California · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near San Francisco, CA (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
San Francisco, California (population 808,988) has 1 CSWE-accredited MSW program based in the city , with 3 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 San Francisco, CA
Accredited programs with a campus in San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA
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
Best MSW programs near San Francisco, CA
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of San Francisco, CA, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 Santa Rosa · ~53 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 Berkeley · ~41 mi
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
- #3 Hayward · ~51 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
Online MSW programs available in San Francisco, CA
California-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA in 2026?
San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, 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 San Francisco, CA in 2026?
San Francisco, California sits in City and County of San Francisco. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, Behavioral Health Services
- Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
- UCSF Medical Center
- San Francisco Human Services Agency
- San Francisco VA Health Care System
- Edgewood Center for Children and Families
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 San Francisco, CA?
After an MSW from San Francisco, 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.
Substance use and harm reduction social work in San Francisco
San Francisco has been a national testing ground for harm reduction, an approach that meets people who use drugs where they are rather than demanding abstinence as a precondition for help. Social workers here often practice within this framework, and students who train in the city encounter it early and directly.
Working in substance use means holding both compassion and clinical rigor, and it demands comfort with complexity rather than tidy outcomes. Placements in this field build durable skills in engagement, crisis response, and relapse prevention. Much of this work leads toward licensed clinical practice, and you can see where that road goes on our clinical social worker page.
LGBTQ+ affirming social work in San Francisco
San Francisco has long been a center of LGBTQ+ life and advocacy, and that history is woven into how social work is practiced across the city. Affirming care is not a specialty here so much as a baseline expectation, from youth services to aging programs that serve elders who came out generations ago.
Students who train in San Francisco learn to practice in a way that respects identity, chosen family, and the specific stressors clients carry. Those skills travel well to any city. If you want a program whose values align with this kind of work, our writeup on MSW programs with a social justice focus is a good starting point for how coursework can reinforce affirming practice.
Homelessness and housing social work in San Francisco
Homelessness is San Francisco's most visible social challenge, and the city has built an extensive response around it. Social workers do much of the on-the-ground work: outreach, benefits navigation, and the patient case management that helps someone move from the street into stable housing and stay there.
Housing-first case management teaches persistence and coordination across a tangle of agencies, and it shows students how policy translates, or fails to translate, into results on the sidewalk. It is demanding work with real stakes. Many students who start here move toward program leadership, a path outlined on our social and community service manager page.
Macro social work, advocacy, and nonprofit careers in San Francisco
San Francisco is dense with nonprofits, foundations, and advocacy organizations, which makes it one of the strongest markets in the state for macro-level social work. Students who would rather change systems than see clients one at a time find a deep bench of employers working on policy, community organizing, and program design.
This is the city to build a macro career in. To understand how that differs from direct practice, read our explainer on the difference between macro and mezzo social work, then look at the broader landscape of the profession on our careers overview.
How do students afford an MSW in San Francisco?
San Francisco is one of the most expensive cities in America, and rent is the pressure every graduate student feels first. Many MSW candidates commute from the East Bay or the Peninsula, and a part-time schedule that preserves income is often the difference between a manageable budget and an unmanageable one.
The relief valve is real, though. Social work placements cluster with government and nonprofit employers, which makes graduates strong candidates for public-service loan forgiveness. That single factor changes the long-run math on borrowing. Before you sign for loans, model your likely earnings against your debt using our social work salary pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in San Francisco, CA?
How much do social workers earn in San Francisco, CA?
Can I earn an MSW online from San Francisco, 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.