Texas · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near Dallas, TX (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Dallas, Texas (population 1,302,868) has no MSW campus within city limits , with 4 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 Dallas, TX
No CSWE-accredited MSW program currently lists a campus inside Dallas, TX. See the nearby and online options below.
Best MSW programs near Dallas, TX
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of Dallas, TX, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 Arlington · ~22 mi 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
- #2 Fort Worth · ~34 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
- #3 Fort Worth · ~34 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
- #4 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 Dallas, TX
Texas-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Dallas, 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 Dallas, TX in 2026?
Dallas, 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 Dallas, 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 Dallas, TX in 2026?
Dallas, Texas sits in Dallas County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- Metrocare Services, Dallas County’s mental-health authority
- Parkland Health
- Children’s Health (Children’s Medical Center Dallas)
- UT Southwestern Medical Center
- Dallas Independent School District
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 Dallas, TX?
After an MSW from Dallas, 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.
Macro and nonprofit social work jobs in Dallas
Dallas is one of the largest and most diverse business metros in the country, and that scale creates unusual breadth in the social work market. Beyond direct clinical practice, the region supports a dense nonprofit sector, corporate philanthropy, foundations, and large community agencies, all of which need program managers, grant writers, and administrators with social work training.
For graduates drawn to systems and strategy rather than one-on-one therapy, this is a metro where macro careers genuinely exist at scale. Understanding where you fit on that spectrum matters, so start with our explainer on the difference between macro and mezzo social work, then look at leadership roles through our guide to the social and community service manager career.
Healthcare social work across Dallas hospital systems
The Dallas-Fort Worth region is served by several major hospital systems, and that footprint keeps demand strong for medical social workers. From emergency departments and oncology units to rehabilitation and home health, these professionals coordinate care, arrange discharge, and support families through the hardest moments of a hospital stay.
Because the systems are large, there is room to specialize and to move between settings over a career. Graduates who like fast-paced, team-based environments often find hospital work a natural home. Our guide to the healthcare social worker role covers what to expect, and Texas licensure as an LMSW or LCSW, the credential most clinical hospital roles build toward, is explained on our credentials page.
Child and family welfare social work in Dallas
As the Dallas region grows, so does the need for social workers focused on children and families. Protective services, foster and kinship care, school-based support, and family stabilization programs all operate across the metro's many counties and school districts, giving new graduates a wide range of entry points.
This work asks for resilience and clear boundaries, but it offers a direct sense that your effort changed a child's trajectory. Many students discover the fit during a field placement and never look back. To understand the day-to-day, read our overview of the child and family social worker career, and if school settings interest you, compare it with the school social worker path before committing.
Refugee and immigrant social work in Dallas
Dallas and its surrounding suburbs host substantial refugee-resettlement and immigrant communities, and social workers play a central role in helping families find footing. The work spans benefits navigation, English-language access, school enrollment, employment support, and mental health care for people carrying the weight of displacement.
Cultural humility and, often, a second language make a real difference in reaching these families. If this mission resonates, it pairs naturally with a broader commitment to equity; our overview of MSW programs with a social justice focus is worth a read. You can also compare how community-serving roles measure up against other specialties on our social work salary pages as you plan your career.
Can you work while earning an MSW in Dallas?
In a metro as large as Dallas, many MSW students keep working while they study, and programs increasingly build around that reality. Part-time tracks, evening classes, and field placements arranged around a job make it possible to earn the degree without walking away from a paycheck, which matters when rent and family obligations do not pause for school.
The tradeoff is time; a part-time path stretches the degree over more years, but it can keep debt lower and preserve professional momentum. Weigh the long-run payoff on our social work salary pages before you decide, and if online flexibility appeals to you, our ranking of the best online MSW programs is a good next stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in Dallas, TX?
How much do social workers earn in Dallas, TX?
Can I earn an MSW online from Dallas, 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.