Ohio · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near Akron, OH (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Akron, Ohio (population 188,701) has 1 CSWE-accredited MSW program based in the city , with 3 more accredited programs within about 60 miles. 5 Ohio programs also offer an online option. Every program below is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the requirement for Ohio licensure.
Best MSW programs in Akron, OH
Accredited programs with a campus in Akron, OH, 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 Akron, OH
University of Akron
Akron, OH, OH · CSWE-accredited since 1996 · Online or On-Campus
7.0
2 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing Online option Carnegie R2Why it ranks here
University of Akron has held CSWE accreditation since 1996, 30 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Akron, OH). 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 1 embedded certificate. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Concentrations
Clinical or Direct Practice, Macro Social Work
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 5.6
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 6.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 7.5
- Delivery format (18%) 7.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Best MSW programs near Akron, OH
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of Akron, OH, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 Cleveland · ~29 mi
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH, OH · CSWE-accredited since 1919 · Online or On-Campus
8.7
9 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
Case Western Reserve University has held CSWE accreditation since 1919, 107 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Cleveland, OH). It records 9 concentrations (Substance Use Disorders; Children, Youth, and Families; Clinical or Direct Practice; and more). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. The program also offers 5 dual-degree options and 5 embedded certificates.
Concentrations
Substance Use Disorders, Children, Youth, and Families, Clinical or Direct Practice, Community Development and Social Systems, Healthcare, Mental Health, School Social Work, Aging and Gerontological Practice, Macro Social Work
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
- #2 Cleveland · ~29 mi
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH, OH · CSWE-accredited since 1996 · Online or On-Campus
7.1
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing Online option Carnegie R2Why it ranks here
Cleveland State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1996, 30 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Cleveland, OH). 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 3 embedded certificates. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Concentrations
Clinical or Direct Practice
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 5.6
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 7.1
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 7.5
- Delivery format (18%) 7.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #3 Lorain · ~42 mi
Youngstown State University
Youngstown, OH, OH · CSWE-accredited since 2004 · On-Campus
5.6
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
Youngstown State University has held CSWE accreditation since 2004, 22 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 3 approved campuses (Youngstown, OH; Lorain, OH; Lakeland, OH). 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%) 4.6
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 4.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 6.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Online MSW programs available in Akron, OH
Ohio-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Akron, OH residents can complete from home. See the full online MSW ranking for national options.
| Institution | Accredited | Adv. Standing | Natl. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Western Reserve University | 1919 | Yes | #29 |
| Ohio State University, The | 1919 | Yes | #43 |
| Cleveland State University | 1996 | Yes | #103 |
| University of Akron | 1996 | Yes | #107 |
| Ohio University | 2001 | Yes | #116 |
How much do social workers make in Akron, OH in 2026?
Akron, Ohio sits within the Akron, OH metro area, the labor market that sets pay and demand for its social workers. Across specialties, the area employs roughly 1,980 social workers , and the best-paid specialty here is healthcare social workers at a $63,130 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 | 500 | $63,130 | $46,410 – $79,470 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social workers | 330 | $46,760 | $37,030 – $75,630 |
| Child, family & school social workers | 990 | $48,800 | $40,290 – $80,420 |
| Social workers, all other | 160 | $61,170 | $30,930 – $113,210 |
| Social & community service managers (macro) | 360 | $72,500 | $45,920 – $102,540 |
How local pay compares
Child, family & school social workers around Akron, OH earn a median of $48,800 versus $51,520 statewide in Ohio and $67,310 nationally. That is below the Ohio median.
Where do social workers work in Akron, OH in 2026?
Akron, Ohio sits in Summit County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- Summit County Children Services and the County of Summit ADM Board
- Akron Children’s Hospital and Summa Health
- Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Akron Public Schools
- Child Guidance & Family Solutions
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 Akron, OH; employment projections from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are annual medians.
What kind of social work license do I need in Akron, OH?
After an MSW from Akron, OH or anywhere, these are the Ohio social work licenses, per ASWB. A CSWE-accredited degree is required for each.
| License | Education | Supervised hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) | Master of Social Work | 3000 hours | Advanced Generalist or Clinical |
| Licensed Social Worker (LSW) | Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work or PhD in Social Work | — | Bachelors or Masters |
| Social Work Assistant (SWA) | Associate/Diploma (2 year degree) | — | Exam Not Required |
Source: ASWB social work licensure database. Verify current requirements with the Ohio state board before applying.
Substance use and recovery social work in Akron
Few regions in the country have felt the opioid crisis as sharply as northeast Ohio, and Akron sits near the center of that story. The upside for aspiring social workers is that Summit County has built a deep network of treatment centers, recovery housing, harm-reduction programs, and drug-court support, and every one of them needs clinically trained staff who understand addiction as a health condition rather than a moral failing.
Substance use practice is demanding, but it is also some of the most meaningful work in the profession, and demand is not slowing. An MSW is the standard path to the independent clinical license that lets you provide therapy in these settings. See how Ohio structures the LSW and LISW on our credentials page before you map your route.
Behavioral health social work in Akron
Akron's need for behavioral health services runs well ahead of the number of licensed clinicians available to meet it, a gap felt most acutely in lower-income neighborhoods and among people juggling addiction with depression, anxiety, or trauma. That shortage is hard on the community, but it also means a newly licensed clinical social worker rarely struggles to find work here.
Many Akron graduates move toward independent clinical practice so they can diagnose and provide therapy directly. If that path appeals to you, our clinical social worker guide explains the role, and our overview of whether you can be a therapist with an MSW clears up one of the most common questions students ask.
Social work with working families in Akron
Akron was once the rubber capital of the world, and while the tire plants are mostly gone, the culture of skilled, blue-collar work remains. Social workers here regularly meet families navigating the aftermath of deindustrialization: fixed incomes, aging in place, and the stress of economic change passed down through generations.
That context shapes practice in schools, clinics, and community agencies across Summit County, where economic hardship and behavioral health needs are deeply entwined. Understanding the local labor story helps you connect with clients rather than talk past them. If you are weighing where to study in the region, compare programs on our best Ohio MSW rankings and see how Akron stacks up against nearby cities.
Healthcare social work in Akron
Akron's hospital systems and its well-known children's hospital make the city a health care anchor for northeast Ohio, and social workers are embedded throughout: emergency departments, oncology, pediatrics, and rehabilitation among them. Discharge planning and resource coordination fill much of the day, and the region's overlapping addiction and chronic-illness caseloads keep the work varied and steady.
Health care is one of the more reliable landing spots for a new MSW graduate, offering structure, mentorship, and a clear licensure pathway. Our healthcare social worker page describes the responsibilities and the settings, and it pairs naturally with clinical training if you later want to move toward therapy or medical-behavioral integration.
Child welfare and the opioid crisis in Akron
The addiction epidemic has landed hardest on children, and Summit County's child welfare system carries the weight. Kinship care, relatives raising grandchildren, and reunification cases complicated by recovery are now routine, and agencies need social workers who can hold both the child's safety and the parent's recovery in view at once.
It is heavy work, but it builds skill quickly and sits at the heart of what the profession is for. If strengthening families through crisis is what pulls you toward an MSW, start with our child and family social worker guide, then compare regional programs, including neighboring Toledo, through our Ohio rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Akron, OH?
How much do social workers earn in Akron, OH?
Can I earn an MSW online from Akron, OH?
What license do MSW graduates need in Ohio?
MSW programs in other Ohio 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 Ohio 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.