Michigan · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near Ann Arbor, MI (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Ann Arbor, Michigan (population 119,381) has 1 CSWE-accredited MSW program based in the city , with 5 more accredited programs within about 60 miles. 7 Michigan programs also offer an online option. Every program below is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the requirement for Michigan licensure.
Best MSW programs in Ann Arbor, MI
Accredited programs with a campus in Ann Arbor, MI, 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 Ann Arbor, MI
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI, MI · CSWE-accredited since 1922 · Online or On-Campus
8.7
11 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
University of Michigan has held CSWE accreditation since 1922, 104 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Ann Arbor, MI). It records 11 concentrations (Children, Youth, and Families; Clinical or Direct Practice; Community Development and Social Systems; and more). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. The program also offers 7 dual-degree options and 2 embedded certificates.
Concentrations
Children, Youth, and Families, Clinical or Direct Practice, Community Development and Social Systems, International Social Work, Management or Administration, Other, Program Evaluation, Research, School Social Work, Social Policy, Aging and Gerontological Practice
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 10.0
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 10.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 8.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Best MSW programs near Ann Arbor, MI
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of Ann Arbor, MI, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 East Lansing · ~50 mi National #7 Online #7
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI, MI · CSWE-accredited since 1952 · Online or On-Campus
9.6
2 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing Online option Carnegie R1Why it ranks here
Michigan State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1952, 74 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (East Lansing, MI). It records 2 concentrations (Clinical or Direct Practice; Macro Social Work). 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 10 embedded certificates. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Concentrations
Clinical or Direct Practice, Macro Social Work
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 10.0
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 10.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 10.0
- Delivery format (18%) 8.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #2 Detroit · ~33 mi National #10 Online #10
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI, MI · CSWE-accredited since 1942 · Online or On-Campus
9.5
5 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing Online option Carnegie R1Why it ranks here
Wayne State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1942, 84 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Detroit, MI). It records 5 concentrations (Clinical or Direct Practice; Community Development and Social Systems; Social Policy; and more). 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 4 embedded certificates. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Concentrations
Clinical or Direct Practice, Community Development and Social Systems, Social Policy, Integrated Practice, Leadership
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 10.0
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 10.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 10.0
- Delivery format (18%) 7.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #3 Ypsilanti · ~6 mi
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI, MI · CSWE-accredited since 1994 · On-Campus
7.2
3 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing On-campus Carnegie R2Why it ranks here
Eastern Michigan University has held CSWE accreditation since 1994, 32 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Ypsilanti, MI). It records 3 concentrations (Children, Youth, and Families; Mental Health; Aging and Gerontological Practice). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. The program also offers 4 embedded certificates. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Concentrations
Children, Youth, and Families, Mental Health, Aging and Gerontological Practice
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 5.8
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 10.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 7.5
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #4 Livonia · ~20 mi
Madonna University
Livonia, MI, MI · CSWE-accredited since 2016 · On-Campus
5.4
3 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
Madonna University has held CSWE accreditation since 2016, 10 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Livonia, MI). It records 3 concentrations (Children, Youth, and Families; Mental Health; Aging and Gerontological Practice). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. The program runs on a full-time plan of study. The program also offers 3 embedded certificates.
Concentrations
Children, Youth, and Families, Mental Health, Aging and Gerontological Practice
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 3.2
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 9.5
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 6.0
- #5 Rochester · ~42 mi
Oakland University
Rochester, MI, MI · CSWE-accredited since 2021 · On-Campus
5.0
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
Oakland University has held CSWE accreditation since 2021, 5 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Rochester, MI). It records 1 concentration (Advanced Generalist). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. The program also offers 2 embedded certificates.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 2.6
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 6.3
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Online MSW programs available in Ann Arbor, MI
Michigan-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Ann Arbor, MI residents can complete from home. See the full online MSW ranking for national options.
| Institution | Accredited | Adv. Standing | Natl. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University | 1952 | Yes | #7 |
| Wayne State University | 1942 | Yes | #10 |
| University of Michigan | 1922 | Yes | #31 |
| Andrews University | 1997 | Yes | #88 |
| Ferris State University | 2014 | Yes | #161 |
| Northern Michigan University | 2019 | Yes | #242 |
| Spring Arbor University | 2013 | Yes | #257 |
How much do social workers make in Ann Arbor, MI in 2026?
Ann Arbor, Michigan sits within the Ann Arbor, MI metro area, the labor market that sets pay and demand for its social workers. Across specialties, the area employs roughly 1,520 social workers , and the best-paid specialty here is healthcare social workers at a $75,070 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 | 560 | $75,070 | $50,320 – $91,820 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social workers | 230 | $63,770 | $47,560 – $92,190 |
| Child, family & school social workers | 480 | $60,940 | $46,850 – $87,210 |
| Social workers, all other | 250 | $67,420 | $46,360 – $113,440 |
| Social & community service managers (macro) | 280 | $92,240 | $56,330 – $136,170 |
How local pay compares
Healthcare social workers around Ann Arbor, MI earn a median of $75,070 versus $67,600 statewide in Michigan and $69,060 nationally. That is at or above the Michigan median.
Where do social workers work in Ann Arbor, MI in 2026?
Ann Arbor, Michigan sits in Washtenaw County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- Washtenaw County Community Mental Health
- Michigan Medicine (University of Michigan Health)
- Trinity Health Ann Arbor (St. Joseph Mercy)
- Ann Arbor Public Schools
- Ozone House
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 Ann Arbor, MI; employment projections from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are annual medians.
What kind of social work license do I need in Ann Arbor, MI?
After an MSW from Ann Arbor, MI or anywhere, these are the Michigan social work licenses, per ASWB. A CSWE-accredited degree is required for each.
| License | Education | Supervised hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) | Bachelor of Social Work | 4000 hours | Bachelors |
| Licensed Master Social Worker - Macro (LMSW-M) | Doctorate of Social Work or Master of Social Work | 4000 hours | Advanced Generalist |
| Licensed Master Social Worker-Clinical (LMSW-C) | Doctorate of Social Work or Master of Social Work | 4000 hours | Clinical |
| Limited Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) | Bachelor of Social Work | Two years required number of hours not specified | Exam Not Required |
| Limited License Master\'s Social Worker (LLMSW) | Master of Social Work | — | Exam Not Required |
| Limited Social Service Technician (LSST) | 2 Years of College | — | Exam Not Required |
| Social Service Technician 1 (SST1) | Associate Degree in Social Work | 350 hours | Exam Not Required |
| Social Service Technician 2 (SST2) | 2 years of college with 4 courses in human services or HS Diploma | 2000 hours | Exam Not Required |
| Social Service Technician 3 (SST3) | High School Diploma | 2000 hours | Exam Not Required |
Source: ASWB social work licensure database. Verify current requirements with the Michigan state board before applying.
Healthcare social work in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is anchored by a major research university and its academic medical center, which gives MSW students access to teaching-hospital placements that are hard to match elsewhere in the state. You may find yourself alongside residents and specialists on complex cases, learning medical social work in an environment built around research and training.
That setting is demanding and formative. Care coordination, family support, and behavioral health integration all move at a high level here, and the exposure pays off when you enter the job market. Our overview of the healthcare social worker role explains the path, and you can compare how hospital work pays against other settings on our salary pages.
Young adult mental health social work in Ann Arbor
As a university city with a large, younger population, Ann Arbor has real and growing demand for clinicians who understand young-adult mental health. Anxiety, depression, and the pressures of academic life keep counseling centers, community clinics, and private practices busy, and students in placement here see that caseload firsthand.
If clinical work draws you, this is a strong place to train. Michigan's Clinical LMSW designation is the license you will pursue for therapy, and many graduates build careers around exactly this population. Curious whether an MSW can lead to a therapy practice? Our explainer on whether you can be a therapist with an MSW answers the question directly.
Research-informed clinical social work in Ann Arbor
One quiet advantage of studying in a research city is that evidence-based practice is simply in the water here. Field placements often sit close to active research, so students learn to read the literature critically and bring proven methods into their clinical work rather than relying on habit.
That habit of mind travels well. Employers across settings value clinicians who can tell a promising intervention from a fad and adjust their approach as the evidence evolves. If you want to understand how programs are evaluated and compared on rigor rather than reputation, our methodology page lays out the thinking, which is useful background as you weigh where to apply.
Macro and policy social work in Ann Arbor
A research university is also a policy engine. Ann Arbor is home to think tanks, survey centers, and public-facing research institutes, and social workers with a systems orientation find room here to shape programs and inform policy rather than only deliver services.
Michigan's Macro LMSW designation licenses this kind of work directly, from program evaluation to advocacy to community service management. If you are still sorting out whether your interests run clinical or macro, our piece on the difference between macro and mezzo practice is a useful frame before you settle on a concentration.
The cost of an MSW in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor's appeal comes with a price. As a sought-after university town, it carries some of the higher housing costs in Michigan, and graduate students feel that pressure most in rent. Many weigh living a little farther out and commuting against paying for the convenience of being near campus.
There are offsets worth counting. Public-service loan forgiveness fits social work well, since so many local placements sit with universities, hospitals, and nonprofits that qualify. Before you borrow, look hard at the long-run payoff on our salary pages, and if cost is steering your choice of city, the nearby Grand Rapids page offers a useful point of comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Ann Arbor, MI?
How much do social workers earn in Ann Arbor, MI?
Can I earn an MSW online from Ann Arbor, MI?
What license do MSW graduates need in Michigan?
MSW programs in other Michigan 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 Michigan 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.