Florida · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near St. Petersburg, FL (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
St. Petersburg, Florida (population 263,553) has no MSW campus within city limits , 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 St. Petersburg, FL
No CSWE-accredited MSW program currently lists a campus inside St. Petersburg, FL. See the nearby and online options below.
Best MSW programs near St. Petersburg, FL
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of St. Petersburg, FL, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 Tampa · ~17 mi
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL, FL · CSWE-accredited since 1983 · Online or On-Campus
8.4
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing Online option Carnegie R1Why it ranks here
University of South Florida has held CSWE accreditation since 1983, 43 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Tampa, FL; Sarasota, 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 1 dual-degree option and 2 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%) 7.2
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 7.3
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 10.0
- Delivery format (18%) 9.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #2 Tampa · ~17 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
- #3 Lakeland · ~47 mi
Southeastern University
Lakeland, FL, FL · CSWE-accredited since 2017 · On-Campus
5.0
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
Southeastern University has held CSWE accreditation since 2017, 9 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Lakeland, 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 1 embedded certificate.
Concentrations
Clinical or Direct Practice
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 3.1
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 5.5
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Online MSW programs available in St. Petersburg, FL
Florida-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which St. Petersburg, 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 St. Petersburg, FL in 2026?
St. Petersburg, Florida sits within the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area, the labor market that sets pay and demand for its social workers. Across specialties, the area employs roughly 5,370 social workers , and the best-paid specialty here is social workers, all other at a $68,310 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 | 1,500 | $64,790 | $48,480 – $82,470 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social workers | 930 | $52,730 | $36,500 – $78,210 |
| Child, family & school social workers | 2,160 | $58,540 | $42,530 – $79,670 |
| Social workers, all other | 780 | $68,310 | $47,280 – $113,170 |
| Social & community service managers (macro) | 1,280 | $77,560 | $50,600 – $136,620 |
How local pay compares
Child, family & school social workers around St. Petersburg, FL earn a median of $58,540 versus $56,550 statewide in Florida and $67,310 nationally. That is at or above the Florida median.
Where do social workers work in St. Petersburg, FL in 2026?
St. Petersburg, Florida sits in Pinellas County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
- Directions for Living and Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services (PEMHS)
- Pinellas County Schools
- BayCare Health System
- Pinellas 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL; employment projections from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are annual medians.
What kind of social work license do I need in St. Petersburg, FL?
After an MSW from St. Petersburg, 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.
Older adult social work in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg draws a large share of retirees and older residents, and that shapes the social work that gets done here. Aging services, from care coordination to caregiver support to helping families navigate long-term care decisions, form a steady thread of local practice.
Gerontological social work suits people with patience and a knack for slow, relationship-based work. Demand tends to hold even when other sectors wobble, because the need does not go away. If you are mapping careers, the community service manager role is a common next step for those who move from direct care into program leadership.
LGBTQ affirming social work in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg has a visible, long-established LGBTQ+ community and a reputation for being one of the more welcoming cities on the Gulf coast. For social workers, that translates into a genuine need for affirming, competent care across mental health, youth services, and older-adult work.
Affirming practice is not a specialty you bolt on; it is a stance you bring to every setting. Students who want to center equity in their work often gravitate toward programs with an explicit values orientation, which we explore in our roundup of MSW programs with a social justice focus.
Healthcare social work in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg sits inside the broader Tampa Bay hospital market, and its own medical centers and clinics keep demand steady for social workers who can manage discharge, coordinate care, and support patients through serious illness. With an older local population, much of this work overlaps with aging and end-of-life needs.
Medical settings are a practical landing spot for new graduates because the roles are clearly defined and the supervision is often strong. To understand the scope and the earning picture, see our healthcare social work career page.
Community and grassroots social work in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg's identity leans heavily on its arts scene, its murals, galleries, and a dense fabric of small nonprofits and mutual-aid groups. That civic energy spills into social work, where community organizers and program staff work close to the ground on housing, food access, and neighborhood well-being.
If you are more energized by systems and communities than by a therapy office, this is fertile territory. Macro-oriented graduates thrive in coalition work and program building; our guide to macro and mezzo practice helps you name where your interests sit.
Can you afford an MSW in St. Petersburg?
St. Petersburg has grown more expensive as its profile has risen, and housing is the line that squeezes graduate students most. Living slightly outside the walkable core, or splitting a place with other students, is how many MSW candidates make the numbers work.
Two things help. Social work placements sit heavily in government and nonprofit settings that can qualify for loan forgiveness, and part-time tracks let you keep earning while you study. Weigh both against the long-run payoff on our salary pages before you borrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in St. Petersburg, FL?
How much do social workers earn in St. Petersburg, FL?
Can I earn an MSW online from St. Petersburg, 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.