Florida · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near Boca Raton, FL (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Boca Raton, Florida (population 99,974) has 1 CSWE-accredited MSW program based in the city , with 3 more accredited programs within about 60 miles. 8 Florida programs also offer an online option. Every program below is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the requirement for Florida licensure.
Best MSW programs in Boca Raton, FL
Accredited programs with a campus in Boca Raton, FL, 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 Boca Raton, FL
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL, FL · CSWE-accredited since 2002 · Online or On-Campus
6.7
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
Florida Atlantic University has held CSWE accreditation since 2002, 24 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Boca Raton, FL). It records 1 concentration (Clinical or Direct Practice). 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
Clinical or Direct Practice
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 4.9
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 8.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 7.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Best MSW programs near Boca Raton, FL
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of Boca Raton, FL, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 Miami · ~42 mi
Florida International University
Miami, FL, FL · CSWE-accredited since 1981 · On-Campus
7.9
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing On-campus Carnegie R1Why it ranks here
Florida International University has held CSWE accreditation since 1981, 45 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Miami, FL). It records 1 concentration (Clinical or Direct Practice). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. The program also offers 2 dual-degree options and 3 embedded certificates. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Concentrations
Clinical or Direct Practice
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 7.4
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 9.1
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 10.0
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #2 Miami · ~42 mi
Barry University
Miami Shores, FL, FL · CSWE-accredited since 1968 · Online or On-Campus
7.3
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
Barry University has held CSWE accreditation since 1968, 58 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Miami Shores, FL). It records 1 concentration (Trauma). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Concentrations
Trauma
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 9.0
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 4.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 8.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #3 Miami · ~42 mi
Ana G. Mendez University
Orlando, FL, FL · CSWE-accredited since 2021 · Online or On-Campus
5.7
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
Ana G. Mendez University has held CSWE accreditation since 2021, 5 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Orlando, FL; Tampa, FL; Miami Lakes, FL). It records 1 concentration (Clinical or Direct Practice). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Concentrations
Clinical or Direct Practice
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 2.6
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 4.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 10.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Online MSW programs available in Boca Raton, FL
Florida-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Boca Raton, FL residents can complete from home. See the full online MSW ranking for national options.
| Institution | Accredited | Adv. Standing | Natl. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State University | 1950 | Yes | #6 |
| University of South Florida | 1983 | Yes | #49 |
| Barry University | 1968 | Yes | #93 |
| University of Central Florida | 1993 | Yes | #94 |
| Florida Atlantic University | 2002 | Yes | #121 |
| University of West Florida | 2008 | Yes | #196 |
| Ana G. Mendez University | 2021 | Yes | #222 |
| Saint Leo University | 2009 | Yes | #256 |
How much do social workers make in Boca Raton, FL in 2026?
Boca Raton, Florida sits within the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area, the labor market that sets pay and demand for its social workers. Across specialties, the area employs roughly 10,360 social workers , and the best-paid specialty here is healthcare social workers at a $64,510 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 | 3,440 | $64,510 | $39,300 – $94,660 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social workers | 1,370 | $51,510 | $39,340 – $78,510 |
| Child, family & school social workers | 4,460 | $59,710 | $40,690 – $78,010 |
| Social workers, all other | 1,090 | $62,030 | $42,220 – $115,460 |
| Social & community service managers (macro) | 2,480 | $79,240 | $48,500 – $145,610 |
How local pay compares
Child, family & school social workers around Boca Raton, FL earn a median of $59,710 versus $56,550 statewide in Florida and $67,310 nationally. That is at or above the Florida median.
Where do social workers work in Boca Raton, FL in 2026?
Boca Raton, Florida sits in Palm Beach County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital
- Florida Atlantic University
- School District of Palm Beach County
- Jewish Family Services of Palm Beach County
- Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network
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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL; employment projections from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are annual medians.
What kind of social work license do I need in Boca Raton, FL?
After an MSW from Boca Raton, FL or anywhere, these are the Florida social work licenses, per ASWB. A CSWE-accredited degree is required for each.
| License | Education | Supervised hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW) | Doctorate of Social Work or Master of Social Work | 3000 hours | Advanced Generalist |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | Doctorate of Social Work or Master of Social Work | 1500 hours | Clinical |
| Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern (RCSW-I) | Master of Social Work | — | ASWB Exam Not Required |
Source: ASWB social work licensure database. Verify current requirements with the Florida state board before applying.
Clinical and private-practice social work in Boca Raton
Boca Raton is an affluent Palm Beach County city with strong demand for mental-health services and a client base that often has the insurance or means to pay for ongoing therapy. For social workers who want to build toward clinical or private practice, this environment offers a realistic runway to grow a caseload over time.
Getting there runs through Florida's LCSW clinical license, which requires supervised postgraduate hours before you can practice independently. If independent therapy is your goal, choose field placements that build clinical assessment and treatment skills, and read our overview of whether you can be a therapist with an MSW. Ask each program how it supports students moving toward licensure and eventual private practice.
Older adult social work in Boca Raton
Boca Raton and its surrounding communities include many older residents, which makes gerontological and family social work a steady, meaningful field here. The work spans caregiver support, memory-care planning, elder-care coordination, and helping adult children make hard decisions about a parent's next stage of life.
Serving an older, often financially comfortable population still demands skill and sensitivity, since wealth does not shield families from grief, isolation, or cognitive decline. Practitioners who enjoy coordinating services frequently move toward program and service management as they gain experience. Look for placements in assisted-living settings, senior centers, and hospital discharge units, where the needs of older adults and their families concentrate most visibly along this stretch of the coast.
School social work in Boca Raton
Palm Beach County schools serving the Boca Raton area are comparatively well-resourced, and school social workers here support students through anxiety, family stress, and the pressures that can accompany high-achieving environments. The role blends counseling, family outreach, and connecting students to services, all inside the rhythm of the academic year.
School practice offers a structured schedule and deep, sustained relationships with the same students over time, which many social workers find rewarding. If this path appeals to you, explore what the school social work role involves day to day, and ask each program about field placements in local districts. Understanding Florida's certification expectations early will help you plan a smooth route from your MSW into school-based practice.
How does healthcare social work look in Boca Raton
Boca Raton's hospitals and outpatient clinics rely on medical social workers to guide patients through discharge planning, connect them to community resources, and support families facing serious diagnoses. With a large older population nearby, much of this work centers on aging patients, complex care transitions, and the Medicare and long-term-care questions that come with them.
The healthcare social work path suits people who stay calm under pressure and coordinate well across busy medical teams. It also pairs naturally with the aging-services work common in this part of Palm Beach County. If this draws you, prioritize a hospital or clinic placement, and ask about observing discharge planning early so you understand how medical and social decisions come together.
What it costs to earn an MSW in Boca Raton
Boca Raton is one of the more expensive places to live on the Southeast Florida coast, and that reality is worth planning around before you enroll. Housing and daily costs can strain a graduate budget, particularly during the unpaid or low-paid field hours that every MSW program requires.
A few steps help: compare in-state tuition carefully, consider online formats that let you keep local income while studying, and weigh nearby communities with lower rents. Our guide to the best online MSW programs is useful if flexibility matters, and you can compare statewide options through our Florida MSW rankings. Ask each program about assistantships and stipended placements, since those can meaningfully ease the cost of living in an affluent coastal city.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Boca Raton, FL?
How much do social workers earn in Boca Raton, FL?
Can I earn an MSW online from Boca Raton, FL?
What license do MSW graduates need in Florida?
MSW programs in other Florida 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 Florida 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.