South Carolina has 2 CSWE-accredited MSW programs. The University of South Carolina College of Social Work, accredited since 1969, is the flagship program and one of the most comprehensively equipped in the Southeast. USC operates from Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville, covering the state's three largest metropolitan areas, and added online delivery in 2024. The program offers dual degrees with Law, Public Administration, and Public Health, alongside certifications in Addictions, Trauma, and Military, the last of which is directly relevant to South Carolina's unusually large military population across Fort Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base, Joint Base Charleston, and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
Winthrop University in Rock Hill, accredited in 2005, is the state's second program. Winthrop's location in York County positions it within the Charlotte, North Carolina-South Carolina metropolitan area, giving graduates access to the labor market of one of the fastest-growing major metros in the Southeast. The Child Welfare certification and online delivery since 2018 make Winthrop a practical option for students in the greater Charlotte region on the South Carolina side of the state line.
South Carolina social work licensing is notable for using the LISW-CP (Licensed Independent Social Worker, Clinical Practice) as its clinical credential rather than the LCSW designation used by most other states. Practitioners who hold LCSW licenses in other states and wish to practice in South Carolina, or who are LISW-CP holders moving to an LCSW state, should verify reciprocity requirements with the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners. The LMSW is used for the entry-level master's credential in South Carolina, consistent with most states.
All 2 CSWE-Accredited MSW Programs in South Carolina
Scored on the same seven-factor model used in the national ranking. All data sourced from the CSWE accreditation directory and official program pages (.edu). Accreditation years are Initial Accreditation Dates from the CSWE directory. USC online delivery added 2024 per CSWE; Charleston and Greenville sites active since 1969 per CSWE. Winthrop online delivery added 2018 per CSWE. South Carolina clinical license is LISW-CP, not LCSW.
- #1
University of South Carolina College of Social Work
Columbia, SC · On-Campus or Online
9.0
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1969Why It Ranks Here
The University of South Carolina College of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1969, the longest continuous accreditation history of any MSW program in South Carolina. One concentration is offered: Advanced Generalist, supported by certifications in Addictions, Trauma, and Military, the latter being one of the more complete certification portfolios in the Southeast. Three dual-degree programs are available, with Law (JD), Public Administration (MPA), and Public Health (MPH), the broadest dual-degree offering of any South Carolina MSW program. Online delivery was added in 2024. Advanced Standing is available. The program operates from the main Columbia campus, a Charleston site, and a Greenville site, covering the state's three largest metropolitan areas. USC is South Carolina's flagship public R1 research university. The program's comprehensive certification portfolio, including Military and Trauma certifications, is particularly relevant to South Carolina's large active-duty and veteran military population at Fort Jackson, Shaw Air Force Base, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, and Joint Base Charleston.
Public (University of South Carolina, R1 flagship research university). Contact the program for current in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.
View program page → - #2
Winthrop University Department of Social Work
Rock Hill, SC · On-Campus or Online
6.5
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2005Why It Ranks Here
Winthrop University's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2005 and offers two concentrations: Advanced Generalist and Other. A Child Welfare certification is available. Online delivery was added in 2018. Advanced Standing is available. Multiple cohorts per year are offered per the CSWE directory. Winthrop is a public university in Rock Hill in York County, part of the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metropolitan statistical area, which straddles the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Rock Hill's position in the Charlotte metro creates access to a large and growing social work labor market that spans both states, with Atrium Health, Novant Health, and a range of York County and Mecklenburg County human services agencies providing field placement and employment opportunities. The Child Welfare certification is directly aligned to South Carolina's publicly funded child welfare workforce needs.
Public (Winthrop University). Contact the program for current tuition rates.
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Job Market for MSW Graduates in South Carolina
Columbia is South Carolina's largest social work labor market and the location of most of the state's central government agencies. Prisma Health (the largest health system in South Carolina, formed from Palmetto Health and Greenville Health System), Providence Health, and the Dorn VA Medical Center are the primary healthcare employers for clinical and medical social workers in the Midlands region. The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS), which administers child protective services and foster care, and the Department of Mental Health (SCDMH), which operates the state's behavioral health system through a network of community mental health centers, are both headquartered in Columbia and employ the largest concentrations of public-sector MSW practitioners in the state. Fort Jackson, one of the largest US Army training installations in the country, generates significant demand for military family and community social work services in the Columbia metro.
Charleston is the state's second social work market and one of the fastest-growing metros in the Southeast. MUSC Health (the Medical University of South Carolina), Roper St. Francis Healthcare, and Trident Health anchor the healthcare social work market. The Charleston metro's rapid population growth has increased demand across behavioral health, family services, and aging services. Joint Base Charleston and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island are the primary military social work employers in the Lowcountry. USC's Charleston site provides direct field placement access to MUSC Health, the VA Charleston Healthcare System, and the state's coastal behavioral health infrastructure.
The Upstate region, anchored by Greenville and Spartanburg, is the third major market. Prisma Health Upstate, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, and Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System are the primary healthcare employers. The Greenville and Spartanburg county DSS offices, Greenville Mental Health Center, and Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center anchor the public and nonprofit social services sectors. Winthrop University in Rock Hill gives the greater Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill bi-state metro an additional access point for MSW education on the South Carolina side.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, South Carolina; SC Board of Social Work Examiners.
How We Ranked These Programs
Each program is scored on the same seven-factor model used in the national ranking. The state ranking uses identical criteria and weights. No South Carolina-specific adjustments are made. Programs are ordered by composite score. For the full methodology, see our ranking methodology page.
- CSWE Accreditation (25%): Active accreditation status and continuous accreditation history.
- Program Leadership (15%): Faculty credentials, research output, and peer-assessment scores.
- Pathways (15%): Concentration variety, Advanced Standing availability, and dual-degree options.
- Delivery Format (15%): Online, hybrid, and in-person availability; start-term flexibility.
- Employer Signal (15%): Field placement hours required, practicum site depth, and documented placement infrastructure.
- Cost & Affordability (10%): Published tuition per credit or per year, in-state vs. out-of-state differential.
- Reputation (5%): U.S. News peer-assessment scores and institutional recognition.