Texas · MSW programs by city
Best MSW Programs near San Antonio, TX (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
San Antonio, Texas (population 1,495,295) has 2 CSWE-accredited MSW programs based in the city , with 1 more accredited program 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 San Antonio, TX
Accredited programs with a campus in San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, TX
Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 1945 · Online or On-Campus
7.6
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing Online optionWhy it ranks here
Our Lady of the Lake University has held CSWE accreditation since 1945, 81 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (San Antonio, TX; La Fera, TX/Rio Grande Valley). It records 1 concentration (Other). An Advanced Standing track is available for qualified BSW holders. Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Concentrations
Other
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 10.0
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 4.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 8.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- #2 In San Antonio, TX
University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 2004 · On-Campus
5.6
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing On-campusWhy it ranks here
University of Texas at San Antonio has held CSWE accreditation since 2004, 22 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (San Antonio, TX). It records 1 concentration (Other). 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.
Concentrations
Other
Visit the University of Texas at San Antonio MSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 4.6
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 5.5
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 5.0
- Delivery format (18%) 5.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Best MSW programs near San Antonio, TX
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of San Antonio, TX, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 San Marcos · ~45 mi
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 1997 · Online or On-Campus
6.5
1 concentration ✓ Advanced Standing Online option Carnegie R2Why it ranks here
Texas State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1997, 29 years of standing as of 2026. The MSW is offered both online and on campus (San Marcos, 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. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Concentrations
Advanced Generalist
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (30%) 5.5
- Pathways & laddering (22%) 4.7
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (18%) 7.5
- Delivery format (18%) 7.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
Online MSW programs available in San Antonio, TX
Texas-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, TX in 2026?
San Antonio, Texas sits within the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area, the labor market that sets pay and demand for its social workers. Across specialties, the area employs roughly 4,680 social workers , and the best-paid specialty here is social workers, all other at a $102,460 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 | 1,130 | $67,860 | $40,210 – $95,250 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social workers | 660 | $45,930 | $36,710 – $79,210 |
| Child, family & school social workers | 2,520 | $56,670 | $41,270 – $72,720 |
| Social workers, all other | 370 | $102,460 | $46,260 – $133,990 |
| Social & community service managers (macro) | 1,260 | $76,920 | $49,210 – $124,740 |
How local pay compares
Child, family & school social workers around San Antonio, TX earn a median of $56,670 versus $55,680 statewide in Texas and $67,310 nationally. That is at or above the Texas median.
Where do social workers work in San Antonio, TX in 2026?
San Antonio, Texas sits in Bexar County. Organizations in and around the city that commonly employ MSW-level social workers include:
- The Center for Health Care Services, Bexar County’s mental-health authority
- University Health (University Hospital)
- Methodist Healthcare
- San Antonio Independent School District
- Family Service Association of San Antonio
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 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX; employment projections from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are annual medians.
What kind of social work license do I need in San Antonio, TX?
After an MSW from San Antonio, 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.
Military and veteran social work in San Antonio
San Antonio has earned its nickname as Military City USA, with a deep concentration of active-duty installations, veterans, and the families who move through them. That reality creates a distinct lane for social workers: supporting service members and spouses through deployment cycles, reintegration, PTSD and traumatic injury, and the frequent relocations that strain marriages and children.
Local placements range from military-adjacent clinics to VA settings and community nonprofits built around veteran needs. Clinical skill is prized, and many graduates work toward the LCSW to provide therapy independently. Learn how Texas structures that path on our credentials page, and read our guide to the clinical social worker career to see whether independent practice fits your goals.
Bilingual social work in San Antonio's Mexican-American community
San Antonio's identity is inseparable from its large Mexican-American community, and its culture, family structures, and faith traditions shape how social work is practiced across the city. Spanish-language ability and cultural fluency are genuine assets in agencies serving the West and South sides, where trust is built through familiarity and respect rather than paperwork alone.
Social workers here support families around housing, health access, elder care, and youth services, often bridging generations within a single household. If you value community-rooted practice, this is fertile ground. Students drawn to equity-centered training may want to explore our overview of MSW programs with a social justice focus, then browse the wider set of social work career paths to find the setting that matches your strengths.
Where do healthcare social workers fit in San Antonio?
San Antonio has a substantial hospital and healthcare sector, and medical social workers are woven into that system. They help patients and families navigate diagnoses, discharge plans, insurance gaps, and the emotional weight of serious illness, often serving communities that face real barriers to consistent care.
The work asks for calm under pressure and comfort with fast-moving teams. Graduates who thrive here tend to enjoy problem-solving on a deadline while keeping the patient's dignity at the center. If a hospital career appeals to you, our guide to the healthcare social worker role lays out the settings and expectations, and you can compare how it stacks up against other specialties on our salary pages before choosing a field placement.
Child and family welfare social work in San Antonio
Child and family welfare is a cornerstone of social work in San Antonio, spanning protective services, foster care support, kinship placements, and family preservation programs. It is demanding work that calls for steady judgment, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to hold hope and realism at the same time.
Many MSW students find their calling here through field placements with child-focused agencies, then build careers protecting and reuniting families. The emotional stakes are high, but so is the sense of purpose. If this path speaks to you, read our overview of the child and family social worker career, and keep the Texas licensure timeline in mind by reviewing the LMSW and LCSW steps on our credentials page.
Is San Antonio affordable for MSW students?
Compared with many big Texas metros, San Antonio offers a relatively gentle cost of living, and that matters when you are stretching a graduate budget across two or three years of study and unpaid field hours. Housing tends to be more forgiving here than in faster-growing cities, which can make the difference between borrowing heavily and finishing with manageable debt.
Affordability also gives students room to accept the field placement they want rather than the one that pays most in the short term. Weigh those tradeoffs against long-run earnings on our social work salary pages, and if you are still comparing locations, our best MSW programs in Texas ranking can help you line up your options across the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited MSW programs are in San Antonio, TX?
How much do social workers earn in San Antonio, TX?
Can I earn an MSW online from San Antonio, 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.