Verified October 2026

Online BSW Programs: Social Work Degrees You Can Earn Online

Can You Earn a Social Work Degree Online?

Yes. You can earn a social work degree online through 132 BSW programs at 127 schools in 42 states, and 128 of them are CSWE-accredited. The courses are online but the field practicum is in person, usually at an agency near home. Published rates start at $207 per credit at Inter American University-Metro, and 13 programs are built for students finishing a degree with transfer credit.

Researched and edited by · Updated

programs
132
schools
127
CSWE-accredited
128
median tuition and fees, 2023-24
$12,498
schools with their own advanced standing MSW
86
  1. First years: general education and intro coursesPsychology, sociology, human biology, intro to social work
  2. Apply to the social work majorUsually in the second year, with a GPA minimum
  3. Senior field practicumAt least 400 supervised hours in an agency
  4. BSW license or a one-year MSWThe bachelor's license where states issue one, or MSW advanced standing
An adult student takes notes in a notebook during a video call shown on a laptop at a wooden desk
Photo: Vanessa Garcia / Pexels

Can You Earn a Social Work Degree Online?

Yes, and the degree is the same one campus students earn. CSWE accredits online and campus programs against the same standards “regardless of the curriculum delivery methods used,” so an accredited online BSW leads to the same state licenses and the same MSW advanced standing as a campus degree.

This site lists 132 online BSW options at 127 schools in 42 states. 128 are CSWE-accredited and 4 are in candidacy or pre-candidacy. Many are not separate online-only degrees: 63 of the 132 are offered on campus too, and 14 mix online courses with some campus meetings. If you live near one of those schools, you may be able to switch formats from term to term.

One part is never online. CSWE requires at least 400 hours of field education for a bachelor’s degree, and every program arranges it in person at an agency. Online programs place you in your own community rather than near the campus.

Who an Online Bachelor of Social Work Suits

An online BSW is built for people whose lives do not fit a campus schedule:

  • Community college graduates. 68 online programs publish a transfer pathway, and 13 are designed as degree-completion programs. The University of North Carolina Wilmington’s HS2SW program is built for graduates of North Carolina community college human services associate programs and takes as few as five semesters.
  • Working adults. 26 programs publish a part-time plan. Accelerated terms help too: East Central University in Oklahoma runs 8-week courses, and Indiana Wesleyan University’s online BSW uses six-week courses taken one at a time.
  • Rural students. The University of Montana’s 2+2 distance BSW partners with ten Montana colleges, including Blackfeet Community College and Flathead Valley Community College, and places students in local agencies for 450 practicum hours.

An online BSW suits you less if you need structure to stay on track, or if you want a campus internship network close at hand. You will be the one living near your placement, so ask early how each program finds agencies in your area.

Online BSW Programs by the Numbers

For a full-time year in 2023-24, federal tuition and fees at the 127 schools have a median of $12,498 (NCES College Navigator). Public universities charge residents a median of $10,314; private colleges a median of $31,728. 76 of the schools are public.

Those figures are each school’s general undergraduate price, and many online students pay a separate program rate. 52 programs publish a per-credit price for the online BSW. The range runs from $207 to $917, with a median of $445. Some charge every student the same rate wherever you live: Charter Oak State College lists $329 per credit as one rate for in-state and out-of-state students, and Avila University charges $300 per credit for all U.S. residents.

15 Online BSW Programs With the Lowest Published Rates

How this list is ranked: lowest published per-credit tuition first, as each school states it for this program on its own site (read October 2026), before fees. One program per school. Rates that apply only to state residents are marked; the comparison table shows each school's federal figures too.

  1. Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro: Bachillerato En Artes Con Concentración En Trabajo Social (BATS)Bachillerato En Artes Con Concentración En Trabajo Social (BATS)

    $207per credit, 2026-27

    Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro (San Juan, PR, private nonprofit) offers this on campus and online BA in Social Work. Federal tuition and fees: $5,580 a year (2023-24). Admission to the major: minimum 2.25 university GPA and Introducción al Trabajo Social (SOWO 1503) passed with a B or better. Graduates can continue into Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro's own MSW with advanced standing. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $207 per credit hour, undergraduate tuition (Metro cost bulletin, before fees) (2026-27)

    Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro BSW admission, practicum and tuition · Compare Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro's cost with other schools

  2. Fort Hays State University: Bachelor of Social WorkBachelor of Social Work

    $216per credit

    Fort Hays State University (Hays, KS, public) offers this on campus and online BSW in 120 credits. Federal tuition and fees: $5,633 a year in-state, $16,811 out-of-state (2023-24). Admission to the major: begin as pre-social work; apply for formal admission after or while taking SOCW 260 and SOCW 380, with a C or higher in social work courses and a minimum 2.50 cumulative and major GPA. Transfer pathway: transfer students with an equivalent SOCW 380 course from a CSWE-accredited institution submit the syllabus to the BSW program director for evaluation. Field practicum: 400 hours of field practicum (Field Practicum I and II). Graduates can continue into Fort Hays State University's own MSW with advanced standing. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $215.84 per credit hour on campus (undergraduate resident/regional rate); $275.65 per credit hour for FHSU Online courses

    How to get into Fort Hays State University's social work major · Fort Hays State University tuition in-state vs out-of-state

  3. University of the Cumberlands: Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW), OnlineBachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW), Online

    $220per credit

    University of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg, KY, private nonprofit) offers this online BSSW in 120 credits. Federal tuition and fees: $9,875 a year (2023-24). CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $220 per credit hour online

    What the University of the Cumberlands BSW requires · What federal aid covers at University of the Cumberlands · University of the Cumberlands school profile and CSWE status

  4. University of Arkansas at Little Rock: Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)

    $234per credit, 2026-27

    University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, AR, public) offers this on campus and online BSW. Federal tuition and fees: $8,455 a year in-state, $19,210 out-of-state (2023-24). Admission to the major: apply in the sophomore year (applications due March 15, 2027; decisions in mid-May). Transfer pathway: 2+2 agreement lets students with a two-year degree finish the BSW in two years. Field practicum: senior-year field placement of 16 hours per week. Graduates can continue into University of Arkansas at Little Rock's own MSW with advanced standing. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $233.75 per credit hour resident; $669.00 per credit hour non-resident (plus $15.50 per credit hour technology fee), 2026-27

    University of Arkansas at Little Rock BSW format and field placement · University of Arkansas at Little Rock cost beside other BSWs

  5. University of Nebraska at Kearney: Social Work Comprehensive, Bachelor of ScienceSocial Work Comprehensive, Bachelor of Science

    $244per credit, 2026-27

    University of Nebraska at Kearney (Kearney, NE, public) offers this on campus and online BS in Social Work in 120 credits. Federal tuition and fees: $8,302 a year in-state, $14,260 out-of-state (2023-24). Admission to the major: formal application to the major: SOWK 172 Human Service Ethics and Experiences with required volunteer hours and a satisfactory agency evaluation, and a cumulative UNK GPA of 2.5. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: 2026-27 undergraduate tuition per credit hour: on campus $244 Nebraska resident, $533 non-resident; online/blended $303 resident, $464 non-resident; per-credit fees extra

    Inside the University of Nebraska at Kearney social work program · Price check: University of Nebraska at Kearney and similar schools

  6. Avila University: Bachelor of Social Work OnlineBachelor of Social Work Online

    $300per credit, 2026-27

    Avila University (Kansas City, MO, private nonprofit) offers this online BSW in 120 credits. Federal tuition and fees: $38,672 a year (2023-24). Admission to the major: official transcripts and a 2.0 GPA in prior coursework. Transfer pathway: up to 90 transfer credits; Prior Learning Assessment available. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $300 per credit hour ($900 per course), same rate for all U.S. residents (2026-27)

    Avila University BSW admission, practicum and tuition · Compare Avila University's cost with other schools · Avila University school profile and CSWE status

  7. University of Central Missouri: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

    $311per credit, 2026-27

    University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg, MO, public) offers this on campus and online BSW. Federal tuition and fees: $9,739 a year in-state, $18,064 out-of-state (2023-24). Admission to the major: SOWK 2600 Introduction to Social Welfare and Social Work required before junior and senior social work coursework. Transfer pathway: students with two years of coursework or an associate of arts may transfer to Warrensburg or Lee's Summit; dual admission for area community college students. Field practicum: 40 hours in a social service agency early in the program, plus a senior-year field practicum. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $310.90 per credit hour Missouri resident; $621.80 per credit hour non-resident; online/hybrid $310.90 per credit hour (Fall 2026-Summer 2027; mandatory and program fees extra) (2026-27)

    How to get into University of Central Missouri's social work major · University of Central Missouri tuition in-state vs out-of-state

  8. Missouri State University-Springfield: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

    $317per credit, 2026-27

    Missouri State University-Springfield (Springfield, MO, public) offers this on campus and online BSW in 120 credits. Federal tuition and fees: $9,024 a year in-state, $17,928 out-of-state (2023-24). Admission to the major: declare the major as pre-major, attend a BSW information meeting, then apply for formal admission in the spring of the sophomore year; admission required before SWK 304 and higher; C or higher in all required SWK courses. Field practicum: 400 hours minimum (SWK 490 Practicum in Social Work, spring semester of the senior year). Graduates can continue into Missouri State University-Springfield's own MSW with advanced standing. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $317 per credit hour Missouri resident; $678 per credit hour non-resident (undergraduate instruction, 2026-27 fee schedule); internet-based instruction $317 per credit hour

    What the Missouri State University-Springfield BSW requires · What federal aid covers at Missouri State University-Springfield

  9. Charter Oak State College: Bachelor of Science in Social WorkBachelor of Science in Social Work

    $329per credit, 2026-27

    Charter Oak State College (New Britain, CT, public) offers this online BSW in 120 credits. Federal tuition and fees: $8,506 a year (2023-24). Admission to the major: separate BSW application with essay, resume and virtual interview; English Composition 1 and 2 and statistics with C or better, Introduction to Social Work and History of Social Welfare with B or better. Field practicum: minimum 408 practicum hours across four semesters. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $329 per credit, one rate for in-state and out-of-state students, 2026-2027 (2026-27)

    Charter Oak State College BSW format and field placement · Charter Oak State College cost beside other BSWs

  10. Briar Cliff University: Bachelor of Social Work (Online Degree Completion)Bachelor of Social Work (Online Degree Completion)

    $340per credit, 2026-27

    Briar Cliff University (Sioux City, IA, private nonprofit) offers this online BSW. Federal tuition and fees: $35,534 a year (2023-24). Admission to the major: an associate degree in Human Services, Social Work or General Studies, or at least 62 transferable credits. Built for students finishing a degree with transfer credits. Field practicum: SWRK 445 Practicum Experience, 12 credits, 450 hours of required field internship. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $340 per credit hour, Social Work online degree completion (2026-27); general fees apply

    Inside the Briar Cliff University social work program · Price check: Briar Cliff University and similar schools · All 2 BSW options at Briar Cliff University

  11. East Central University: Bachelor of Social Work (Online)Bachelor of Social Work (Online)

    $341per credit, 2026-27

    East Central University (Ada, OK, public) offers this online BSW in 120 credits. Federal tuition and fees: $8,032 a year in-state, $17,542 out-of-state (2023-24). Admission to the major: GPA of 2.25 or higher; transfer students need 24 college credit hours with a 2.0 retention GPA. Transfer pathway: transfer students with fewer than 24 college credit hours submit high school transcript and ACT or SAT scores; CLEP and life experience are not accepted for credit. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $340.80 per credit hour for Oklahoma residents; $688.80 per credit hour for non-residents (online undergraduate rate, including the $60 per credit hour online charge) (2026-27)

    East Central University BSW admission, practicum and tuition · Compare East Central University's cost with other schools · Compare East Central University's other formats

  12. Ball State University: Bachelor of Social Work Online (Degree Completion)Bachelor of Social Work Online (Degree Completion)

    $346per credit, 2026-27

    Ball State University (Muncie, IN, public) offers this online BSW. Federal tuition and fees: $10,758 a year in-state, $28,766 out-of-state (2023-24). Admission to the major: application and materials due two weeks before the start of the term. Built for students finishing a degree with transfer credits. Field practicum: practicum at a social-services agency in the student's community during the final semester. Graduates can continue into Ball State University's own MSW with advanced standing. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $346 per credit hour for Indiana residents; $578 per credit hour for nonresidents taking only online courses (2026-27)

    How to get into Ball State University's social work major · Ball State University tuition in-state vs out-of-state · Ball State University school profile and CSWE status

  13. Millersville University of Pennsylvania: Online Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) Degree CompletionOnline Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) Degree Completion

    $347per credit, 2026-27

    Millersville University of Pennsylvania (Millersville, PA, public) offers this online BA in Social Work. Federal tuition and fees: $12,262 a year in-state, $16,232 out-of-state (2023-24). Admission to the major: completed associate degree (human services, social services or a related area) or at least 60 transferable college credits; rolling admission. Built for students finishing a degree with transfer credits. Graduates can continue into Millersville University of Pennsylvania's own MSW with advanced standing. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $347 per credit tuition for Pennsylvania residents in fully online programs (fall and spring) (2026-27)

    What the Millersville University of Pennsylvania BSW requires · What federal aid covers at Millersville University of Pennsylvania · All 2 BSW options at Millersville University of Pennsylvania

  14. Capella University: Bachelor of Social WorkBachelor of Social Work

    $350per credit

    Capella University (Minneapolis, MN, private for-profit) offers this online BSW in 180 credits. Federal tuition and fees: $14,436 a year (2023-24). Transfer pathway: up to 120 transfer credits; general education through Sophia Learning courses. Field practicum: two practicum courses. Graduates can continue into Capella University's own MSW with advanced standing. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $350 per quarter credit, GuidedPath; $2,500 quarterly tuition maximum; $30,000 tuition cap for the degree

    Capella University BSW format and field placement · Capella University cost beside other BSWs

  15. Walden University: Online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)Online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

    $360per credit

    Walden University (Minneapolis, MN, private for-profit) offers this online BSW in 182 credits. Federal tuition and fees: $12,498 a year (2023-24). Admission to the major: university admission: high school diploma or equivalent and age 21 or older, or under 21 with at least 12 quarter credits, or military service. Transfer pathway: up to 135 quarter credits in transfer; at least 45 credits completed at Walden. Field practicum: 400 hours in an approved social services agency under a licensed social worker, with weekly synchronous seminars. Graduates can continue into Walden University's own MSW with advanced standing. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $360 per quarter hour; $185 program fee per quarter; skills lab fee $1,420 (virtual) or $1,520 (in-person)

    Inside the Walden University social work program · Price check: Walden University and similar schools

All 132 Online BSW Programs

Filter by format, transfer and degree completion, part time, child welfare, the school's own MSW route and state; tick up to three programs to compare them side by side.

132 programs

Program facts come from each school's own pages, reviewed October 2026. Tuition is the program's own published rate where the school states one; otherwise it's the school's federal undergraduate tuition and fees for a full-time year, 2023-24 (in-state at public universities), from NCES College Navigator. "Resident rate" means the school charges nonresidents more. CSWE status comes from CSWE's directory of accredited programs.

The Field Practicum Is Always in Person

This is the biggest practical difference between online programs. The coursework flexes; the placement does not. Programs state their requirements this way:

Program Field practicum, as the school states it
Arizona State University (ASU Online) 480-hour in-person practicum in the final two semesters at an approved agency in your region
The University of Alabama (online) 450 in-person practicum hours at an approved agency
Keuka College 416-hour block placement of at least 16 hours a week for 26 weeks, usually local or at your workplace
Charter Oak State College At least 408 practicum hours across four semesters
Walden University 400 hours under a licensed social worker, with weekly synchronous seminars
University of Phoenix 400 in-person hours, as two 15-week placements or one 15-week block

Among the 38 online programs that publish an hour count, the median is 400, the CSWE minimum. Several programs set about 16 hours a week at the agency in the final year, including UNC Charlotte, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Keuka. If you work full time, look for a program that allows a workplace placement, as Keuka and Aurora University do, or that spreads hours across more semesters, as Charter Oak does.

Affordable Online BSW Programs: How to Read Per-Credit Rates

The ranked list above sorts online programs by their lowest published per-credit rate. Before you compare, check what each rate covers:

Program Published rate What the rate means
Fort Hays State University, KS $215.84 Campus resident and regional rate; FHSU Online courses are $275.65
University of the Cumberlands, KY $220 Online rate per credit hour
University of Arkansas at Little Rock $233.75 Resident rate; $669.00 for nonresidents, plus a $15.50 technology fee per credit
University of Nebraska at Kearney $244 Campus resident rate; online and blended courses are $303 for residents
Missouri State University $317 Missouri resident rate; internet-based instruction is also $317 per credit
Capella University $350 Per quarter credit, with a $30,000 tuition cap for the degree

Quarter credits and semester credits are not equal, so Capella’s and Walden’s rates are not directly comparable with semester-based schools. Fees matter too: Walden adds a $185 program fee per quarter and a skills lab fee. The most affordable online BSW programs page and the BSW cost comparison tool put these side by side.

Finishing a Bachelor of Social Work Online

If you already have an associate degree or about two years of credit, a degree-completion program is the fastest route. These programs admit you at the junior level and focus on the social work major:

  • Millersville University, PA: an associate degree in human services or a related area, or at least 60 transferable credits; $347 per credit for Pennsylvania residents.
  • Ball State University, IN: students with an associate of science in social work from Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University can start with junior status.
  • Briar Cliff University, IA: an associate degree in human services, social work or general studies, or 62 transferable credits; 450 practicum hours.
  • The University of Tennessee-Knoxville: guaranteed and priority admission for Tennessee community college graduates with an A.A. or A.S., and 500 clock hours of field instruction.

Use the transfer finder to match your credits, or browse every BSW degree completion program.

Getting Into an Online BSW

Admission ranges from open to selective. Avila University asks for official transcripts and a 2.0 GPA in prior coursework. Liberty University requires a 2.0 cumulative GPA for admission in good standing and accepts up to 75% of the degree in transfer. At the selective end, Minnesota State University Moorhead requires 74 credits before admission, a 2.5 GPA and limits cohorts to 25, and Charter Oak asks for an essay, a resume and a virtual interview. The BSW admission requirements guide explains prerequisites in more depth.

Online Social Work Programs in North Carolina and Other States

Many public universities charge residents less, so start with your own state. North Carolina has several options: UNC Charlotte lets you choose its campus or online program at the upper-division application, UNC Wilmington runs HS2SW for community college human services graduates, Elizabeth City State reports federal tuition and fees of $3,412 for residents, and Johnson C. Smith University offers campus, online and hybrid study. See North Carolina BSW programs.

Elsewhere, Missouri has three of the lowest published rates (Avila, Central Missouri and Missouri State); see Missouri BSW programs. In Arizona, ASU Online and Northern Arizona University both offer online routes; see Arizona BSW programs.

Online Programs in CSWE Candidacy

Four online programs are not yet accredited: The University of Olivet, Kent State University and Herzing University are in candidacy, and the University of North Texas at Dallas is in pre-candidacy. CSWE retroactively recognizes students who start once a program has reached candidacy, provided it earns initial accreditation. If your license plans depend on the degree, an accredited program removes that risk.

From an Online BSW to an MSW or Counseling

An accredited BSW qualifies you for MSW advanced standing, and 86 of these online programs are at schools that also run an MSW you can enter that way; 19 offer combined tracks. The University of Kentucky’s online MSW, for example, lists advanced standing at 30 credits in as few as two semesters. Search routes with the BSW to MSW route finder or compare online MSWs on mswdegree.com.

If you are drawn to counseling, know that a mental health counselor license normally requires a counseling master’s, and the BSW prepares you for that program rather than replacing it.

How to Choose an Online BSW

  • CSWE status: 128 of 132 programs are accredited.
  • The real price for you: a resident rate, a single national rate or a quarter-credit rate, plus program fees.
  • Placement support: where the program finds agencies near you, and whether your workplace can count.
  • Transfer fit: a named agreement with your community college or a degree-completion format.
  • Pace: 8-week or 6-week terms, part-time plans and how many semesters the practicum spans.
  • Your state’s license: check it with the BSW license checker.

Compare finalists side by side with the program matcher or widen your search to all BSW programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an Online BSW Respected the Same as a Campus BSW?

For accreditation, yes. CSWE holds all accredited programs to the same standards and review criteria regardless of how the curriculum is delivered, and your diploma and license eligibility do not depend on the format.

Can You Do the BSW Field Practicum Online?

No. The practicum is supervised work in a real agency, and online programs arrange it in person near you. ASU Online, for example, requires a 480-hour in-person practicum at an approved agency in your region.

Can You Use Your Current Job as Your Practicum?

Some programs allow it. Aurora University's online BSW runs its field instruction courses at approved agencies or the workplace, and Keuka College says its 416-hour practicum can usually be completed locally or at your workplace.

How Long Does an Online BSW Take?

It depends on your transfer credits. Ohio State's online BSSW takes about two years for a typical student entering with 60 credit hours; Capella University lists 21 to 66 months depending on transfer credits.

Can You Become a Mental Health Counselor With an Online Social Work Degree?

Not with the BSW alone. Licensed mental health counseling normally requires a counseling master's degree, so a BSW is preparation rather than the credential. See the mental health counselor career guide.

Do Online BSW Programs Give Credit for Work Experience?

Not for social work courses. CSWE standards bar accredited programs from granting social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience, though some schools assess prior learning for general credits.

Related Program Lists

Sources

  1. Official program, tuition and admissions pages of each school listed, reviewed October 2026
  2. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), directory of accredited programs, captured September 30, 2026
  3. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS: 2022-23 completions and 2023-24 tuition and fees (NCES College Navigator)
  4. CSWE: Accreditation FAQs
  5. CSWE: Program Directory
  6. CSWE: 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards
  7. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Social Workers

Every program on this site was checked against the school's own website. Accreditation status comes only from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) directory, license rules from each state's social work board, and tuition and graduate counts from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES/IPEDS). Sponsored listings are labeled and never change which programs we list or how we rank them. How we verify programs