practice and Community Development and Social Systems, addressing both direct clinical and community/organizational career paths. An online track has been available since 2018. Multiple cohort start dates and Advanced Standing are offered. A Houston campus that operated through 2022 has since closed.
Baylor University Diana R. Garland School of Social Work - #7
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Social Work
Edinburg, TX · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 2002
7.6
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingThe University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2002, predating UTRGV's formation in 2015 through the merger of UT Pan-American and UT Brownsville. The program serves the U.S.-Mexico border region of South Texas, one of the most underserved areas in the state for licensed social work professionals, with a majority-Hispanic student body and practicum placement network spanning Hidalgo, Cameron, and Starr counties. Three concentrations are offered: Advanced Generalist, Clinical and Direct Practice, and Macro Social Work. An online track has been available since 2017. Multiple cohort start dates, evening and weekend scheduling, and Advanced Standing are all offered. UTRGV's low in-state tuition rates make it one of the most cost-accessible MSW programs in Texas.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Social Work - #8
University of Texas at San Antonio Department of Social Work
San Antonio, TX · On-Campus · CSWE-accredited since 2004
7.5
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingThe University of Texas at San Antonio's Department of Social Work serves the San Antonio metro area, the seventh-largest city in the United States. Practicum placements draw from the San Antonio Military Medical Center, University Hospital, Bexar County social services agencies, and a dense nonprofit sector. Multiple cohort start dates and evening and weekend scheduling options accommodate working adult students. No online delivery is currently offered. Advanced Standing is available for eligible BSW graduates.
University of Texas at San Antonio Department of Social Work - #9
Stephen F. Austin State University Department of Social Work
Woodland, TX · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 1998
7.3
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingStephen F. Austin State University's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1998 and offers a Rural Social Work concentration alongside its Advanced Generalist track, a specialization that directly addresses the workforce needs of East Texas and rural communities that are consistently underserved by licensed social workers. An online track has been available since 2018. Multiple cohort start dates and Advanced Standing are offered. The Rural Social Work concentration is a distinguishing feature that few Texas programs offer.
Stephen F. Austin State University Department of Social Work - #10
East Texas A&M University School of Social Work
Commerce, TX · Online · CSWE-accredited since 2001
7.1
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingEast Texas A&M University (formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce, renamed in 2023) transitioned to fully online delivery after its Commerce and Mesquite campus locations closed in 2020. The program now operates entirely online with an Advanced Generalist concentration and multiple cohort start dates per year. Texas students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. As one of the longer-accredited programs in the A&M System, it retains a substantial alumni and agency-partnership network across Northeast Texas.
East Texas A&M University School of Social Work - #11
University of Texas at El Paso Department of Social Work
El Paso, TX · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 2010
7.0
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingThe University of Texas at El Paso's Department of Social Work serves the El Paso-Juárez binational metropolitan area, one of the largest binational border communities in the Western Hemisphere. UTEP's low in-state tuition rates make it one of the most cost-accessible UT System MSW programs available. An online track was added in 2026. Advanced Standing is available. The border context shapes the program's practicum network, which includes El Paso County public agencies, University Medical Center of El Paso, and organizations serving cross-border populations.
University of Texas at El Paso Department of Social Work - #12
Texas Christian University Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Department of Social Work
Fort Worth, TX · On-Campus · CSWE-accredited since 2012
6.9
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingTexas Christian University's Department of Social Work is housed within TCU's Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, creating a health-adjacent interdisciplinary environment. The program is delivered on the Fort Worth campus with an Advanced Generalist concentration. Full-time enrollment and Advanced Standing are offered; no part-time or online delivery is currently listed. Fort Worth is part of the DFW metroplex, providing access to a large practicum placement network. TCU is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) but admits students of all backgrounds.
Texas Christian University Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Department of Social Work - #13
Texas Tech University School of Social Work
Lubbock, TX · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 2015
6.8
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingTexas Tech University's School of Social Work is the primary accredited MSW program serving the South Plains region of West Texas. An online track was added in 2024. The program offers an Advanced Generalist concentration and serves a geographic area with a significant rural social work workforce need. Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing enrollment options are available. Lubbock's practicum placement network includes Covenant Health and University Medical Center.
Texas Tech University School of Social Work - #14
Tarleton State University Department of Social Work
Stephenville, TX · On-Campus · CSWE-accredited since 2016
6.7
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingTarleton State University's Department of Social Work delivers its MSW from three campus locations: Stephenville (main campus), Waco, and Fort Worth. This multi-campus model serves the North and Central Texas region, providing access in smaller cities where no other MSW program is located. An Integrated Practice concentration is offered. Evening and weekend scheduling options accommodate working adult students. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered.
Tarleton State University Department of Social Work - #15
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Department of Social Work
Kingsville, TX · On-Campus · CSWE-accredited since 2016
6.5
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingTexas A&M University-Kingsville's Department of Social Work serves South Texas from the Kingsville campus, a region with a predominantly Hispanic and Latino population and a notable workforce shortage in licensed social work practitioners. Advanced Generalist and other concentrations are offered. Evening and weekend scheduling options are available. No online delivery is currently offered. Advanced Standing is available for eligible BSW graduates.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Department of Social Work - #16
Abilene Christian University Department of Social Work
Abilene, TX · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 2007
6.4
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingAbilene Christian University's Department of Social Work is one of the longer accreditation histories among private Christian-affiliated programs in Texas. An online track was added in 2025. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered along with additional specialization options. Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing enrollment are available. ACU operates within a Churches of Christ institutional context and admits students of all backgrounds. Abilene serves as the primary licensed social work access point for a large rural West-Central Texas region.
Abilene Christian University Department of Social Work - #17
Angelo State University Department of Social Work
San Angelo, TX · On-Campus or Online · CSWE-accredited since 2019
6.3
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingAngelo State University's Department of Social Work has offered an online track since its inception, making it available to students across a large rural service area in West Texas. Two concentrations are offered: Advanced Generalist and Clinical Practice. Multiple cohort start dates, evening and weekend scheduling, and Advanced Standing are all available. Angelo State is part of the Texas Tech University System. San Angelo is the population center of the Concho Valley region, a largely rural area with persistent social work workforce shortages.
Angelo State University Department of Social Work - #18
West Texas A&M University Department of Social Work
Canyon, TX · Online · CSWE-accredited since 2010
6.2
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingWest Texas A&M University's Department of Social Work transitioned to fully online delivery after its Canyon and Amarillo campus locations closed in 2022. The program now operates entirely online with an Advanced Generalist concentration. Texas students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. WTAMU is part of the Texas A&M System and is located in Canyon, near Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle. Advanced Standing is available. Full-time enrollment and weekend and evening scheduling are listed in the program study plan.
West Texas A&M University Department of Social Work - #19
University of North Texas Department of Social Work
Denton, TX · On-Campus · CSWE-accredited since 2017
6.1
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingThe University of North Texas's Department of Social Work received initial CSWE accreditation in 2017, initially as part of a Denton-area collaborative that also included Texas Woman's University, with independent accreditation established after 2023. The program is delivered on the Denton campus with an Advanced Generalist concentration and multiple cohort start dates per year. No online delivery is currently offered. Advanced Standing is available. UNT is a large research university, and its Denton location provides access to the northern DFW metro practicum placement network.
University of North Texas Department of Social Work - #20
Texas Woman's University Department of Social Work
Denton, TX · Online · CSWE-accredited since 2017
6.0
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingTexas Woman's University's Department of Social Work received initial CSWE accreditation in 2017, initially as part of a Denton-area collaborative that also included UNT, with independent accreditation established after 2023. The Denton campus location ended in 2025 and the program now operates fully online. Texas students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing options are offered.
Texas Woman's University Department of Social Work - #21
Texas A&M University-Texarkana Department of Social Work
Texarkana, TX · On-Campus · CSWE-accredited since 2020
5.9
60 credits 900 field hours No Advanced StandingTexas A&M University-Texarkana's Department of Social Work offers two concentrations that are uncommon among Texas programs: Substance Use Disorders and Trauma. This specialization pairing reflects the workforce needs of Northeast Texas and the Ark-La-Tex region. Both full-time and part-time enrollment are available. No online delivery or Advanced Standing is currently offered. As one of the newer programs on this list, the short accreditation record and absence of Advanced Standing limit its composite score relative to longer-established programs.
Texas A&M University-Texarkana Department of Social Work - #22
Prairie View A&M University Department of Social Work
Prairie View, TX · Online · CSWE-accredited since 2021
5.8
60 credits 900 field hours ✓ Advanced StandingPrairie View A&M University's Department of Social Work is the only HBCU (Historically Black College and University) with an accredited MSW program in Texas. The program is delivered fully online with concentrations in Healthcare and Mental Health, reflecting an orientation toward health equity and behavioral health practice. Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing options are offered. Texas students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. Prairie View A&M is located northwest of Houston and is part of the Texas A&M System.
Prairie View A&M University Department of Social Work
How long does an MSW take in Texas, and what does it cost?
An MSW in Texas 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. 21 run an Advanced Standing track, which finishes the degree in about a year for BSW holders. 18 sit at public universities and 4 at private ones, which is usually the largest single difference in what you will pay. 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 Texas?
The job market for MSW graduates in Texas is large and still growing, reflecting the state's population size (the second-largest in the US) and rapid demographic growth. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and county-level human services departments across the state's 254 counties are among the largest public-sector employers. Hospital systems including Texas Medical Center affiliates, Parkland Health in Dallas, University Health in San Antonio, and the UT Health System create substantial healthcare social work demand.
Texas's major metro areas each present distinct market conditions. Houston's petrochemical economy and large uninsured population create ongoing demand for hospital-based and community health social workers. The DFW metroplex has a large nonprofit sector and a growing public behavioral health system. Austin's tech-sector growth has increased demand for employee assistance programs and mental health services. San Antonio's large military population (Joint Base San Antonio is among the largest military installations in the US) creates demand for veterans' services social work.
Rural Texas represents a persistent workforce shortage area. Programs at Stephen F. Austin (Rural Social Work concentration), Angelo State, Texas Tech, and Tarleton State explicitly orient their curricula and practicum networks toward rural community practice, reflecting the documented undersupply of licensed social workers in non-metro Texas counties.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Texas; Texas DSHS, Social Work Licensing.
What can you specialize in with an MSW in Texas?
You can specialize in Advanced Generalist, Clinical or Direct Practice, Healthcare and Macro Social Work with an MSW in Texas, the concentrations recorded with CSWE by 18 of the state's 22 accredited programs. Programs across the state record 14 distinct concentrations in total.
Eight concentrations are offered by a single program in Texas, including Aging and Gerontological Practice, Children, Youth, and Families and Community Development and Social Systems, so a student set on Aging and Gerontological Practice has one option in state rather than a choice of several. Concentration is the part of the curriculum that follows the generalist foundation year the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards require of every accredited program.
Which MSW programs in Texas offer a dual degree?
Six MSW programs in Texas offer a dual degree: Baylor University (Business Administration and Theology or Divinity), Texas Christian University (Theology or Divinity), University of Houston (Business Administration and MSW/PhD) and University of Texas at Arlington (Business Administration and Criminal Justice). 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.
How did we rank these Texas MSW programs?
We ranked these Texas 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 Texas-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: Texas licenses no graduate of an unaccredited program. Accredited programs in Texas run from one holding that status since 1945 to one accredited as recently as 2021, 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 Texas?
You become a licensed social worker in Texas 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 Texas social work licensing board. Texas 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 TX
MSW → LMSW → LMSW-AP
- 1
Earn a CSWE-accredited MSW.
- 2
Complete 3,000 hours of supervised practice over 2 to 5 years and pass the ASWB Masters exam, then apply for the LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker).
- 3
Pass the ASWB Advanced Generalist exam and apply for the LMSW-AP (Licensed Master Social Worker-Advanced Practice), the state's independent (non-clinical) practice license.
Clinical social work license route in TX
MSW → LCSW
- 1
Earn a CSWE-accredited MSW.
- 2
Complete 3,000 hours of supervised practice over 24 to 48 months and pass the ASWB Clinical exam, then apply for the LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), which authorizes independent clinical practice and clinical diagnosis.
Texas social work licenses at a glance
Master's license
Licensed Master Social Worker
Advanced generalist (independent) license
Licensed Master Social Worker-Advanced Practice
Clinical license
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Source: Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Social Work Regulatory Database, 2026. License requirements change, so always confirm current rules with the Texas licensing board before applying.
Common questions about MSW programs in Texas
Common questions about MSW programs in Texas, on accreditation, cost, format and licensure.
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Texas?
What do social workers earn in Texas?
What are the LMSW and LCSW licensing requirements in Texas?
Is UT Austin the best MSW program in Texas?
Which Texas MSW programs offer Advanced Standing?
Which Texas cities have MSW programs?
Find CSWE-accredited programs in and near specific Texas 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 Texas 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, Texas 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 Texas?
The best MSW programs near Texas 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.