Nebraska · Verified October 2026
Social Work Programs in Nebraska
Where Can You Earn a BSW in Nebraska, and Can You Be Licensed With It?
6 schools in Nebraska offer a CSWE bachelor of social work, including Chadron State College, Creighton University and Nebraska Wesleyan University. 2 options are online. In-state tuition and fees at Nebraska public universities start at $8,078 a year (2023-24). Nebraska licenses BSW graduates as the Certified Social Worker (CSW).
- 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: CSW (none)Or an MSW in about a year with advanced standing
- CSWE BSW schools
- 6
- BSW options
- 7
- online options
- 2
- lowest public in-state tuition, 2023-24
- $8,078
- BSW license
- CSW
Does Nebraska License BSW Graduates?
Yes: the Certified Social Worker (CSW)
- License
- Certified Social Worker (CSW)
- Degree required
- Baccalaureate or master's degree in social work from a CSWE-approved program
- Exam
- none
From Nebraska Board of Mental Health Practice, Department of Health and Human Services Licensure Unit (Office of Behavioral Health Licensing), reviewed 2026-09-30. Nebraska board of social work · BSW license checker
Nebraska BSW Schools Compared
| School | Formats | CSWE | Tuition and fees, 2023-24 | Transfer or completion | Own MSW with advanced standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chadron State CollegeChadron · Public | Campus | CSWE | $8,078 | Yes | |
| University of Nebraska at KearneyKearney · Public | Campus, Online | CSWE | $8,302$14,260 out-of-state | ||
| University of Nebraska at OmahaOmaha · Public | Campus, Online | CSWE | $8,370$22,358 out-of-state | Yes | Yes |
| Union Adventist UniversityLincoln · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $27,990 | ||
| Nebraska Wesleyan UniversityLincoln · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $41,658 | Yes | |
| Creighton UniversityOmaha · Private nonprofit | CSWE | $47,000 |
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 Nebraska
7 programs in Nebraska
- FormatOn campusTuition$9,880per year · resident rate · with feesAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnlineTuition$8,370per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 (in-state) · NCESAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campus, OnlineTuition$244per credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$45,944per yearAccreditationCSWE
- Format–420-hour practicumTuition$50,580per yearAccreditationCSWE
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (Comprehensive Major) at Chadron State College
Chadron State College school profile · ChadronFormatOn campusTuition$3,029per termAccreditationCSWE- FormatOn campusTuition$30,296per year · with feesAccreditationCSWE
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 Nebraska
By the federal figures for 2023-24, tuition and fees at Nebraska's BSW schools run from $8,078 at Chadron State College to $47,000 at Creighton University; the Nebraska median is $8,370, against $13,212 nationally. Public universities charge residents less: 3 of 6 schools here are public.
| School | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Chadron State College tuitionPublic | $8,078 | $8,078 |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney tuitionPublic | $8,302 | $14,260 |
| University of Nebraska at Omaha tuitionPublic | $8,370 | $22,358 |
| Union Adventist University tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $27,990 | $27,990 |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $41,658 | $41,658 |
| Creighton University tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $47,000 | $47,000 |
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 Nebraska
2 Nebraska schools also run an MSW that admits BSW graduates with advanced standing, usually about a year of study instead of two: Nebraska Wesleyan University and University of Nebraska at Omaha. 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 Nebraska
By BSWs awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), University of Nebraska at Omaha has Nebraska's largest program, followed by University of Nebraska at Kearney and Nebraska Wesleyan University. Size tells you how many classmates and field placement partners to expect, not how good a program is.
Online BSW Options for Nebraska Residents
Beyond Nebraska's own schools, 130 online BSW options at schools in other states accept students from many states. Before you apply, confirm the school can enroll Nebraska residents and arrange your field practicum in Nebraska.
| 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 Nebraska
| Occupation | Nebraska median | U.S. median | Jobs in Nebraska |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $47,770 | $59,550 | 4,830 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $38,940 | $45,930 | 1,460 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $63,460 | $66,270 | 560 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $73,790 | $80,390 | 1,320 |
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 Nebraska?
6 schools in Nebraska run a BSW that CSWE lists as accredited or in candidacy, 7 options in all, each checked on the school's own site in October 2026.
Can You Be Licensed With a BSW in Nebraska?
Yes. Nebraska Board of Mental Health Practice, Department of Health and Human Services Licensure Unit (Office of Behavioral Health Licensing) issues the Certified Social Worker (CSW), which requires the none exam. It's a license for generalist practice; independent clinical practice needs an MSW, supervised experience and a clinical license.
Can Nebraska Residents Earn a BSW Online?
Yes. 2 Nebraska options are offered online, and 130 online BSW options at schools in other states accept students from many states; confirm each school can enroll Nebraska residents and place you in a field practicum in Nebraska. Online BSW programs.
What Is the Most Affordable BSW in Nebraska?
By federal figures for 2023-24, the lowest in-state tuition and fees at a Nebraska public university with a CSWE BSW are at Chadron State College ($8,078), University of Nebraska at Kearney ($8,302) and University of Nebraska at Omaha ($8,370). Grants lower most students' price further.
Nearby States
Sources
- Official program, tuition and admissions pages of the 6 Nebraska schools listed, reviewed October 2026
- Nebraska Board of Mental Health Practice, Department of Health and Human Services Licensure Unit (Office of Behavioral Health Licensing)
- 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