Minnesota · Verified October 2026
Social Work Programs in Minnesota
Where Can You Earn a BSW in Minnesota, and Can You Be Licensed With It?
18 schools in Minnesota offer a CSWE bachelor of social work, including Augsburg University, Bemidji State University and Bethel University. 5 options are online. In-state tuition and fees at Minnesota public universities start at $9,490 a year (2023-24). Minnesota licenses BSW graduates as the Licensed Social Worker (LSW).
- 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
- License: LSW (ASWB Bachelors)Or an MSW in about a year with advanced standing
- CSWE BSW schools
- 18
- BSW options
- 22
- online options
- 5
- lowest public in-state tuition, 2023-24
- $9,490
- BSW license
- LSW
Does Minnesota License BSW Graduates?
Yes: the Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
- License
- Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
- Degree required
- Baccalaureate degree in social work from a program accredited by CSWE, the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work, or a similar body the board designates
- Exam
- ASWB Bachelors
From Minnesota Board of Social Work, reviewed 2026-09-30. Minnesota board of social work · BSW license checker
Minnesota BSW Schools Compared
| School | Formats | CSWE | Tuition and fees, 2023-24 | Transfer or completion | Own MSW with advanced standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota State University-MankatoMankato · Public | Campus | CSWE | $9,490$18,860 out-of-state | Yes | |
| Metropolitan State UniversitySaint Paul · Public | Campus | CSWE | $9,780 | Yes | |
| Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud · Public | Campus | CSWE | $10,117 | Yes | |
| Bemidji State UniversityBemidji · Public | Campus | CSWE | $10,164 | ||
| Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMarshall · Public | Campus, Online | CSWE | $10,304 | Yes | |
| Minnesota State University MoorheadMoorhead · Public | Campus, Online | CSWE | $10,336 | Yes | |
| Winona State UniversityWinona · Public | Campus, Hybrid | CSWE | $10,498$17,230 out-of-state | Yes | Yes |
| Walden UniversityMinneapolis · Private for-profit | Online | CSWE | $12,498 | Yes | Yes |
| University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth · Public | Hybrid | CSWE | $14,318$19,762 out-of-state | Yes | Yes |
| Capella UniversityMinneapolis · Private for-profit | Online | CSWE | $14,436 | Yes | Yes |
| North Central UniversityMinneapolis · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $29,460 | ||
| Concordia College at MoorheadMoorhead · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $30,020 | Yes | |
| The College of Saint ScholasticaDuluth · Private nonprofit | Campus, Online | CSWE | $40,454 | Yes | Yes |
| Bethel UniversitySaint Paul · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $42,930 | Yes | |
| Augsburg UniversityMinneapolis · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $43,942 | Yes | |
| St Catherine UniversitySaint Paul · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $49,758 | Yes | |
| University of St ThomasSaint Paul · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $52,284 | Yes | |
| St Olaf CollegeNorthfield · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $56,970 |
Programs from each school's own pages, reviewed October 2026; CSWE status from CSWE's directory. Tuition and fees are the federal figures for a full-time undergraduate year, 2023-24 (NCES College Navigator).
Every BSW Program in Minnesota
22 programs in Minnesota
Online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at Walden University
Walden University school profile · MinneapolisFormatOnline400-hour practicumTuition$360per creditAccreditationCSWE- FormatOn campus, HybridTuition$4,766per term · resident rate · with feesAccreditationCSWE
Bachelor of Social Work at Metropolitan State University
Metropolitan State University school profile · Saint PaulFormatOn campusTuition$322per creditAccreditationCSWE- FormatOn campusTuition$10,860per year · resident rate · with feesAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$338per creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnlineTuition$10,336per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 (in-state) · NCESAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campus450-hour practicumTuition$44,040per yearAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnline450-hour practicumTuition$439per creditAccreditationCSWE
Social Work, B.S. at Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud State University school profile · Saint CloudFormatOn campusTuition$4,980per term · resident rateAccreditationCSWE- FormatOn campusTuition$53,888per yearAccreditationCSWE
- FormatHybridTuition$6,994per term · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$10,154per yearAccreditationCSWE
Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW) at Augsburg University
Augsburg University school profile · MinneapolisFormatOn campusTuition$47,600per yearAccreditationCSWEBachelor's in Social Work (BSW) at University of St Thomas
University of St Thomas school profile · Saint PaulFormatOn campus450-hour practicumTuition$28,428per termAccreditationCSWE- FormatOn campus600-hour practicumTuition$26,700per year · with feesAccreditationCSWE
B.A. in Social Work: Justice-Informed Graduate Studies Pathway at Bethel University
Bethel University school profile · Saint PaulFormatOn campus600-hour practicumTuition$26,700per year · with feesAccreditationCSWE- FormatOn campusTuition$65,700per yearAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$350per credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnlineTuition$406per creditAccreditationCSWE
B.S. in Social Work at North Central University
North Central University school profile · MinneapolisFormatOn campusTuition$32,200per yearAccreditationCSWEBachelor of Arts in Social Work at Concordia College at Moorhead
Concordia College at Moorhead school profile · MoorheadFormatOn campusTuition$32,900per yearAccreditationCSWE- FormatOnlineTuition$350per creditAccreditationCSWE
No programs match these filters.
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.
What a BSW Costs in Minnesota
By the federal figures for 2023-24, tuition and fees at Minnesota's BSW schools run from $9,490 at Minnesota State University-Mankato to $56,970 at St Olaf College; the Minnesota median is $14,318, against $13,212 nationally. Public universities charge residents less: 8 of 18 schools here are public.
| School | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota State University-Mankato tuitionPublic | $9,490 | $18,860 |
| Metropolitan State University tuitionPublic | $9,780 | $9,780 |
| Saint Cloud State University tuitionPublic | $10,117 | $10,117 |
| Bemidji State University tuitionPublic | $10,164 | $10,164 |
| Southwest Minnesota State University tuitionPublic | $10,304 | $10,304 |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead tuitionPublic | $10,336 | $10,336 |
| Winona State University tuitionPublic | $10,498 | $17,230 |
| Walden University tuitionPrivate for-profit | $12,498 | $12,498 |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth tuitionPublic | $14,318 | $19,762 |
| Capella University tuitionPrivate for-profit | $14,436 | $14,436 |
Full-time undergraduate tuition and required fees, 2023-24 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). Compare schools side by side with the BSW cost comparison.
From a BSW to an MSW in Minnesota
13 Minnesota schools also run an MSW that admits BSW graduates with advanced standing, usually about a year of study instead of two: Augsburg University, Bethel University, Capella University, Concordia College at Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead and Minnesota State University-Mankato and 7 more. Advanced standing is open to graduates of any CSWE BSW, so you can also move to another school.
How BSW-to-MSW advanced standing works · Find a same-school MSW route
Largest BSW Programs in Minnesota
By BSWs awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), Walden University has Minnesota's largest program, followed by Winona State University and Metropolitan State University. Size tells you how many classmates and field placement partners to expect, not how good a program is.
Online BSW Options for Minnesota Residents
Beyond Minnesota's own schools, 127 online BSW options at schools in other states accept students from many states. Before you apply, confirm the school can enroll Minnesota residents and arrange your field practicum in Minnesota.
| 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 |
| Charter Oak State College: Bachelor of Science in Social WorkBachelor of Science in Social Work · Connecticut | $329 |
| Briar Cliff University: Bachelor of Social Work (online degree completion)Bachelor of Social Work (online degree completion) · Iowa | $340 |
| University of Alabama: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), onlineBachelor of Social Work (BSW), online · Alabama | $399 |
Compare every option on the online BSW programs page, or let the program matcher rank them for you.
Pay for BSW Jobs in Minnesota
| Occupation | Minnesota median | U.S. median | Jobs in Minnesota |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $67,450 | $59,550 | 6,540 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $49,940 | $45,930 | 11,110 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $81,580 | $66,270 | 2,040 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $84,220 | $80,390 | 5,430 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. A high median on few jobs describes a small market. What you can do with a BSW.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many BSW Programs Are in Minnesota?
18 schools in Minnesota run a BSW that CSWE lists as accredited or in candidacy, 22 options in all, each checked on the school's own site in October 2026.
Can You Be Licensed With a BSW in Minnesota?
Yes. Minnesota Board of Social Work issues the Licensed Social Worker (LSW), which requires the ASWB Bachelors exam. It's a license for generalist practice; independent clinical practice needs an MSW, supervised experience and a clinical license.
Can Minnesota Residents Earn a BSW Online?
Yes. 5 Minnesota options are offered online, and 127 online BSW options at schools in other states accept students from many states; confirm each school can enroll Minnesota residents and place you in a field practicum in Minnesota. Online BSW programs.
What Is the Most Affordable BSW in Minnesota?
By federal figures for 2023-24, the lowest in-state tuition and fees at a Minnesota public university with a CSWE BSW are at Minnesota State University-Mankato ($9,490), Metropolitan State University ($9,780) and Saint Cloud State University ($10,117). Grants lower most students' price further.
Nearby States
Sources
- Official program, tuition and admissions pages of the 18 Minnesota schools listed, reviewed October 2026
- Minnesota Board of Social Work
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), directory of accredited programs
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS: 2022-23 completions and 2023-24 tuition and fees
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025