Texas has the third-largest concentration of CSWE-accredited MSW programs in the country, with 22 accredited programs distributed across a geographically vast state. The UT System and Texas A&M System together account for the majority of the state's public MSW programs, providing in-state tuition access across multiple metro areas and several rural regions. Private programs from Baylor, TCU, Our Lady of the Lake, and Abilene Christian add clinical and religious-affiliated options, particularly in the DFW, San Antonio, and Abilene markets.
The scale of Texas's major metro areas creates distinct regional labor markets for MSW graduates. Houston (fourth-largest city in the US) and DFW (fourth-largest metro area) each have larger social services infrastructures than most entire states. Austin's role as the state capital gives UT Austin graduates unique access to state-level policy placements. The Rio Grande Valley, El Paso, and South Texas border regions represent a different environment entirely, characterized by high demand, workforce shortages, and a predominantly Hispanic and Latino population.
Texas's two-tier licensing structure (LMSW and LCSW) mirrors New York's approach. New MSW graduates can obtain the LMSW immediately upon passing the ASWB Master's exam, which affects how students plan for post-degree employment and supervised hours toward the LCSW. Students who arrange clinical supervision early in their post-degree employment are better positioned to reach the 3,000 supervised hours required for LCSW licensure.
All 22 CSWE-Accredited MSW Programs in Texas
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. Four programs (East Texas A&M, West Texas A&M, Texas Woman's University, and Prairie View A&M) are fully online.
- #1 National #9
The University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work
Austin, TX · On-Campus
9.2
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1952Why It Ranks Here
The Steve Hicks School of Social Work at UT Austin has held CSWE accreditation since 1952 and ranks eighth on our national MSW ranking, the only Texas program to appear in the national top ten. The school offers three concentration areas, Clinical and Social Work Practice, Management and Policy, and Social Work with Individuals, Families, and Groups, covering both direct clinical and macro career pathways. Austin's location as the state capital provides practicum placement access to Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and numerous state-level agencies. The program does not offer online delivery, maintaining a full-time residential campus experience. Advanced Standing is available for eligible BSW graduates.
View program page → - #2
University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work
Houston, TX · On-Campus or Online
8.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1970Why It Ranks Here
The University of Houston's Graduate College of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1970 and is one of the larger social work schools in the South, serving students across the Houston metropolitan area through both a campus-based track and an online track available since 2018. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, with a practicum placement landscape that includes Texas Medical Center (one of the world's largest medical complexes), Harris County social services agencies, and a dense nonprofit sector. The program offers two concentrations, Clinical Practice and Macro Social Work, along with a weekends-only cohort option designed for working professionals. Multiple cohort start dates and Advanced Standing are available.
View program page → - #3
University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work
Arlington, TX · On-Campus or Online
8.6
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1970Why It Ranks Here
UT Arlington's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1970 and offers five concentrations, the most of any Texas MSW program: Children, Youth, and Families; Healthcare; Management and Administration; Mental Health; and Aging and Gerontological Practice. This concentration breadth makes it well suited for students who want to specialize in areas beyond the standard clinical or generalist tracks. The DFW metroplex is the fourth-largest metro area in the United States, providing extensive practicum placement infrastructure. An online track has been available since 2018. Multiple cohort start dates and Advanced Standing are offered.
View program page → - #4
Our Lady of the Lake University Worden School of Social Service
San Antonio, TX · On-Campus or Online
8.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1945Why It Ranks Here
Our Lady of the Lake University's Worden School of Social Service holds the longest CSWE accreditation history in Texas, dating to 1945, predating UT Austin's 1952 accreditation. The school was founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence and operates within a Catholic liberal arts institutional context, serving predominantly Hispanic and Latino communities in San Antonio and South Texas. A La Feria campus in the Rio Grande Valley extends access to students in the border region, alongside an online track available since 2021. The Worden School is one of the oldest continuously accredited social work programs in the South and has a substantial alumni presence in San Antonio's public human services and nonprofit sectors. Advanced Standing is available.
View program page → - #5
Texas State University School of Social Work
San Marcos, TX · On-Campus or Online
7.9
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1997Why It Ranks Here
Texas State University's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1997 and is one of the earliest online adopters in the state, having offered an online track since 2004. This history of online delivery has produced a more developed asynchronous infrastructure than more recently online programs. Located in San Marcos on the Austin-San Antonio corridor, the program draws practicum placements from both metro areas. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered, with full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing enrollment options available.
View program page → - #6
Baylor University Diana R. Garland School of Social Work
Waco, TX · On-Campus or Online
7.7
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2001Why It Ranks Here
Baylor University's Garland School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2001 and is one of a small number of R1 research universities in the country with a Baptist institutional affiliation. The school is named after Diana Garland, a former dean and prominent social work educator. Two concentrations are offered: Clinical Practice and Community Development and Social Systems, addressing both direct clinical and community/organizational career paths. An online track has been available since 2018. Multiple cohort start dates and Advanced Standing are offered. A Houston campus that operated through 2022 has since closed.
View program page → - #7
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Social Work
Edinburg, TX · On-Campus or Online
7.6
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2002Why It Ranks Here
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2002, predating UTRGV's formation in 2015 through the merger of UT Pan-American and UT Brownsville. The program serves the U.S.-Mexico border region of South Texas, one of the most underserved areas in the state for licensed social work professionals, with a majority-Hispanic student body and practicum placement network spanning Hidalgo, Cameron, and Starr counties. Three concentrations are offered: Advanced Generalist, Clinical and Direct Practice, and Macro Social Work. An online track has been available since 2017. Multiple cohort start dates, evening and weekend scheduling, and Advanced Standing are all offered. UTRGV's low in-state tuition rates make it one of the most cost-accessible MSW programs in Texas.
View program page → - #8
University of Texas at San Antonio Department of Social Work
San Antonio, TX · On-Campus
7.5
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2004Why It Ranks Here
The University of Texas at San Antonio's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2004 and serves the San Antonio metro area, the seventh-largest city in the United States. Practicum placements draw from the San Antonio Military Medical Center, University Hospital, Bexar County social services agencies, and a dense nonprofit sector. Multiple cohort start dates and evening and weekend scheduling options accommodate working adult students. No online delivery is currently offered. Advanced Standing is available for eligible BSW graduates.
View program page → - #9
Stephen F. Austin State University Department of Social Work
Woodland, TX · On-Campus or Online
7.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 1998Why It Ranks Here
Stephen F. Austin State University's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 1998 and offers a Rural Social Work concentration alongside its Advanced Generalist track, a specialization that directly addresses the workforce needs of East Texas and rural communities that are consistently underserved by licensed social workers. An online track has been available since 2018. Multiple cohort start dates and Advanced Standing are offered. The Rural Social Work concentration is a distinguishing feature that few Texas programs offer.
View program page → - #10
East Texas A&M University School of Social Work
Commerce, TX · Online
7.1
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2001Why It Ranks Here
East Texas A&M University (formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce, renamed in 2023) has held CSWE accreditation since 2001 and transitioned to fully online delivery after its Commerce and Mesquite campus locations closed in 2020. The program now operates entirely online with an Advanced Generalist concentration and multiple cohort start dates per year. Texas students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. As one of the longer-accredited programs in the A&M System, it retains a substantial alumni and agency-partnership network across Northeast Texas.
View program page → - #11
University of Texas at El Paso Department of Social Work
El Paso, TX · On-Campus or Online
7.0
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2010Why It Ranks Here
The University of Texas at El Paso's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2010 and serves the El Paso-Ju�rez binational metropolitan area, one of the largest binational border communities in the Western Hemisphere. UTEP's low in-state tuition rates make it one of the most cost-accessible UT System MSW programs available. An online track was added in 2026. Advanced Standing is available. The border context shapes the program's practicum network, which includes El Paso County public agencies, University Medical Center of El Paso, and organizations serving cross-border populations.
View program page → - #12
Texas Christian University Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Department of Social Work
Fort Worth, TX · On-Campus
6.9
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2012Why It Ranks Here
Texas Christian University's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2012 and is housed within TCU's Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, creating a health-adjacent interdisciplinary environment. The program is delivered on the Fort Worth campus with an Advanced Generalist concentration. Full-time enrollment and Advanced Standing are offered; no part-time or online delivery is currently listed. Fort Worth is part of the DFW metroplex, providing access to a large practicum placement network. TCU is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) but admits students of all backgrounds.
View program page → - #13
Texas Tech University School of Social Work
Lubbock, TX · On-Campus or Online
6.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2015Why It Ranks Here
Texas Tech University's School of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2015 and is the primary accredited MSW program serving the South Plains region of West Texas. An online track was added in 2024. The program offers an Advanced Generalist concentration and serves a geographic area with a significant rural social work workforce need. Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing enrollment options are available. Lubbock's practicum placement network includes Covenant Health and University Medical Center.
View program page → - #14
Tarleton State University Department of Social Work
Stephenville, TX · On-Campus
6.7
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2016Why It Ranks Here
Tarleton State University's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2016 and delivers its MSW from three campus locations: Stephenville (main campus), Waco, and Fort Worth. This multi-campus model serves the North and Central Texas region, providing access in smaller cities where no other MSW program is located. An Integrated Practice concentration is offered. Evening and weekend scheduling options accommodate working adult students. Advanced Standing is available. No online delivery is currently offered.
View program page → - #15
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Department of Social Work
Kingsville, TX · On-Campus
6.5
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2016Why It Ranks Here
Texas A&M University-Kingsville's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2016 and serves South Texas from the Kingsville campus, a region with a predominantly Hispanic and Latino population and a notable workforce shortage in licensed social work practitioners. Advanced Generalist and other concentrations are offered. Evening and weekend scheduling options are available. No online delivery is currently offered. Advanced Standing is available for eligible BSW graduates.
View program page → - #16
Abilene Christian University Department of Social Work
Abilene, TX · On-Campus or Online
6.4
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2007Why It Ranks Here
Abilene Christian University's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2007, one of the longer accreditation histories among private Christian-affiliated programs in Texas. An online track was added in 2025. An Advanced Generalist concentration is offered along with additional specialization options. Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing enrollment are available. ACU operates within a Churches of Christ institutional context and admits students of all backgrounds. Abilene serves as the primary licensed social work access point for a large rural West-Central Texas region.
View program page → - #17
Angelo State University Department of Social Work
San Angelo, TX · On-Campus or Online
6.3
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2019Why It Ranks Here
Angelo State University's Department of Social Work received initial CSWE accreditation in 2019 and has offered an online track since its inception, making it available to students across a large rural service area in West Texas. Two concentrations are offered: Advanced Generalist and Clinical Practice. Multiple cohort start dates, evening and weekend scheduling, and Advanced Standing are all available. Angelo State is part of the Texas Tech University System. San Angelo is the population center of the Concho Valley region, a largely rural area with persistent social work workforce shortages.
View program page → - #18
West Texas A&M University Department of Social Work
Canyon, TX · Online
6.2
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2010Why It Ranks Here
West Texas A&M University's Department of Social Work has held CSWE accreditation since 2010 and transitioned to fully online delivery after its Canyon and Amarillo campus locations closed in 2022. The program now operates entirely online with an Advanced Generalist concentration. Texas students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. WTAMU is part of the Texas A&M System and is located in Canyon, near Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle. Advanced Standing is available. Full-time enrollment and weekend and evening scheduling are listed in the program study plan.
View program page → - #19
University of North Texas Department of Social Work
Denton, TX · On-Campus
6.1
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2017Why It Ranks Here
The University of North Texas's Department of Social Work received initial CSWE accreditation in 2017, initially as part of a Denton-area collaborative that also included Texas Woman's University, with independent accreditation established after 2023. The program is delivered on the Denton campus with an Advanced Generalist concentration and multiple cohort start dates per year. No online delivery is currently offered. Advanced Standing is available. UNT is a large research university, and its Denton location provides access to the northern DFW metro practicum placement network.
View program page → - #20
Texas Woman's University Department of Social Work
Denton, TX · Online
6.0
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2017Why It Ranks Here
Texas Woman's University's Department of Social Work received initial CSWE accreditation in 2017, initially as part of a Denton-area collaborative that also included UNT, with independent accreditation established after 2023. The Denton campus location ended in 2025 and the program now operates fully online. Texas students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing options are offered.
View program page → - #21
Texas A&M University-Texarkana Department of Social Work
Texarkana, TX · On-Campus
5.9
60 credits 900 field hours No Advanced Standing Accred. since 2020Why It Ranks Here
Texas A&M University-Texarkana's Department of Social Work received initial CSWE accreditation in 2020 and offers two concentrations that are uncommon among Texas programs: Substance Use Disorders and Trauma. This specialization pairing reflects the workforce needs of Northeast Texas and the Ark-La-Tex region. Both full-time and part-time enrollment are available. No online delivery or Advanced Standing is currently offered. As one of the newer programs on this list, the short accreditation record and absence of Advanced Standing limit its composite score relative to longer-established programs.
View program page → - #22
Prairie View A&M University Department of Social Work
Prairie View, TX · Online
5.8
60 credits 900 field hours ? Advanced Standing Accred. since 2021Why It Ranks Here
Prairie View A&M University's Department of Social Work received initial CSWE accreditation in 2021 and is the only HBCU (Historically Black College and University) with an accredited MSW program in Texas. The program is delivered fully online with concentrations in Healthcare and Mental Health, reflecting an orientation toward health equity and behavioral health practice. Full-time, part-time, and Advanced Standing options are offered. Texas students arrange local practicum placements regardless of online delivery. Prairie View A&M is located northwest of Houston and is part of the Texas A&M System.
View program page →
Job Market for MSW Graduates in Texas
Texas employs a large and growing number of licensed social workers, reflecting the state's population size (the second-largest in the US) and rapid demographic growth. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and county-level human services departments across the state's 254 counties are among the largest public-sector employers. Hospital systems including Texas Medical Center affiliates, Parkland Health in Dallas, University Health in San Antonio, and the UT Health System create substantial healthcare social work demand.
Texas's major metro areas each present distinct market conditions. Houston's petrochemical economy and large uninsured population create ongoing demand for hospital-based and community health social workers. The DFW metroplex has a large nonprofit sector and a growing public behavioral health system. Austin's tech-sector growth has increased demand for employee assistance programs and mental health services. San Antonio's large military population (Joint Base San Antonio is among the largest military installations in the US) creates demand for veterans' services social work.
Rural Texas represents a persistent workforce shortage area. Programs at Stephen F. Austin (Rural Social Work concentration), Angelo State, Texas Tech, and Tarleton State explicitly orient their curricula and practicum networks toward rural community practice, reflecting the documented undersupply of licensed social workers in non-metro Texas counties.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Texas; Texas DSHS, Social Work Licensing.
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 Texas-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.