Bowling Green, Kentucky

Western Kentucky University BSW Program

CSWE-accreditedSchool of Health and Social ServicesPublic

What BSW Options Does Western Kentucky University Offer?

Western Kentucky University offers a BSW, offered on campus. It is CSWE-accredited. Federal tuition and fees: $11,436 a year in-state (2023-24). Graduates can continue into Western Kentucky University's own MSW with advanced standing.

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The Western Kentucky University BSW

Admission, Practicum and Cost at Western Kentucky University

ProgramGetting into the majorField practicumPublished tuition
Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work (594P, 594)120 creditsComplete prerequisites including SWRK 101 with at least a C, then a formal application reviewed by the BSW Admissions and Retention Committee400-hour field practicum or internship at a social service agency$12,072 per year in-state; $27,000 per year out-of-state (full-time, 12-18 hours); $14,136 per year under the Tuition Incentive Program

From Western Kentucky 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 Kentucky University Compares

Western Kentucky University's undergraduate tuition and fees, $11,436 a year for residents (2023-24), are below the median of $13,212 across schools with a CSWE BSW (238th lowest of 565). Out-of-state students pay $27,000. It awarded 72 social work bachelor's degrees in 2022-23 (IPEDS), 3rd of 13 in Kentucky and 63rd of 527 nationally among schools on this site.

Western Kentucky UniversityKentucky medianU.S. median
Tuition and fees, 2023-24$11,436$11,436$13,212

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

From Western Kentucky University's BSW to an MSW

Western Kentucky University runs Master of Social Work, which admits BSW graduates with advanced standing: 30 semester hours, 1 year full time (Bowling Green campus and online cohort). Advanced standing is open to graduates of any CSWE-accredited BSW, at Western Kentucky University or elsewhere.

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

Is Western Kentucky University's BSW CSWE Accredited?

Western Kentucky 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 Kentucky University awarded 72 social work bachelor's degrees in 2022-23.

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

Kentucky licenses BSW graduates as the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) after the ASWB Bachelors exam.

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

Similar BSW Programs to Compare With Western Kentucky University

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

Western Kentucky University BSW: Common Questions

Is Western Kentucky University's BSW CSWE Accredited?

Western Kentucky 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 Kentucky University Offer an Online BSW?

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

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

Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work (594P, 594): Complete prerequisites including SWRK 101 with at least a C, then a formal application reviewed by the BSW Admissions and Retention Committee.

How Much Does Western Kentucky University's BSW Cost?

Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work (594P, 594): $12,072 per year in-state; $27,000 per year out-of-state (full-time, 12-18 hours); $14,136 per year under the Tuition Incentive Program (2025-26). Federal undergraduate tuition and fees for 2023-24: $11,436 in-state, $27,000 out-of-state. Grants and scholarships lower most students' price.

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

Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work (594P, 594): 400-hour field practicum or internship at a social service agency.

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

Yes. Western Kentucky University runs Master of Social Work, which admits BSW graduates with advanced standing (30 semester hours, 1 year full time (Bowling Green campus and online cohort)). Any CSWE BSW qualifies you for advanced standing at other schools too.

More BSW Programs in Kentucky

Sources

  1. wku.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. Kentucky Board of Social Work

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