Ohio · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near Cleveland, OH (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Cleveland, Ohio (population 362,656) has 2 CSWE-accredited MSW programs based in the city , with 2 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 Cleveland, OH
Accredited programs with a campus in Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, OH
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 In Cleveland, OH
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
Best MSW programs near Cleveland, OH
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of Cleveland, OH, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 Akron · ~29 mi
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
- #2 Lorain · ~26 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 Cleveland, OH
Ohio-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Cleveland, 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 Cleveland, OH in 2026?
Cleveland, Ohio sits within the Cleveland, OH metro area, the labor market that sets pay and demand for its social workers. Across specialties, the area employs roughly 7,400 social workers , and the best-paid specialty here is social workers, all other at a $68,100 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 | 1,790 | $66,230 | $46,290 – $87,270 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social workers | 1,230 | $45,390 | $22,260 – $65,380 |
| Child, family & school social workers | 3,840 | $57,860 | $43,190 – $74,830 |
| Social workers, all other | 540 | $68,100 | $40,900 – $124,380 |
| Social & community service managers (macro) | — | $77,200 | $53,070 – $102,630 |
How local pay compares
Child, family & school social workers around Cleveland, OH earn a median of $57,860 versus $51,520 statewide in Ohio and $67,310 nationally. That is at or above the Ohio median.
Where do social workers work in Cleveland, OH in 2026?
Cleveland, Ohio sits in Cuyahoga County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services and the ADAMHS Board
- Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals
- MetroHealth
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District
- FrontLine Service
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 Cleveland, OH; employment projections from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are annual medians.
What kind of social work license do I need in Cleveland, OH?
After an MSW from Cleveland, 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.
Healthcare social work in Cleveland
Cleveland is known worldwide for its health systems, and that reputation translates into an unusually deep market for medical social work. Between the internationally recognized clinics and the regional hospital networks, graduates find roles in transplant teams, cancer care, cardiac units, and complex discharge planning that few metros of this size can offer.
The work is demanding and coordination-heavy, but it is also some of the most respected practice in the field. If you are drawn to hospital settings, our guide to the healthcare social worker role describes the day-to-day, and Ohio's independent clinical license, the LISW, is often what advancement in these settings requires; our credentials page walks through the steps.
Social work and the urban safety net in Cleveland
Alongside its medical prestige, Cleveland carries real and persistent poverty. That contrast defines a great deal of social work here, from food and housing assistance to benefits navigation and eviction prevention. County agencies and a dense network of community nonprofits form a safety net that is chronically stretched, and they lean on well-trained social workers to hold it together.
For students, this means field placements where the need is immediate and the impact is tangible. You learn to advocate inside imperfect systems and to treat clients with dignity when resources are thin. Many graduates who start in direct service later move toward program leadership; the community service manager path shows where that experience can take you.
Child and family welfare social work in Cleveland
Child and family welfare is core work in Cleveland and across surrounding Cuyahoga County. Caseloads touch abuse and neglect investigations, kinship and foster care, family reunification, and the long, patient work of keeping families safely together. It is emotionally heavy, and it demands clear judgment and strong boundaries.
MSW students often complete placements with public child welfare offices or the nonprofits that partner with them, and the experience opens doors statewide because the need never disappears. If this pull is strong for you, read our overview of the child and family social worker role to understand the responsibilities and the supports that make the work sustainable over a full career.
Behavioral health and recovery social work in Cleveland
Like much of the industrial Midwest, greater Cleveland has been hit hard by substance use, and behavioral health has become one of the steadiest areas of demand for new social workers. Community mental health centers, hospital-based programs, and recovery organizations all hire clinically minded graduates to run assessments, group work, and ongoing counseling.
The work asks for patience and a nonjudgmental stance, since recovery rarely runs in a straight line. Many social workers in this space build toward independent clinical practice so they can diagnose and treat without supervision. If clinical practice is your aim, our clinical social worker overview and the Ohio credentials guide explain how to get there.
What makes Cleveland an affordable place to earn an MSW?
Cleveland is one of the more affordable large cities in which to be a graduate student. Rents sit well below coastal levels, and a student can live near campus or a placement site without the housing math that derails budgets in higher-cost metros. That affordability matters in a field where starting salaries are modest.
The post-industrial revitalization underway across the city adds something else, a sense that the community is rebuilding and that social workers have a role in who benefits. Weigh cost against long-run earnings using our salary pages, and compare local programs through the Ohio MSW rankings before you commit to a school.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Cleveland, OH?
How much do social workers earn in Cleveland, OH?
Can I earn an MSW online from Cleveland, 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.