Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University BSW Program

CSWE-accreditedDepartment of Social WorkPublic

What BSW Options Does Western Carolina University Offer?

Western Carolina University offers a BSW, offered on campus. It is CSWE-accredited. Federal tuition and fees: $4,532 a year in-state (2023-24). Graduates can continue into Western Carolina University's own MSW with advanced standing.

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The Western Carolina University BSW

Admission, Practicum and Cost at Western Carolina University

ProgramGetting into the majorField practicumPublished tuition
Social Work (B.S.W.)120 creditsBegin as Pre-Social Work majors; apply after at least 35 credit hours with a 2.5 GPA; 2.5 GPA maintained each semester400 hours of full-time supervised field practicum in a fall or spring semester

From Western Carolina University'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 Western Carolina University Compares

Western Carolina University's undergraduate tuition and fees, $4,532 a year for residents (2023-24), are below the median of $13,212 across schools with a CSWE BSW (8th lowest of 565). Out-of-state students pay $8,532. It awarded 50 social work bachelor's degrees in 2022-23 (IPEDS), 7th of 23 in North Carolina and 137th of 527 nationally among schools on this site.

Western Carolina UniversityNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Tuition and fees, 2023-24$4,532$7,593$13,212

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

From Western Carolina University's BSW to an MSW

Western Carolina University runs Master of Social Work (Standard and Advanced Standing; Cullowhee and Asheville Biltmore Park), which admits BSW graduates with advanced standing: 33 graduate credit hours, 1 year full time (can be completed in 10 months) or 2 years part time. Advanced standing is open to graduates of any CSWE-accredited BSW, at Western Carolina University or elsewhere.

Western Carolina University MSW details on mswdegree.com · How BSW-to-MSW advanced standing works

Is Western Carolina University's BSW CSWE Accredited?

Western Carolina University'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 Western Carolina University awarded 50 social work bachelor's degrees in 2022-23.

From Western Carolina University's BSW to a North Carolina 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: CSW (ASWB Bachelors)Or an MSW in about a year with advanced standing

North Carolina licenses BSW graduates as the Certified Social Worker (CSW) after the ASWB Bachelors exam.

North Carolina BSW license from its social work board · BSW license checker

Similar BSW Programs to Compare With Western Carolina University

Campus BSW programs at the nearest other CSWE-accredited schools:

Western Carolina University BSW: Common Questions

Is Western Carolina University's BSW CSWE Accredited?

Western Carolina University'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 Western Carolina University Offer an Online BSW?

No. Western Carolina University's BSW is offered on campus, according to its own pages.

How Do You Get Into Western Carolina University's Social Work Major?

Social Work (B.S.W.): Begin as Pre-Social Work majors; apply after at least 35 credit hours with a 2.5 GPA; 2.5 GPA maintained each semester.

How Much Does Western Carolina University's BSW Cost?

Federal undergraduate tuition and fees for 2023-24: $4,532 in-state, $8,532 out-of-state. Grants and scholarships lower most students' price.

How Many Field Practicum Hours Does Western Carolina University's BSW Require?

Social Work (B.S.W.): 400 hours of full-time supervised field practicum in a fall or spring semester.

Can Western Carolina University BSW Graduates Get Advanced Standing in an MSW?

Yes. Western Carolina University runs Master of Social Work (Standard and Advanced Standing; Cullowhee and Asheville Biltmore Park), which admits BSW graduates with advanced standing (33 graduate credit hours, 1 year full time (can be completed in 10 months) or 2 years part time). Any CSWE BSW qualifies you for advanced standing at other schools too.

More BSW Programs in North Carolina

Sources

  1. wcu.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. North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board

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