Puerto Rico · Verified October 2026
Social Work Programs in Puerto Rico
Where Can You Earn a BSW in Puerto Rico, and Can You Be Licensed With It?
11 schools in Puerto Rico offer a CSWE bachelor of social work, including Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla, Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo and Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo. 1 option is online. In-state tuition and fees at Puerto Rico public universities start at $5,324 a year (2023-24). Puerto Rico licenses BSW graduates as the Profesional del Trabajo Social Licenciado(a) Provisional.
- 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: Profesional del Trabajo Social Licenciado(a) ProvisionalOr an MSW in about a year with advanced standing
- CSWE BSW schools
- 11
- BSW options
- 11
- online options
- 1
- lowest public in-state tuition, 2023-24
- $5,324
- BSW license
- Yes
Does Puerto Rico License BSW Graduates?
Yes: the Profesional del Trabajo Social Licenciado(a) Provisional
- License
- Profesional del Trabajo Social Licenciado(a) Provisional
- Degree required
- Bachillerato en Artes con concentración en Trabajo Social from a university recognized by the Oficina de Registro y Licenciamiento de Instituciones de Educación, or any recognized bachelor's degree plus at least 18 credits of graduate study in social work
- License
- Profesional del Trabajo Social Licenciado(a) Permanente (por experiencia)
- Degree required
- Holder of a Puerto Rico provisional social work license (bachelor's-level pathway)
- Supervision
- 3 years or more of full-time practice as a social worker, documented by employer certification or paid contracts; no time practiced without a current license is credited
From Junta Examinadora de Profesionales del Trabajo Social de Puerto Rico (Departamento de Estado, Secretaría Auxiliar de Juntas Examinadoras), reviewed 2026-09-30. Puerto Rico board of social work · BSW license checker
Puerto Rico BSW Schools Compared
| School | Formats | CSWE | Tuition and fees, 2023-24 | Transfer or completion | Own MSW with advanced standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasSan Juan · Public | Campus | CSWE | $5,324 | Yes | |
| University of Puerto Rico-HumacaoHumacao · Public | Campus | CSWE | $5,364 | ||
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AguadillaAguadilla · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $5,542 | ||
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AreciboArecibo · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $5,580 | ||
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-FajardoFajardo · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $5,580 | ||
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-MetroSan Juan · Private nonprofit | Campus, Online | CSWE | $5,580 | Yes | |
| Universidad Central de BayamonBayamón · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $5,986 | ||
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-PoncePonce · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $6,340 | Yes | |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina CampusCarolina · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $6,920 | ||
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey CampusSan Juan · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $6,920 | ||
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo CampusGurabo · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $6,920 | 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 Puerto Rico
11 programs in Puerto Rico
- FormatOn campusTuition$205per credit · with feesAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$205per credit · with feesAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$5,324per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 (in-state) · NCESAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campus400-hour practicumTuition$5,364per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 (in-state) · NCESAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$207per creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$6,340per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 · NCESAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$205per credit · with feesAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$207per creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campus, OnlineTuition$207per creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$5,986per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 · NCESAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusTuition$207per 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 Puerto Rico
By the federal figures for 2023-24, tuition and fees at Puerto Rico's BSW schools run from $5,324 at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras to $6,920 at Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus; the Puerto Rico median is $5,580, against $13,212 nationally. Public universities charge residents less: 2 of 11 schools here are public.
| School | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras tuitionPublic | $5,324 | $5,324 |
| University of Puerto Rico-Humacao tuitionPublic | $5,364 | $5,364 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $5,542 | $5,542 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $5,580 | $5,580 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $5,580 | $5,580 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $5,580 | $5,580 |
| Universidad Central de Bayamon tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $5,986 | $5,986 |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $6,340 | $6,340 |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $6,920 | $6,920 |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $6,920 | $6,920 |
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 Puerto Rico
4 Puerto Rico schools also run an MSW that admits BSW graduates with advanced standing, usually about a year of study instead of two: Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus and University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. 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 Puerto Rico
By BSWs awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus has Puerto Rico's largest program, followed by Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina Campus and University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. Size tells you how many classmates and field placement partners to expect, not how good a program is.
Online BSW Options for Puerto Rico Residents
Beyond Puerto Rico'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 Puerto Rico residents and arrange your field practicum in Puerto Rico.
| Lowest published per-credit rates, same for every state | Per credit |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Walden University: Online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)Online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) · Minnesota | $360 |
Compare every option on the online BSW programs page, or let the program matcher rank them for you.
Pay for BSW Jobs in Puerto Rico
| Occupation | Puerto Rico median | U.S. median | Jobs in Puerto Rico |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $43,620 | $59,550 | 3,370 |
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.
Social Work Majors Without CSWE Accreditation in Puerto Rico
This school offers a social work bachelor's that CSWE doesn't list as accredited or in candidacy (directory checked September 30, 2026). A non-accredited degree doesn't qualify you for a state bachelor's license or MSW advanced standing, so it isn't included in this site's lists: Caribbean University-Bayamon: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work (Artes en Trabajo Social).
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many BSW Programs Are in Puerto Rico?
11 schools in Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico?
Yes. Junta Examinadora de Profesionales del Trabajo Social de Puerto Rico (Departamento de Estado, Secretaría Auxiliar de Juntas Examinadoras) issues the Profesional del Trabajo Social Licenciado(a) Provisional. It's a license for generalist practice; independent clinical practice needs an MSW, supervised experience and a clinical license.
Can Puerto Rico Residents Earn a BSW Online?
Yes. 1 Puerto Rico option is offered online, and 131 online BSW options at schools in other states accept students from many states; confirm each school can enroll Puerto Rico residents and place you in a field practicum in Puerto Rico. Online BSW programs.
What Is the Most Affordable BSW in Puerto Rico?
By federal figures for 2023-24, the lowest in-state tuition and fees at a Puerto Rico public university with a CSWE BSW are at University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras ($5,324) and University of Puerto Rico-Humacao ($5,364). Grants lower most students' price further.
Nearby States
Sources
- Official program, tuition and admissions pages of the 11 Puerto Rico schools listed, reviewed October 2026
- Junta Examinadora de Profesionales del Trabajo Social de Puerto Rico (Departamento de Estado, Secretaría Auxiliar de Juntas Examinadoras)
- 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