Richmond, Virginia

VCU BSW Program

Virginia Commonwealth University

CSWE-accreditedSchool of Social WorkPublic

What BSW Options Does VCU Offer?

VCU offers a BSW, offered online. It is CSWE-accredited. Federal tuition and fees: $16,458 a year in-state (2023-24). Graduates can continue into VCU's own MSW with advanced standing.

Researched and edited by · Updated

The VCU BSW

Admission, Practicum and Cost at VCU

ProgramGetting into the majorField practicumPublished tuition
Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)120 creditsGeneral admission to VCU with social work declared; foundational curriculum in the first and second years; rolling admissions with a first-year deadline of February 15 and a fall transfer deadline of March 17Transfer: Transfer agreement with Brightpoint Community College and Reynolds Community College (associate in human services with a pre-social work specialization, BSW in as little as two more years); pathways from the Virginia Community College System and Richard Bland College of William & Mary400 hours at one placement over fall and spring (SLWK 494 and 495), about 14 hours per week; a one-semester Block Senior Field Practicum (SLWK 497) is offered fall, spring and summer

From VCU's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 1, 2026. Blank cells: the school's pages don't state that detail. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.

How VCU Compares

VCU's undergraduate tuition and fees, $16,458 a year for residents (2023-24), are above the median of $13,212 across schools with a CSWE BSW (327th lowest of 565). Out-of-state students pay $39,042. It awarded 97 social work bachelor's degrees in 2022-23 (IPEDS), 2nd of 14 in Virginia and 31st of 527 nationally among schools on this site.

VCUVirginia medianU.S. median
Tuition and fees, 2023-24$16,458$15,200$13,212

Medians across schools on this site with a CSWE BSW (federal figures, NCES College Navigator). The BSW cost comparison puts VCU beside other schools.

From VCU's BSW to an MSW

VCU runs Master of Social Work (on campus, Richmond), which admits BSW graduates with advanced standing: 42 credits, 1 year (three continuous semesters: summer, fall, spring). Advanced standing is open to graduates of any CSWE-accredited BSW, at VCU or elsewhere.

VCU MSW details on mswdegree.com · How BSW-to-MSW advanced standing works

Is VCU's BSW CSWE Accredited?

VCU's BSW is listed as accredited in the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) directory (September 2026). CSWE accredits the program, which covers every format the school offers it in. All CSWE-accredited BSW programs

Federal data (IPEDS) show VCU awarded 97 social work bachelor's degrees in 2022-23.

From VCU's BSW to a Virginia License

  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. License: LBSW (ASWB Bachelors)Or an MSW in about a year with advanced standing

Virginia licenses BSW graduates as the Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) after the ASWB Bachelors exam.

Virginia BSW license from its social work board · BSW license checker

Similar BSW Programs to Compare With VCU

Online BSW programs at other CSWE-accredited schools, lowest published per-credit rate first:

VCU BSW: Common Questions

Is VCU's BSW CSWE Accredited?

VCU's BSW is listed as accredited in the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) directory (September 2026). CSWE accredits the program, which covers every format the school offers it in.

Does VCU Offer an Online BSW?

Yes. Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) is offered online.

How Do You Get Into VCU's Social Work Major?

Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.): General admission to VCU with social work declared; foundational curriculum in the first and second years; rolling admissions with a first-year deadline of February 15 and a fall transfer deadline of March 17.

Can You Transfer Into VCU's BSW?

Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.): Transfer agreement with Brightpoint Community College and Reynolds Community College (associate in human services with a pre-social work specialization, BSW in as little as two more years); pathways from the Virginia Community College System and Richard Bland College of William & Mary.

How Much Does VCU's BSW Cost?

Federal undergraduate tuition and fees for 2023-24: $16,458 in-state, $39,042 out-of-state. Grants and scholarships lower most students' price.

How Many Field Practicum Hours Does VCU's BSW Require?

Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.): 400 hours at one placement over fall and spring (SLWK 494 and 495), about 14 hours per week; a one-semester Block Senior Field Practicum (SLWK 497) is offered fall, spring and summer.

Can VCU BSW Graduates Get Advanced Standing in an MSW?

Yes. VCU runs Master of Social Work (on campus, Richmond), which admits BSW graduates with advanced standing (42 credits, 1 year (three continuous semesters: summer, fall, spring)). Any CSWE BSW qualifies you for advanced standing at other schools too.

More BSW Programs in Virginia

Sources

  1. socialwork.vcu.edu: program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed October 1, 2026
  2. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), directory of accredited programs (September 2026)
  3. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS: 2022-23 completions and 2023-24 tuition and fees
  4. Virginia Board of Social Work (Department of Health Professions)

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