California · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near Los Angeles, CA (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Los Angeles, California (population 3,820,914) has 4 CSWE-accredited MSW programs based in the city , with 6 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 Los Angeles, CA
Accredited programs with a campus in Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles, CA National #22 Online #22
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 1922 · Online or On-Campus
8.9
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
University of Southern California has held CSWE accreditation since 1922, 104 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Los Angeles, CA; San Diego, CA). It records 1 concentration (Integrated Practice). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. The program also offers 7 dual-degree options and 12 embedded certificates.
Concentrations
Integrated Practice
Visit the University of Southern California MSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 10.0
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 10.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 9.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #2 In Los Angeles, CA
University of California at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 1949 · On-Campus
8.0
4 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
University of California at Los Angeles has held CSWE accreditation since 1949, 77 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Los Angeles, CA). It records 4 concentrations (Children, Youth, and Families; Healthcare; Social Justice; and more). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. The program also offers 4 dual-degree options and 1 embedded certificate.
Concentrations
Children, Youth, and Families, Healthcare, Social Justice, Mental Health
Visit the University of California at Los Angeles MSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 10.0
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 10.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #3 In Los Angeles, CA
California State University, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 1999 · On-Campus
7.0
7 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing On-campus Carnegie R2Why it ranks here
California State University, Los Angeles has held CSWE accreditation since 1999, 27 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Los Angeles, CA). It records 7 concentrations (Advanced Generalist; Children, Youth, and Families; Clinical or Direct 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. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist, Children, Youth, and Families, Clinical or Direct Practice, Mental Health, Research, Aging and Gerontological Practice, Behavioral Health
Visit the California State University, Los Angeles MSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 5.2
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 10.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 7.5
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #4 In Los Angeles, CA
California State University, Northridge
Northridge, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 2004 · Online or On-Campus
6.0
2 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
California State University, Northridge has held CSWE accreditation since 2004, 22 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Northridge, CA). It records 2 concentrations (Advanced Generalist; Other). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist, Other
Visit the California State University, Northridge MSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 4.6
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 5.9
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 7.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Best MSW programs near Los Angeles, CA
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of Los Angeles, CA, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 Long Beach · ~22 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
- #2 Azusa · ~30 mi
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 2007 · On-Campus
5.8
2 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
Azusa Pacific University has held CSWE accreditation since 2007, 19 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 2 approved campuses (Azusa, CA; San Bernardino, CA). It records 2 concentrations (Clinical or Direct Practice; Macro Social Work). 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
Clinical or Direct Practice, Macro Social Work
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 4.3
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 6.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 5.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #3 Lancaster · ~48 mi
California State University, Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 2002 · On-Campus
5.5
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
California State University, Bakersfield has held CSWE accreditation since 2002, 24 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 2 approved campuses (Bakersfield, CA; Lancaster, 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.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist
Visit the California State University, Bakersfield MSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 4.9
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 4.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 5.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #4 Carson · ~15 mi
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 2007 · On-Campus
5.1
2 concentrations No Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
California State University, Dominguez Hills has held CSWE accreditation since 2007, 19 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Carson, CA). It records 2 concentrations (Children, Youth, and Families; Community Development and Social Systems). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Concentrations
Children, Youth, and Families, Community Development and Social Systems
Visit the California State University, Dominguez Hills MSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 4.3
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 4.4
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #5 Riverside · ~59 mi
California Baptist University
Riverside, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 2016 · Online or On-Campus
5.1
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
California Baptist University has held CSWE accreditation since 2016, 10 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Riverside, CA). It records 1 concentration (Advanced Generalist). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 3.2
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 4.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 8.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 6.0
- #6 Fullerton · ~29 mi
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton, CA, CA · CSWE-accredited since 2007 · On-Campus
4.8
1 concentration No Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
California State University, Fullerton has held CSWE accreditation since 2007, 19 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Fullerton, CA). It records 1 concentration (Advanced Generalist). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist
Visit the California State University, Fullerton MSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 4.3
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 3.2
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Online MSW programs available in Los Angeles, CA
California-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles, CA in 2026?
Los Angeles, California sits within the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, the labor market that sets pay and demand for its social workers. Across specialties, the area employs roughly 43,350 social workers , and the best-paid specialty here is healthcare social workers at a $79,830 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 | 6,340 | $79,830 | $52,720 – $131,450 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social workers | 9,380 | $78,410 | $43,840 – $139,550 |
| Child, family & school social workers | 26,220 | $71,250 | $44,230 – $103,050 |
| Social workers, all other | 1,410 | $68,630 | $36,120 – $128,690 |
| Social & community service managers (macro) | 12,400 | $87,100 | $57,240 – $155,850 |
How local pay compares
Child, family & school social workers around Los Angeles, CA earn a median of $71,250 versus $65,200 statewide in California and $67,310 nationally. That is at or above the California median.
Where do social workers work in Los Angeles, CA in 2026?
Los Angeles, California sits in Los Angeles County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the largest county mental-health agency in the U.S.
- Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA Health
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- Los Angeles Unified School District
- Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA; employment projections from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are annual medians.
What kind of social work license do I need in Los Angeles, CA?
After an MSW from Los Angeles, 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.
What does it cost to earn an MSW in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is one of the more expensive places in the country to be a graduate student, and housing is the line item that hurts most. Rent near the Westside campuses runs well above what students pay inland, so many MSW candidates weigh a commute from the San Gabriel Valley or the Antelope Valley against living closer to class. The trade is real: cheaper rent in Lancaster or Azusa against hours on the 5 or the Metro.
Two things soften the cost. First, public-service loan forgiveness is a genuine fit for social work, since so many local placements are with government and nonprofit employers that qualify. Second, most Los Angeles programs offer a part-time track, which lets students keep working while they study. Weigh both against the long-run payoff on our social work salary pages before you borrow.
MSW field placements across LA County's safety net
The practicum is where a Los Angeles MSW earns its value, because few counties run a safety net this large. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health is one of the biggest public mental-health systems in the nation, and the Department of Children and Family Services anchors a deep child-welfare pipeline. Between them sit hundreds of contracted nonprofits, school districts, and hospital systems that take social work interns every year.
That scale means you can specialize. Students drawn to clinical work gravitate toward hospital and behavioral-health placements; those drawn to systems change land at policy shops and community organizations. If you are still deciding which direction fits, our explainer on macro versus mezzo social work maps the levels of practice you will see in the field.
Why bilingual social workers are in demand in Los Angeles
Los Angeles County serves residents in dozens of languages, and public agencies are required to meet clients in the languages their communities actually speak. Spanish is the most requested by a wide margin, but Armenian, Korean, Tagalog, Mandarin, and Farsi all show up across county service areas. A social worker who can conduct an assessment in a client's first language is not just more employable here, they deliver measurably better care.
If you already speak a second language, say so on every application and ask each program whether it offers field placements matched to that community. Language capacity often opens doors at the clinics and schools that need it most, including the school social work roles that serve multilingual student bodies across the region.
Social work and the homelessness response in Los Angeles
No issue defines social work in Los Angeles more than housing. The region's homelessness response leans heavily on social workers for street outreach, housing navigation, and the wraparound case management that keeps people housed once they are placed. Programs like the county's Housing for Health initiative and a wide field of street-outreach nonprofits hire MSW graduates for exactly this work.
It is also a reminder that the job is not only one-on-one. The same crisis is fought at the policy and program level by administrators who design services and chase funding, the kind of social and community service manager role that pays among the best in the macro track. Direct practice and systems work sit side by side here more visibly than almost anywhere.
From BSW to LCSW: building a social work career in Los Angeles
If you already hold a CSWE-accredited BSW, ask Los Angeles programs about Advanced Standing, which can shorten the MSW to roughly a year for qualifying applicants. From there, California licensure runs through the Board of Behavioral Sciences: an associate registration, supervised clinical hours, and the ASWB Clinical exam plus a California law and ethics exam before you reach the LCSW.
Los Angeles is a strong place to accrue those hours, because the density of clinics, hospitals, and county programs makes supervised positions easier to find than in thinner markets. We walk through the full sequence in our guide to becoming an LCSW in California, and the broader credential landscape on the credentials page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Los Angeles, CA?
How much do social workers earn in Los Angeles, CA?
Can I earn an MSW online from Los Angeles, 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.