California · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near Berkeley, CA (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Berkeley, California (population 118,962) has 1 CSWE-accredited MSW program based in the city , with 5 more accredited programs within about 60 miles. 16 California programs also offer an online option. Every program below is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the requirement for California licensure.
Best MSW programs in Berkeley, CA
Accredited programs with a campus in Berkeley, CA, ranked by our five-factor model. National and online rank badges appear only for programs in the top 25 (nationally, or among online programs).
- #1 In Berkeley, CA
University of California at Berkeley
Berkeley, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 1928 · On-Campus
7.1
1 concentration No Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
University of California at Berkeley has held CSWE accreditation since 1928, 98 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Berkeley, CA). It records 1 concentration (Advanced Generalist). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. The program also offers 3 dual-degree options and 2 embedded certificates.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist
Visit the University of California at Berkeley MSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 10.0
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 7.8
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 6.0
Best MSW programs near Berkeley, CA
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of Berkeley, CA, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 San Jose · ~47 mi
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 1973 · Online or On-Campus
7.8
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
San Jose State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1973, 53 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (San Jose, CA). It records 1 concentration (Advanced Generalist). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. The program also offers 5 embedded certificates.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 8.4
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 8.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 7.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #2 Santa Rosa · ~46 mi
California State University, Long Beach
Long Beach, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 1987 · On-Campus
7.4
4 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
California State University, Long Beach has held CSWE accreditation since 1987, 39 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 3 approved campuses (Long Beach, CA; Ventura, CA; Santa Rosa, CA). It records 4 concentrations (Advanced Generalist; Children, Youth, and Families; Aging and Gerontological Practice; and more). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. The program also offers 1 embedded certificate.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist, Children, Youth, and Families, Aging and Gerontological Practice, Integrated Health
Visit the California State University, Long Beach MSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 6.7
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 9.1
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 7.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #3 Stockton · ~54 mi
California State University, Stanislaus
Turlock, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 1996 · Online or On-Campus
6.1
1 concentration No Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
California State University, Stanislaus has held CSWE accreditation since 1996, 30 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Turlock, CA; Stockton). It records 1 concentration (Advanced Generalist). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist
Visit the California State University, Stanislaus MSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 5.6
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 3.2
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 9.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #4 Hayward · ~20 mi
California State University, East Bay
Hayward, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 2003 · Online or On-Campus
5.9
2 concentrations No Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
California State University, East Bay has held CSWE accreditation since 2003, 23 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Hayward, CA). It records 2 concentrations (Children, Youth, and Families; Mental Health). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Concentrations
Children, Youth, and Families, Mental Health
Visit the California State University, East Bay MSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 4.8
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 4.4
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 8.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #5 San Francisco · ~41 mi
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 1971 · On-Campus
5.6
1 concentration No Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
San Francisco State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1971, 55 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (San Francisco, CA). It records 1 concentration (Other). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Concentrations
Other
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 8.6
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 3.2
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 6.0
Online MSW programs available in Berkeley, CA
California-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Berkeley, CA residents can complete from home. See the full online MSW ranking for national options.
| Institution | Accredited | Adv. Standing | Natl. |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California | 1922 | Yes | #22 |
| San Jose State University | 1973 | Yes | #77 |
| Loma Linda University | 1995 | Yes | #109 |
| California State University, San Bernardino | 1989 | Yes | #123 |
| California State University, San Marcos | 2013 | Yes | #168 |
| California State University, Stanislaus | 1996 | No | #173 |
| California State University, Northridge | 2004 | Yes | #178 |
| California State University, Chico | 2003 | Yes | #184 |
| Cal Poly Humboldt | 2003 | Yes | #185 |
| California State University, East Bay | 2003 | No | #193 |
| Alliant University | 2022 | Yes | #205 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | 2018 | Yes | #296 |
| National University | 2018 | Yes | #295 |
| California Baptist University | 2016 | Yes | #301 |
| Pacific Oaks College | 2020 | Yes | #304 |
| University of the Pacific | 2020 | Yes | #307 |
How much do social workers make in Berkeley, CA in 2026?
Berkeley, California sits within the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, the labor market that sets pay and demand for its social workers. Across specialties, the area employs roughly 11,290 social workers , and the best-paid specialty here is healthcare social workers at a $99,640 median. Figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program (May 2025).
| Occupation | Employed | Median wage | Typical range (10th–90th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare social workers | 2,740 | $99,640 | $61,140 – $153,420 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social workers | 1,990 | $87,550 | $58,990 – $208,000 |
| Child, family & school social workers | 5,840 | $72,020 | $52,830 – $124,320 |
| Social workers, all other | 720 | $78,480 | $52,970 – $152,010 |
| Social & community service managers (macro) | 5,080 | $93,410 | $63,800 – $157,340 |
How local pay compares
Child, family & school social workers around Berkeley, CA earn a median of $72,020 versus $65,200 statewide in California and $67,310 nationally. That is at or above the California median.
Where do social workers work in Berkeley, CA in 2026?
Berkeley, California sits in Alameda County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- City of Berkeley, Mental Health Division
- Alameda County Social Services Agency
- University of California, Berkeley
- Berkeley Unified School District
- Bay Area Community Services (BACS)
Representative local employers known to operate in the area; illustrative, not an exhaustive or BLS-sourced list.
Nationally, BLS projects social worker employment to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, driven by demand in healthcare and mental-health settings. Macro roles such as social and community service managers are projected to grow alongside them. See pay by role in our career guides.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) for San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; employment projections from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are annual medians.
What kind of social work license do I need in Berkeley, CA?
After an MSW from Berkeley, CA or anywhere, these are the California social work licenses, per ASWB. A CSWE-accredited degree is required for each.
| License | Education | Supervised hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Clinical Social Worker (ACSW) | Master of Social Work | — | Exam Not Required |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | Master of Social Work | 3200 hours | Clinical |
Source: ASWB social work licensure database. Verify current requirements with the California state board before applying.
Research and policy social work in Berkeley
Berkeley is a university town to its core, and that intellectual culture shapes the social work practiced here. Students often gravitate toward evidence-based methods and the policy questions behind the cases, treating research not as an academic exercise but as a tool for building programs that actually work.
This orientation suits students who want their careers to influence systems as much as individuals. If macro and policy work appeals to you, our explainer on the difference between macro and mezzo social work clarifies how those roles sit within the field, and where a research-minded MSW can take you.
Homelessness and street outreach social work in Berkeley
Homelessness is a visible and persistent challenge in Berkeley, and street outreach is a core part of the local social work landscape. Practitioners meet people where they are, building the trust that eventually connects someone to housing, benefits, and care. It is patient, relational work with high stakes and slow wins.
Students who take on outreach placements learn engagement and crisis skills that transfer to almost any setting. The work also surfaces the policy failures behind individual hardship, which pushes many practitioners toward systems-level roles. You can explore where those paths lead across our careers overview.
Young adult and student mental health social work in Berkeley
With a large university and a young population, Berkeley has significant demand for mental health services aimed at emerging adults. Students in their late teens and twenties face a distinctive set of pressures, including academic stress, identity questions, and the transition into independent life, and social workers are central to meeting those needs.
Placements that serve this age group build strong clinical and counseling skills, since young adults respond to practitioners who can meet them with candor rather than condescension. If clinical practice with this population interests you, our clinical social worker page outlines the licensure path that turns an MSW into independent therapeutic work.
MSW field placements in Berkeley and the East Bay
Berkeley sits inside a rich East Bay field placement network that reaches across Alameda County and its neighboring communities. Students draw on county agencies, community clinics, campus services, and nonprofits, giving them exposure to a wide range of populations and practice settings within a short commute.
That breadth lets students test different directions before committing to one. Because the region is compact, it is easy to compare placements against opportunities in nearby cities. Our California city guides make it simple to see how Berkeley stacks up against Oakland and San Francisco when you are deciding where to build your experience.
Advocacy and government social work careers in Berkeley
Berkeley's blend of academic rigor and activist tradition makes it fertile ground for students headed toward advocacy and government. The region feeds a steady pipeline into policy analysis, program leadership, and public agencies, where social workers shape the rules and systems that touch thousands of lives at once.
This is the macro side of the profession, and Berkeley is a natural place to build toward it. To see how program design and management fit into that arc, review our social and community service manager page, then browse the wider profession on our careers overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Berkeley, CA?
How much do social workers earn in Berkeley, CA?
Can I earn an MSW online from Berkeley, CA?
What license do MSW graduates need in California?
MSW programs in other California cities
Sources
- CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs for program accreditation, campuses, and structure.
- U.S. Census Bureau 2023 Gazetteer (city coordinates) and Population Estimates Program (population).
- ASWB social work licensure database for California license requirements.
Published 2026-06-12; last updated 2026-06-23. "Near" means a program campus within 60 straight-line miles of the city center.