Texas · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near Arlington, TX (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Arlington, Texas (population 398,431) has 1 CSWE-accredited MSW program based in the city , with 3 more accredited programs within about 60 miles. 15 Texas programs also offer an online option. Every program below is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the requirement for Texas licensure.
Best MSW programs in Arlington, TX
Accredited programs with a campus in Arlington, TX, 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 Arlington, TX National #20 Online #20
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 1970 · Online or On-Campus
9.1
5 concentrations ✓ Advanced Standing Online option Carnegie R1Why it ranks here
University of Texas at Arlington has held CSWE accreditation since 1970, 56 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (Arlington, TX). It records 5 concentrations (Children, Youth, and Families; Healthcare; Management or Administration; and more). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. The program also offers 6 dual-degree options and 4 embedded certificates. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Concentrations
Children, Youth, and Families, Healthcare, Management or Administration, Mental Health, Aging and Gerontological Practice
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 8.7
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 10.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 10.0
- Delivery format (18%) 7.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Best MSW programs near Arlington, TX
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of Arlington, TX, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 Fort Worth · ~14 mi
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 2016 · On-Campus
5.8
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing On-campus Carnegie R2Why it ranks here
Tarleton State University has held CSWE accreditation since 2016, 10 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 3 approved campuses (Stephenville, TX; Waco, TX; Ft. Worth, TX). It records 1 concentration (Integrated Practice). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Concentrations
Integrated Practice
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 3.2
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 4.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 7.5
- Delivery format (18%) 7.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #2 Fort Worth · ~14 mi
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 2012 · On-Campus
5.5
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing On-campus Carnegie R2Why it ranks here
Texas Christian University has held CSWE accreditation since 2012, 14 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Fort Worth, TX). It records 1 concentration (Advanced Generalist). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. The program runs on a full-time plan of study. The program also offers 1 dual-degree option and 2 embedded certificates. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 3.7
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 7.3
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 7.5
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 6.0
- #3 Denton · ~36 mi
University of North Texas
Denton, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 2017 · On-Campus
4.8
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
University of North Texas has held CSWE accreditation since 2017, 9 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Denton, TX). 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%) 3.1
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 4.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 4.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Online MSW programs available in Arlington, TX
Texas-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Arlington, TX residents can complete from home. See the full online MSW ranking for national options.
| Institution | Accredited | Adv. Standing | Natl. |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Texas at Arlington | 1970 | Yes | #20 |
| University of Houston | 1970 | Yes | #51 |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | 1945 | Yes | #82 |
| University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley | 2002 | Yes | #108 |
| Baylor University | 2001 | Yes | #117 |
| Abilene Christian University | 2007 | Yes | #141 |
| Texas State University | 1997 | Yes | #146 |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | 1998 | Yes | #155 |
| East Texas A&M University | 2001 | Yes | #198 |
| Angelo State University | 2019 | Yes | #223 |
| University of Texas at El Paso | 2010 | Yes | #237 |
| Texas Tech University | 2015 | Yes | #263 |
| Texas Woman's University | 2017 | Yes | #274 |
| Prairie View A&M University | 2021 | Yes | #280 |
| West Texas A&M University | 2010 | Yes | #297 |
How much do social workers make in Arlington, TX in 2026?
Arlington, Texas sits within the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area, the labor market that sets pay and demand for its social workers. Across specialties, the area employs roughly 10,460 social workers , and the best-paid specialty here is social workers, all other at a $98,670 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 | 2,630 | $75,930 | $45,440 – $100,110 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social workers | 2,720 | $47,390 | $37,440 – $72,500 |
| Child, family & school social workers | 4,480 | $57,080 | $40,650 – $75,970 |
| Social workers, all other | 630 | $98,670 | $47,790 – $149,240 |
| Social & community service managers (macro) | 3,390 | $80,480 | $51,710 – $128,690 |
How local pay compares
Child, family & school social workers around Arlington, TX earn a median of $57,080 versus $55,680 statewide in Texas and $67,310 nationally. That is at or above the Texas median.
Where do social workers work in Arlington, TX in 2026?
Arlington, Texas sits in Tarrant County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- My Health My Resources of Tarrant County (MHMR)
- Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital
- Cook Children’s Health Care System
- Arlington Independent School District
- The Parenting Center
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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX; employment projections from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are annual medians.
What kind of social work license do I need in Arlington, TX?
After an MSW from Arlington, TX or anywhere, these are the Texas social work licenses, per ASWB. A CSWE-accredited degree is required for each.
| License | Education | Supervised hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) | Bachelor of Social Work | 3000 hours | Bachelors |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | Doctorate of Social Work or Master of Social Work | 3000 hours | Clinical |
| Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) | Doctorate of Social Work or Master of Social Work | 3000 hours | Masters |
| Licensed Master Social Worker-Advanced Practice (LMSW-AP) | Doctorate of Social Work or Master of Social Work | — | Advanced Generalist |
Source: ASWB social work licensure database. Verify current requirements with the Texas state board before applying.
Arlington as the mid-cities anchor between Dallas and Fort Worth
Arlington sits squarely between Dallas and Fort Worth, and that in-between position defines its character. It is a genuine city in its own right, big enough to have its own needs, yet close enough to both hubs that a social worker based here can reach an enormous range of employers within a short drive. Few places in Texas offer that kind of central access.
For MSW students, the mid-cities location is a practical gift. Field placements, hospital systems, school districts, and nonprofits across the metro are all within reach. If you are weighing nearby cities, compare notes with Fort Worth and Plano to see how each corner of the metro shapes different careers.
The university pipeline feeding Arlington social work
Arlington is a university town at its core, and that large public campus shapes the local social work landscape. A steady flow of students, faculty research, and campus-linked community programs keeps the profession visible and creates connections between classroom learning and real placements across the metro.
For prospective students, the presence of a strong social work pipeline means mentors, alumni networks, and field partners are close at hand. It also means the local job market is used to hiring newly credentialed graduates. Whether you pursue a traditional or an advanced standing MSW, being near an active academic community can smooth the path from graduation into your first professional role.
Refugee and immigrant social work in Arlington
Arlington is one of the most diverse cities in North Texas, with immigrant and refugee families from many parts of the world building new lives here. That diversity creates meaningful, mission-driven work for social workers in resettlement support, language access, benefits navigation, and trauma-informed care for people who have survived displacement.
This is work that rewards cultural humility and patience. Practitioners help families adjust to schools, healthcare, and employment systems that can feel opaque at first. Bilingual and multilingual skills are especially valuable here. For students drawn to equity-centered practice, this angle pairs well with the ideas in our piece on MSW programs with a social justice focus.
School social work in Arlington's large districts
Arlington and its neighboring districts educate a large, diverse student population, and school social workers are essential to keeping those students supported. The role blends counseling, family outreach, attendance and crisis work, and coordination with community services, all inside the daily life of a campus.
Because area districts are sizable and varied, there is real range in this field, from elementary support to secondary programs serving students facing significant challenges. An MSW is the standard credential for advancing here, and many social workers find the school calendar a sustainable rhythm for a long career. Learn what the job involves on our school social worker page.
How does the DFW metro shape jobs for Arlington graduates?
Because Arlington sits at the center of the metroplex, its graduates inherit one of the deepest social work job markets in the state. You are not limited to opportunities inside city limits; hospitals, agencies, and districts across two counties actively recruit credentialed social workers, and a degree earned here carries weight throughout the region.
That breadth lets you experiment early in your career. You might start in schools, move into healthcare, then into clinical practice, all without relocating. Salaries and demand vary by setting, so it is worth studying the full picture before you commit to a track. Our salary pages break down what different social work roles tend to pay across Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Arlington, TX?
How much do social workers earn in Arlington, TX?
Can I earn an MSW online from Arlington, TX?
What license do MSW graduates need in Texas?
MSW programs in other Texas 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 Texas 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.