New York · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near Rochester, NY (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Rochester, New York (population 207,274) has 3 CSWE-accredited MSW programs based in the city . 17 New York programs also offer an online option. Every program below is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the requirement for New York licensure.
Best MSW programs in Rochester, NY
Accredited programs with a campus in Rochester, NY, 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 Rochester, NY
Roberts Wesleyan University
Rochester, NY · CSWE-accredited since 1997 · Online or On-Campus
6.7
2 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
Roberts Wesleyan University has held CSWE accreditation since 1997, 29 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Rochester). It records 2 concentrations (Children, Youth, and Families; Mental Health). 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.
Concentrations
Children, Youth, and Families, Mental Health
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 5.5
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 6.9
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 8.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #2 In Rochester, NY
SUNY Brockport
Rochester, NY, NY · CSWE-accredited since 2002 · On-Campus
6.1
2 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
SUNY Brockport has held CSWE accreditation since 2002, 24 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Rochester, NY). It records 2 concentrations (Advanced Generalist; 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 2 embedded certificates.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist, Aging and Gerontological Practice
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 4.9
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 7.5
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 5.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #3 In Rochester, NY
Nazareth University
Rochester, NY, NY · CSWE-accredited since 2002 · Online or On-Campus
5.9
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
Nazareth University has held CSWE accreditation since 2002, 24 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Rochester, NY). It records 1 concentration (Advanced Generalist). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 4.9
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 4.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 7.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Online MSW programs available in Rochester, NY
New York-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Rochester, NY residents can complete from home. See the full online MSW ranking for national options.
| Institution | Accredited | Adv. Standing | Natl. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York University | 1955 | Yes | #24 |
| Syracuse University | 1958 | Yes | #28 |
| Columbia University | 1919 | Yes | #42 |
| Yeshiva University | 1959 | Yes | #45 |
| Fordham University | 1929 | Yes | #46 |
| University at Buffalo, State University of New York | 1934 | Yes | #48 |
| University at Albany, State University of New York | 1968 | Yes | #56 |
| State University of New York at Stony Brook | 1971 | Yes | #59 |
| Adelphi University | 1951 | Yes | #72 |
| Touro University | 2007 | Yes | #120 |
| Roberts Wesleyan University | 1997 | Yes | #125 |
| Binghamton University, State University of New York | 2003 | Yes | #156 |
| Nazareth University | 2002 | Yes | #202 |
| Keuka College | 2015 | Yes | #238 |
| Utica University | 2021 | No | #292 |
| Daemen University | 2015 | Yes | #322 |
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh | 2024 | No | #349 |
How much do social workers make in Rochester, NY in 2026?
Rochester, New York sits within the Rochester, NY metro area, the labor market that sets pay and demand for its social workers. Across specialties, the area employs roughly 3,680 social workers , and the best-paid specialty here is social workers, all other at a $81,890 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 | 1,170 | $61,610 | $45,100 – $78,980 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social workers | 730 | $68,880 | $40,030 – $89,970 |
| Child, family & school social workers | 1,560 | $62,030 | $45,270 – $82,690 |
| Social workers, all other | 220 | $81,890 | $52,790 – $96,780 |
| Social & community service managers (macro) | 1,000 | $80,200 | $61,630 – $123,400 |
How local pay compares
Child, family & school social workers around Rochester, NY earn a median of $62,030 versus $65,100 statewide in New York and $67,310 nationally. That is below the New York median.
Where do social workers work in Rochester, NY in 2026?
Rochester, New York sits in Monroe County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- Monroe County Office of Mental Health
- University of Rochester Medical Center (Strong Memorial) and Rochester Regional Health
- Rochester City School District
- Hillside Family of Agencies and Villa of Hope
- Monroe County Department of 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 Rochester, NY; employment projections from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are annual medians.
What kind of social work license do I need in Rochester, NY?
After an MSW from Rochester, NY or anywhere, these are the New York social work licenses, per ASWB. A CSWE-accredited degree is required for each.
| License | Education | Supervised hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | Master of Social Work | 2000 hours | Clinical |
| Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) | Master of Social Work | — | Masters |
Source: ASWB social work licensure database. Verify current requirements with the New York state board before applying.
Healthcare social work in Rochester
Rochester is built around health care and research, with large hospital systems and a nationally known academic medical center anchoring the regional economy. That concentration makes healthcare one of the most reliable landing spots for local social workers, who handle discharge planning, patient navigation, and support for families facing serious diagnoses.
Placements in these settings teach students to blend clinical skill with practical coordination, aligning benefits, home care, and follow-up so patients do not fall through the cracks. Many graduates pursue licensure to open clinical positions; New York licenses the LMSW and LCSW, and the path is laid out on our credentialing page. For a fuller picture of the role, see our healthcare social worker career page.
Social work with the Deaf community in Rochester
Rochester is home to one of the largest per-capita Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities in the country, shaped in part by the region's institutions for Deaf education and technology. For social workers, that creates a distinctive and meaningful practice area, with a real need for practitioners who understand Deaf culture and can communicate directly with clients.
Students who learn American Sign Language and Deaf cultural competency find themselves in demand across health, education, and mental-health settings. Even those who do not sign fluently benefit from understanding accessibility, interpreter work, and the barriers Deaf clients face in mainstream systems. It is a specialization few other cities can teach as well, and it makes Rochester a genuinely unusual place to train.
Refugee resettlement social work in Rochester
Rochester has taken in refugee families from Bhutan, Somalia, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, and resettlement work has become a steady part of the local human-services landscape. Agencies help new arrivals with housing, benefits, employment, and school enrollment, and social workers are central to nearly every step.
For MSW students, placements in this space build cross-cultural and trauma-informed skills that transfer across the profession. Interpreter-based practice, cultural humility, and patient navigation all become second nature. Bilingual students are especially valued. If you want to train where this work is woven into the fabric of the city, our social-justice-focused program guide is a helpful reference.
School social work and child poverty in Rochester
Behind Rochester's medical and academic strengths sits a hard reality: concentrated child poverty in the urban core, with families stretched by unstable housing, food insecurity, and under-resourced schools. Social workers are on the front line of that gap, both in child-welfare systems and inside the schools themselves.
School social work here means far more than counseling; it is attendance, crisis response, family engagement, and connecting children to services their families cannot reach alone. It is demanding work that shapes young lives directly. Students drawn to it can explore the role on our school social worker career page and the broader path on our child and family social worker page.
Is Rochester affordable for MSW students?
Compared with downstate, Rochester is refreshingly affordable. Housing costs sit well below New York City levels, and a graduate student's budget goes considerably further, which matters a great deal when you are financing a degree that leads to modestly paid, mission-driven work.
That affordability sits alongside a genuine job market in health care, education, and human services, so graduates can stay and build a career without the downstate cost of living. Before choosing a program, compare options across the state on our New York MSW rankings and check regional pay on our salary pages so the investment makes sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Rochester, NY?
How much do social workers earn in Rochester, NY?
Can I earn an MSW online from Rochester, NY?
What license do MSW graduates need in New York?
MSW programs in other New York 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 New York 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.