Mississippi · Verified October 2026

Social Work Programs in Mississippi

Where Can You Earn a BSW in Mississippi, and Can You Be Licensed With It?

10 schools in Mississippi offer a CSWE bachelor of social work, including Alcorn State University, Belhaven University and Delta State University. In-state tuition and fees at Mississippi public universities start at $7,912 a year (2023-24). Mississippi licenses BSW graduates as the Licensed Social Worker (LSW).

  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
CSWE BSW schools
10
BSW options
11
online options
0
lowest public in-state tuition, 2023-24
$7,912
BSW license
LSW

Does Mississippi License BSW Graduates?

Yes: the Licensed Social Worker (LSW)

License
Licensed Social Worker (LSW)
Degree required
Baccalaureate degree in social work from a college or university accredited by CSWE or the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Exam
ASWB Bachelors

From Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists, reviewed 2026-09-30. Mississippi board of social work · BSW license checker

Mississippi BSW Schools Compared

SchoolFormatsCSWETuition and fees, 2023-24Transfer or completionOwn MSW with advanced standing
Mississippi Valley State UniversityItta Bena · PublicCampusCSWE$7,912Yes
Alcorn State UniversityAlcorn State · PublicCampusCSWE$8,549
Delta State UniversityCleveland · PublicHybridCSWE$8,605
Jackson State UniversityJackson · PublicCampusCSWE$9,090$10,110 out-of-stateYes
University of MississippiUniversity · PublicCampusCSWE$9,412$26,980 out-of-stateYes
University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg · PublicCampusCSWE$9,618$11,618 out-of-stateYes
Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State · PublicCampusCSWE$9,815$26,580 out-of-state
Rust CollegeHolly Springs · Private nonprofitCampusCSWE$13,840Yes
Mississippi Christian UniversityClinton · Private nonprofitCampusCSWE$21,698
Belhaven UniversityJackson · Private nonprofitCampusCSWE$29,195Yes

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 Mississippi

11 programs in Mississippi

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 Mississippi

By the federal figures for 2023-24, tuition and fees at Mississippi's BSW schools run from $7,912 at Mississippi Valley State University to $29,195 at Belhaven University; the Mississippi median is $9,412, against $13,212 nationally. Public universities charge residents less: 7 of 10 schools here are public.

SchoolIn-stateOut-of-state
Mississippi Valley State University tuitionPublic$7,912$7,912
Alcorn State University tuitionPublic$8,549$8,549
Delta State University tuitionPublic$8,605$8,605
Jackson State University tuitionPublic$9,090$10,110
University of Mississippi tuitionPublic$9,412$26,980
University of Southern Mississippi tuitionPublic$9,618$11,618
Mississippi State University tuitionPublic$9,815$26,580
Rust College tuitionPrivate nonprofit$13,840$13,840
Mississippi Christian University tuitionPrivate nonprofit$21,698$21,698
Belhaven University tuitionPrivate nonprofit$29,195$29,195

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 Mississippi

4 Mississippi schools also run an MSW that admits BSW graduates with advanced standing, usually about a year of study instead of two: Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi and University of Southern Mississippi. 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 Mississippi

By BSWs awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), University of Mississippi has Mississippi's largest program, followed by University of Southern Mississippi and Jackson State University. Size tells you how many classmates and field placement partners to expect, not how good a program is.

SchoolBSWs awarded, 2022-23
University of Mississippi social work79
University of Southern Mississippi social work72
Jackson State University social work62
Mississippi State University social work37
Alcorn State University social work25
Mississippi Valley State University social work20
Delta State University social work15
Mississippi Christian University social work11

Online BSW Options for Mississippi Residents

Beyond Mississippi's own schools, 132 online BSW options at schools in other states accept students from many states. Before you apply, confirm the school can enroll Mississippi residents and arrange your field practicum in Mississippi.

Lowest published per-credit rates, same for every statePer 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
Capella University: Bachelor of Social WorkBachelor of Social Work · Minnesota$350

Compare every option on the online BSW programs page, or let the program matcher rank them for you.

Pay for BSW Jobs in Mississippi

OccupationMississippi medianU.S. medianJobs in Mississippi
Child, Family, and School Social Workers$46,530$59,5503,310
Social and Human Service Assistants$31,200$45,930
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$34,110$66,270150
Social and Community Service Managers$67,330$80,3901,120

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 Mississippi?

10 schools in Mississippi run a BSW that CSWE lists as accredited or in candidacy, 11 options in all, each checked on the school's own site in October 2026.

Can You Be Licensed With a BSW in Mississippi?

Yes. Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists 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 Mississippi Residents Earn a BSW Online?

Yes. 132 online BSW options at schools in other states accept students from many states; confirm each school can enroll Mississippi residents and place you in a field practicum in Mississippi. Online BSW programs.

What Is the Most Affordable BSW in Mississippi?

By federal figures for 2023-24, the lowest in-state tuition and fees at a Mississippi public university with a CSWE BSW are at Mississippi Valley State University ($7,912), Alcorn State University ($8,549) and Delta State University ($8,605). Grants lower most students' price further.

Nearby States

Sources

  1. Official program, tuition and admissions pages of the 10 Mississippi schools listed, reviewed October 2026
  2. Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists
  3. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), directory of accredited programs
  4. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS: 2022-23 completions and 2023-24 tuition and fees
  5. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

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