Cost

How Much Does a BSW Cost? Tuition, Aid and Ways to Pay Less

How Much Does a BSW Cost?

How much does a BSW cost? At the 565 schools on this site, the median federal tuition and fees for a full-time year was $13,212 in 2023-24, from $2,684 at Oglala Lakota College to $68,237 at the University of Southern California. Public schools had a median of $9,708 for residents, private nonprofits $35,960. Federal aid can cover much of it: a Pell Grant of up to $7,395 in 2026-27 and federal loans of $5,500 to $7,500 a year for dependent students. Compare schools side by side with the BSW cost comparison tool.

Researched and edited by Taylor Rupe · Updated October 1, 2026

A woman lying on a rug working through figures with a calculator, a clipboard of notes and an open laptop — Photo: SHVETS production / Pexels

How Much Does a BSW Cost? The Real Range

The price of a Bachelor of Social Work is mostly the price of the school, because the social work major usually charges the same undergraduate tuition as every other major. The federal government publishes that number for every college. For the 565 schools with a BSW on this site, the median full-time tuition and fees for 2023-24 was $13,212 (NCES College Navigator).

That median hides a huge spread. At the low end, Oglala Lakota College charged $2,684. At the top, the University of Southern California charged $68,237. The single biggest factor is whether the school is public or private:

School group	Schools	Median tuition and fees, 2023-24	Lowest	Highest
All schools with a BSW	565	$13,212	$2,684	$68,237
Public (resident rate)	306	$9,708	$2,684	$22,082
Private nonprofit	255	$35,960	$4,656	$68,237
HBCUs	51	$9,755	$3,412	$26,446
Schools with an online BSW	127	$12,498	$3,412	$45,538
Schools with a child welfare track	89	$10,600	$3,571	$56,402

These are yearly figures for full-time undergraduates. Housing, books and transportation come on top, and the public figures are the in-state rate for residents. Grants and scholarships reduce what most students actually pay.

The Most Affordable BSW Programs by Federal Tuition

If cost is your first filter, public universities in North Carolina and Georgia and tribal colleges stand out. These schools had the lowest federal tuition and fees in the set:

School	State	In-state, 2023-24	Out-of-state, 2023-24
Oglala Lakota College	SD	$2,684	$2,684
Dalton State College	GA	$3,283	$10,189
Elizabeth City State University	NC	$3,412	$7,412
UNC Pembroke	NC	$3,571	$7,571
Fayetteville State University	NC	$3,969	$7,969
Sitting Bull College	ND	$4,010	$4,010
Middle Georgia State University	GA	$4,432	$14,032
Western Carolina University	NC	$4,532	$8,532
Brigham Young University-Idaho	ID	$4,656	$4,656
Florida Atlantic University	FL	$4,879	$17,324

Four of the ten are in North Carolina, so the North Carolina BSW programs page is worth a look if you live there. Schools also post newer rates on their own sites. Dalton State lists 2026-27 estimated tuition and fees of $4,231 per year for Georgia residents, and Middle Georgia State lists $3,071 per semester in-state at 15 hours for Fall 2026.

At the other end, the five highest-priced schools were all private: Providence College at $60,848, Fordham University at $61,992, Syracuse University at $63,061, Skidmore College at $65,030 and USC at $68,237. USC’s BSW is in CSWE candidacy, not yet accredited.

Per-Credit Rates: How Online and Part-Time BSWs Charge

Online and degree-completion programs often price by the credit. Of the 91 programs that publish a per-credit rate for the BSW, the lowest is $148, the median $371 and the highest $1,140. Among the 52 online programs with a rate, the median is $445.

Program	Published rate	Basis
Salish Kootenai College	$148 per credit	Montana resident, 2025-26; quarterly fees separate
Fort Valley State University	$176 per credit hour	In-state, 2026-27; $700 mandatory fees per semester
Tarleton State University	$183.71 per hour	Texas resident, 2026-27; fees extra
Inter American University-Metro	$207 per credit hour	2026-27, before fees
Liberty University online BSSW	$410 per credit	Full time; $475 part time, $250 military
Kentucky State University online	$437 per credit hour	Virtual undergraduate rate
Grand Canyon University	$490 per credit	Online; campus is $8,250 per semester
Aurora University online BSW	$495 per credit hour	2026-27
Maryville University online BSW	$575 per credit	2025-26

Rates at public schools are usually resident rates. Fort Valley State charges $680 per credit hour out of state, and Florida Atlantic $799.72 for non-Florida residents. Puerto Rico’s private universities, such as Inter American and Universidad Ana G. Mendez at $205 per credit hour, are among the lowest-priced private options; see the Puerto Rico programs page. The affordable online BSW programs page ranks online options by price.

Fees, Part-Time Rates and Other Line Items

The headline tuition figure is rarely the whole bill. Program pages show how many charges sit outside it:

Mandatory campus fees. Cal State LA lists $3,419 per semester in undergraduate tuition for Fall 2026, or $3,966.04 including mandatory campus fees. Sacramento State lists $3,419 in tuition and $4,828 per semester with fees, and non-residents add $471 per unit.
Program and lab fees. Walden University adds a $185 program fee per quarter and a skills lab fee to its $360 per quarter hour rate. Fort Valley State adds $700 in mandatory fees per semester, plus an online learning fee for FVSU Online courses.
Fees billed on top. Salish Kootenai College’s quarterly fees and Tarleton State’s mandatory and differential fees are charged in addition to the per-credit rate.

Part-time study can cost more per credit at private schools that charge a flat full-time price. Molloy College lists $20,805 per semester for 12 to 16 credits but $1,375 per credit below 12. Trinity Washington University lists $27,420 per year full time and $845 per credit part time, and The Catholic University of America lists $30,250 per semester full time and $2,390 per credit hour part time. If you plan to work while you study, get both rates before you choose a course load.

BSW Tuition and Fees by School Type

Group	Schools	Lowest	Median	Highest
Public universities	306	$2,684	$9,708	$22,082
Private nonprofit colleges	255	$4,656	$35,960	$68,237
HBCUs	51	$3,412	$9,755	$26,446
Schools with an online BSW	127	$3,412	$12,498	$45,538

Undergraduate tuition and required fees for a full-time year, 2023-24, in-state where the school charges residents less (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS; the same figures as NCES College Navigator). Out-of-state students at public universities pay more; most students pay less after grants.

Pell Grants: Money You Do Not Repay

The Federal Pell Grant is the first aid to check. The maximum award for the 2026-27 award year is $7,395. Pell usually goes to undergraduates with exceptional financial need who have not earned a bachelor’s degree, and unlike a loan it does not have to be repaid, except in certain circumstances. Your actual award depends on your Student Aid Index from the FAFSA, your school’s cost of attendance and whether you enroll full or part time.

At a public school near the $9,708 median, a full Pell Grant covers a large share of tuition and fees. File the FAFSA every year, since eligibility is recalculated annually.

Federal Student Loans for Undergraduates

Federal Direct Loans have yearly limits that rise as you move through school. Dependent students can borrow $5,500 in the first year, $6,500 in the second and $7,500 in the third and later years, up to $31,000 in total. Independent students can borrow $9,500, $10,500 and then $12,500 a year, up to $57,500.

Year in school	Dependent student limit	Independent student limit
First year	$5,500	$9,500
Second year	$6,500	$10,500
Third year and beyond	$7,500	$12,500
Total for undergraduate study	$31,000	$57,500

Subsidized loans go to students with financial need, and the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest while you are enrolled at least half time, during the six-month grace period and during deferment. Unsubsidized loans have no need requirement, and interest builds from the start. Both carry a fixed rate of 6.52% for undergraduate loans first disbursed between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027. Your school sets the actual amount, which may be below these limits.

Title IV-E Child Welfare Funding

Title IV-E is a federal program that helps states pay for foster care and child welfare services, and it includes training money. The Administration for Children and Families says there is a 75% federal match for allowable training of people preparing for employment by the Title IV-E agency, which is how states fund child welfare stipends and scholarships for social work students.

In this set, 52 programs name a Title IV-E track. Their terms come from each school and state agency. Examples from program pages include a Title IV-E scholarship tied to a DFCS internship and two child welfare electives in Georgia, and Indiana’s Child Welfare Scholars Program, which reimburses senior-year tuition at the in-state rate with a possible stipend. In North Carolina, UNC Pembroke’s partnership with the Child Welfare Education Collaborative lets BSW students finish the state’s pre-service training during school, so they can start work at a county Department of Social Services once hired. Read each award’s terms, including any requirement to work in public child welfare afterward, before you sign. Browse the child welfare BSW programs to find them.

Many BSW graduates work for government agencies or nonprofits, which is exactly who Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) covers. PSLF forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments made while working full time for an eligible employer. Eligible employers include U.S. government organizations at any level and 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and full time means a weekly average of at least 30 hours. It is the employer that qualifies, not the job title.

PSLF rewards careful borrowing: keep your loans federal, choose a qualifying repayment plan and certify your employment regularly. The careers guide shows which BSW jobs are mostly in public and nonprofit agencies.

How to Pay Less for Your BSW

Start with the resident rate. Public schools had a median of $9,708 against $35,960 at private nonprofits.
Look at HBCUs and tribal colleges. Public HBCUs had a median of $8,549, and Oglala Lakota College and Sitting Bull College charged the same rate to every student.
Transfer in. Two years at a community college lowers the total; check the BSW requirements guide for transfer pathways.
Compare per-credit rates for online study. Rates run from $148 to $1,140, so the format alone tells you little.
Apply for Title IV-E if you want a child welfare career.
Plan the MSW now. A CSWE-accredited BSW can qualify you for advanced standing, which shortens the master’s to about a year; see the BSW to MSW guide.
Use the numbers side by side. The cost comparison tool lines up federal tuition and fees for your shortlist, and the HBCU social work programs page lists those schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an Online BSW Less Expensive Than a Campus BSW?

Not automatically. Schools offering an online BSW had a median federal tuition and fees figure of $12,498 in 2023-24, close to the $13,212 median for all schools. Some charge online students a different rate: Fort Hays State University lists $215.84 per credit hour on campus and $275.65 for FHSU Online courses.

Are HBCU Social Work Programs Affordable?

Many are. The 51 HBCUs with a BSW had a median of $9,755 in federal tuition and fees in 2023-24, with public HBCUs at a median of $8,549 for residents. Elizabeth City State University was $3,412 and Fayetteville State University $3,969 for North Carolina residents.

What Interest Rate Do Undergraduate Federal Loans Carry in 2026-27?

Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans for undergraduates first disbursed from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 carry a fixed rate of 6.52%, according to Federal Student Aid.

Does the Practicum Cost Extra?

The practicum is a course, so you pay tuition for its credits. Some programs list added fees: Walden University's online BSW charges a skills lab fee of $1,420 (virtual) or $1,520 (in-person) on top of its $360 per quarter hour rate.

Do I Pay Out-of-State Tuition at a Public University's Online BSW?

It depends on the school. Kentucky State University lists a single virtual undergraduate rate of $437 per credit hour, while Florida Atlantic University lists $203.29 per credit hour for Florida residents and $799.72 for non-residents.

Can a BSW Lower the Cost of an MSW Later?

Yes. Many MSW programs offer advanced standing to CSWE-accredited BSW graduates, which cuts the master's to about a year. The University of North Alabama's online advanced standing MSW is 30 credit hours over 12 months.

How Much Does a BSW Cost? Tuition, Aid and Ways to Pay Less