California · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near Santa Rosa, CA (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Santa Rosa, California (population 175,845) has 1 CSWE-accredited MSW program based in the city , with 2 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 Santa Rosa, CA
Accredited programs with a campus in Santa Rosa, 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 Santa Rosa, CA
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
Best MSW programs near Santa Rosa, CA
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of Santa Rosa, CA, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 Berkeley · ~46 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
- #2 San Francisco · ~53 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 Santa Rosa, CA
California-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Santa Rosa, 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 Santa Rosa, CA in 2026?
Santa Rosa, California sits within the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area, the labor market that sets pay and demand for its social workers. Across specialties, the area employs roughly 1,200 social workers , and the best-paid specialty here is healthcare social workers at a $108,530 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 | 280 | $108,530 | $61,320 – $141,390 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social workers | 160 | $84,190 | $59,160 – $148,460 |
| Child, family & school social workers | 720 | $56,810 | $42,110 – $117,050 |
| Social workers, all other | 40 | $102,040 | $57,390 – $147,990 |
| Social & community service managers (macro) | 490 | $84,310 | $57,880 – $163,550 |
How local pay compares
Child, family & school social workers around Santa Rosa, CA earn a median of $56,810 versus $65,200 statewide in California and $67,310 nationally. That is below the California median.
Where do social workers work in Santa Rosa, CA in 2026?
Santa Rosa, California sits in Sonoma County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- Sonoma County Behavioral Health Division
- Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
- Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center
- Santa Rosa City Schools
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa
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 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA; employment projections from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are annual medians.
What kind of social work license do I need in Santa Rosa, CA?
After an MSW from Santa Rosa, 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.
Wildfire recovery and trauma-informed social work in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa and the surrounding Sonoma County communities have lived through repeated wildfire seasons, and that history has reshaped how local social workers practice. Disaster response is not an abstraction here; it is a recurring reality that has pushed agencies toward trauma-informed care as a baseline rather than a specialty.
For students, that means field placements often carry an unusually strong emphasis on grief, displacement, and long-tail recovery. Families who lost homes years ago may still be working through the aftermath. Learning to hold that kind of prolonged stress, and to recognize it in yourself, is a skill Santa Rosa teaches early. It carries over directly into the clinical work many graduates pursue.
Older adult and aging social work in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County
Sonoma County skews older than much of the state, and that demographic reality drives steady demand for social workers who understand aging. From hospital discharge planning to in-home support and hospice, the work here often centers on helping older adults and their families make hard decisions with dignity.
Students drawn to gerontological practice find fertile ground in the North Bay, where healthcare systems and community organizations both need people who can coordinate care across a fragmented system. It is quietly rewarding work, and the need is not going away. Our healthcare social worker career page covers where this path can lead and what settings hire most.
Rural social work across Sonoma County
Santa Rosa is the hub of a county that stretches from the coast to the vineyards, and much of it is rural. That geography is part of the job. A caseload here can mean long drives, spotty cell coverage, and clients who are genuinely hard to reach, which asks more planning and patience than urban practice does.
The upside is that rural work builds resourcefulness. You learn to lean on telehealth, community partners, and creative scheduling to close the distance. Students who train in Santa Rosa often leave better prepared for the practical realities of serving people who do not live near services, a strength that transfers well to other North Coast markets like Arcata.
Social work with Santa Rosa's seasonal and farmworker communities
Wine country runs on seasonal and agricultural labor, and that workforce has social service needs that ebb and flow with the harvest. Workers may arrive for a season, face housing insecurity or wage disputes, and move on, which makes continuity of care a real challenge for local agencies.
Social workers here often coordinate with clinics, labor advocates, and immigrant-serving organizations to reach families who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Bilingual skills help, but so does an understanding of how a seasonal economy shapes a family's stability. It is a corner of practice that connects direct service to broader questions of equity and social justice.
Community behavioral health social work in Santa Rosa
Behavioral health carries extra weight in a community that has weathered repeated disasters. Anxiety, depression, and substance use often rise in the wake of collective trauma, and Sonoma County's public and nonprofit providers have leaned into meeting that need. For students, community behavioral health placements here are rarely quiet.
The setting is a strong training ground precisely because the demand is high and the cases are varied. You see acute crisis alongside long-term recovery, and you learn to work within a system that never has enough capacity. Many graduates use this experience as a bridge toward licensure and independent clinical practice; our guide on becoming a clinical social worker in California walks through the steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Santa Rosa, CA?
How much do social workers earn in Santa Rosa, CA?
Can I earn an MSW online from Santa Rosa, 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.