Montana · Verified October 2026
Social Work Programs in Montana
Where Can You Earn a BSW in Montana, and Can You Be Licensed With It?
2 schools in Montana offer a CSWE bachelor of social work, including Salish Kootenai College and The University of Montana. 1 option is online. In-state tuition and fees at Montana public universities start at $6,399 a year (2023-24). Montana licenses BSW graduates as the Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker Candidate (SWLB).
- 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: SWLBOr an MSW in about a year with advanced standing
- CSWE BSW schools
- 2
- BSW options
- 3
- online options
- 1
- lowest public in-state tuition, 2023-24
- $6,399
- BSW license
- SWLB
Does Montana License BSW Graduates?
Yes: the Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker Candidate (SWLB)
- License
- Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker Candidate (SWLB)
- Degree required
- Bachelor's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
- License
- Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
- Degree required
- Bachelor's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
- Exam
- ASWB Bachelors
- Supervision
- Minimum of 500 hours of post-degree supervised work experience over no less than 18 months, including at least 50 hours of individual or group supervision; at least two hours of supervision per 160 hours of social work; hours earned within five years of application for applicants not actively licensed elsewhere
From Montana Board of Behavioral Health, Department of Labor & Industry, reviewed 2026-09-30. Montana board of social work · BSW license checker
Montana BSW Schools Compared
| School | Formats | CSWE | Tuition and fees, 2023-24 | Transfer or completion | Own MSW with advanced standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salish Kootenai CollegePablo · Public | Campus | CSWE | $6,399$11,583 out-of-state | Yes | |
| The University of MontanaMissoula · Public | Campus, Online | CSWE | $8,152$31,622 out-of-state | Yes | Yes |
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 Montana
3 programs in Montana
Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Montana
The University of Montana school profile · MissoulaFormatOn campus450-hour practicumTuition$9,750per year · resident rate · with feesAccreditationCSWE2+2 Distance Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Montana
The University of Montana school profile · MissoulaFormatOnline450-hour practicumTuition$9,188per year · resident rate · with feesAccreditationCSWE- FormatOn campusTuition$148per credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
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 Montana
By the federal figures for 2023-24, tuition and fees at Montana's BSW schools run from $6,399 at Salish Kootenai College to $8,152 at The University of Montana; the Montana median is $6,399, against $13,212 nationally. Public universities charge residents less: 2 of 2 schools here are public.
| School | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Salish Kootenai College tuitionPublic | $6,399 | $11,583 |
| The University of Montana tuitionPublic | $8,152 | $31,622 |
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 Montana
1 Montana school also runs an MSW that admits BSW graduates with advanced standing, usually about a year of study instead of two: The University of Montana. 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 Montana
By BSWs awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), The University of Montana has Montana's largest program, followed by Salish Kootenai College. Size tells you how many classmates and field placement partners to expect, not how good a program is.
| School | BSWs awarded, 2022-23 |
|---|---|
| The University of Montana social work | 39 |
| Salish Kootenai College social work | 7 |
Online BSW Options for Montana Residents
Beyond Montana's own schools, 131 online BSW options at schools in other states accept students from many states. Before you apply, confirm the school can enroll Montana residents and arrange your field practicum in Montana.
| 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 |
| 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 Montana
| Occupation | Montana median | U.S. median | Jobs in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $56,780 | $59,550 | 1,250 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $38,570 | $45,930 | 1,200 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $59,750 | $66,270 | 360 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $73,640 | $80,390 | 820 |
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 Montana?
2 schools in Montana run a BSW that CSWE lists as accredited or in candidacy, 3 options in all, each checked on the school's own site in October 2026.
Can You Be Licensed With a BSW in Montana?
Yes. Montana Board of Behavioral Health, Department of Labor & Industry issues the Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker Candidate (SWLB). It's a license for generalist practice; independent clinical practice needs an MSW, supervised experience and a clinical license.
Can Montana Residents Earn a BSW Online?
Yes. 1 Montana option is offered online, and 131 online BSW options at schools in other states accept students from many states; confirm each school can enroll Montana residents and place you in a field practicum in Montana. Online BSW programs.
What Is the Most Affordable BSW in Montana?
By federal figures for 2023-24, the lowest in-state tuition and fees at a Montana public university with a CSWE BSW are at Salish Kootenai College ($6,399) and The University of Montana ($8,152). Grants lower most students' price further.
Nearby States
Sources
- Official program, tuition and admissions pages of the 2 Montana schools listed, reviewed October 2026
- Montana Board of Behavioral Health, Department of Labor & Industry
- 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