Florida · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near Fort Lauderdale, FL (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (population 184,255) has no MSW campus within city limits , with 4 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 Fort Lauderdale, FL
No CSWE-accredited MSW program currently lists a campus inside Fort Lauderdale, FL. See the nearby and online options below.
Best MSW programs near Fort Lauderdale, FL
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of Fort Lauderdale, FL, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 Miami · ~26 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 · ~26 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 Boca Raton · ~16 mi
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
- #4 Miami · ~26 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 Fort Lauderdale, FL
Florida-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale, FL in 2026?
Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale, FL in 2026?
Fort Lauderdale, Florida sits in Broward County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System
- Henderson Behavioral Health
- Broward Behavioral Health Coalition
- Broward County Public Schools
- Broward County Human Services
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 Fort Lauderdale, FL?
After an MSW from Fort Lauderdale, 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.
LGBTQ affirming social work in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is home to one of the largest and most established LGBTQ+ communities in the Southeast, and social workers here are expected to practice in ways that are genuinely affirming rather than merely tolerant. That means fluency in the mental-health, aging, and HIV-related needs of LGBTQ+ clients, and comfort working alongside the many community organizations that serve them.
Affirming practice is a learnable, teachable skill set, and it strengthens your work with every population, not only this one. Students often carry it into clinical therapy roles across the county. If this matters to you, ask programs about placements with LGBTQ+ health centers and affirming clinics, and look at our overview of social-justice-focused MSW programs as you compare options.
Social work with Caribbean and immigrant communities in Fort Lauderdale
Broward County is home to large Haitian, Jamaican, and other Caribbean communities, and Fort Lauderdale social workers regularly serve families who speak Haitian Creole or move between English and their first language. Cultural fluency and, where possible, language capacity open doors in the schools, clinics, and nonprofits that serve these neighborhoods.
Effective practice means understanding immigration realities, faith and family structures, and the mistrust that can follow past encounters with public systems. Practitioners drawn to this work often focus on child and family services that keep households stable. If you speak Creole or another community language, say so on every application and ask each program to match you with a placement where that skill is put to daily use.
Substance use and recovery social work in Fort Lauderdale
South Florida has a significant substance-use-treatment sector, and Fort Lauderdale sits at the center of it. That concentration of recovery programs, detox facilities, and outpatient clinics means steady demand for social workers trained in addiction, relapse prevention, and co-occurring mental-health conditions.
This is demanding work that calls for strong boundaries, ethical clarity, and the ability to meet clients without judgment through relapse and recovery. Many practitioners pursue Florida's LCSW clinical licensure so they can provide therapy within treatment settings. If recovery work draws you, ask programs about placements in outpatient and residential treatment, and about training in evidence-based approaches to substance use so you enter the field prepared rather than improvising.
Healthcare social work in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale's hospitals and clinics rely on medical social workers to manage discharges, connect patients to community resources, and support families through serious illness. In a coastal county with a mix of longtime residents, retirees, and working families, healthcare social workers often coordinate care across very different circumstances in a single shift.
The healthcare social work path suits people who stay steady under pressure and can move quickly across busy teams. Language skills and cultural fluency are especially valued in a county this diverse. If this appeals to you, prioritize a hospital or community health center placement, and ask about chances to observe discharge planning early so you learn how medical and social decisions come together in practice.
Social work and the Fort Lauderdale tourism economy
Fort Lauderdale runs on tourism and service work, from hotels and restaurants to marine and hospitality businesses along the coast. Behind that economy are working families managing irregular hours, seasonal income, and the housing pressure that comes with a high-cost beach city. Social workers here often help these households find stability that a variable paycheck makes hard to sustain.
That reality shapes daily practice: benefits navigation, childcare and school connections, and crisis support when a lost shift or a rent increase throws a budget off balance. Practitioners who enjoy coordinating community resources often grow into service management roles. Look for placements in community agencies and schools serving service-industry neighborhoods, and ask how programs prepare students for the economics of working-poor households.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
How much do social workers earn in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
Can I earn an MSW online from Fort Lauderdale, 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.