Santa Barbara, CA · Verified October 2026
BSW Programs Near Santa Barbara, California
Where Can You Earn a Social Work Degree Near Santa Barbara?
3 schools offer a campus or hybrid BSW within 100 miles of Santa Barbara, the closest being Mount Saint Mary's University (74 miles), University of Southern California (86 miles) and California State University-Los Angeles (91 miles). California licenses social workers from the master's level. Online BSW programs from schools elsewhere are open to California residents too.
- schools within 100 miles
- 3
- closest: Mount Saint Mary's University
- 74 mi
- transfer or completion options
- 1
- with their own advanced standing MSW
- 2
- median tuition and fees nearby, 2023-24
- $48,132
Campus and Hybrid BSW Programs Within 100 Miles of Santa Barbara
| School and program | Distance | Format | CSWE | Tuition and fees, 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Saint Mary's University: Bachelor of Science in Social WorkBachelor of Science in Social Work · Los Angeles, CA | 74 mi | On campus | Candidacy | $48,132 |
| University of Southern California: Bachelor of Social WorkBachelor of Social Work · Los Angeles, CA | 86 mi | On campus | Candidacy | $68,237 |
| California State University-Los Angeles: Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW)Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) · Los Angeles, CA | 91 mi | On campus | CSWE | $6,818 |
Straight-line distance from the center of Santa Barbara (U.S. Census Gazetteer) to each school's main campus (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS); some programs meet at other sites. Tuition and fees are the federal figures for a full-time undergraduate year, 2023-24, in-state at public universities (NCES College Navigator).
Transfer, Cost and MSW Routes Near Santa Barbara
Starting at a community college or bringing credits? One program within 100 miles names a transfer pathway or runs a degree-completion option: California State University-Los Angeles's transfer pathway (91 mi).
The lowest in-state tuition and fees nearby are at California State University-Los Angeles, $6,818 a year (2023-24).
Planning on an MSW? University of Southern California and California State University-Los Angeles also run MSWs that admit BSW graduates with advanced standing, usually about a year instead of two. How BSW-to-MSW advanced standing works.
Online BSW Options for Santa Barbara Residents
| Lowest published per-credit rates, same for every state | Per credit |
|---|---|
| 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) · Puerto Rico | $207 |
| University of the Cumberlands: Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW), OnlineBachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW), Online · Kentucky | $220 |
| Avila University: Bachelor of Social Work OnlineBachelor of Social Work Online · Missouri | $300 |
Online programs still place you in a supervised field practicum, so confirm the school can arrange one near Santa Barbara. Compare all of them on the online BSW programs and most affordable online BSW pages.
Getting Licensed in California
- First years: general education and intro coursesPsychology, sociology, human biology, intro to social work
- Apply to the social work majorUsually in the second year, with a GPA minimum
- Senior field practicumAt least 400 supervised hours in an agency
- MSW to be licensed hereCalifornia licenses social workers from the master's level
California BSW license from its board · Every BSW program in California
BSW Programs Near Other California Cities
- BSW programs near Fullerton108 mi away · 10 within 50 mi
- BSW programs near Santa Ana114 mi away · 10 within 50 mi
- BSW programs near Irvine122 mi away · 10 within 50 mi
- BSW programs near Aliso Viejo127 mi away · 9 within 50 mi
- BSW programs near Fresno164 mi away · 8 within 200 mi
- BSW programs near San Marcos170 mi away · 11 within 100 mi
Sources
- Official program pages of each school listed, reviewed October 2026
- CSWE directory of accredited programs
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Gazetteer places file
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS: institutional characteristics and 2023-24 tuition and fees