Rhode Island · Verified October 2026
Social Work Programs in Rhode Island
Where Can You Earn a BSW in Rhode Island, and Can You Be Licensed With It?
3 schools in Rhode Island offer a CSWE bachelor of social work, including Providence College, Rhode Island College and Salve Regina University. In-state tuition and fees at Rhode Island public universities start at $10,986 a year (2023-24). Rhode Island licenses social workers only from the master's level.
- 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
- MSW to be licensed hereRhode Island licenses social workers from the master's level
- CSWE BSW schools
- 3
- BSW options
- 3
- online options
- 0
- lowest public in-state tuition, 2023-24
- $10,986
- BSW license
- None
Does Rhode Island License BSW Graduates?
No: Rhode Island licenses social workers from the MSW
The first license is the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), with the none exam. A CSWE BSW shortens the MSW to about a year through advanced standing.
From Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Social Work Examiners, reviewed 2026-09-30. Rhode Island board of social work · BSW license checker
Rhode Island BSW Schools Compared
| School | Formats | CSWE | Tuition and fees, 2023-24 | Transfer or completion | Own MSW with advanced standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island CollegeProvidence · Public | Campus | CSWE | $10,986$26,519 out-of-state | Yes | |
| Salve Regina UniversityNewport · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $47,930 | ||
| Providence CollegeProvidence · Private nonprofit | Campus | CSWE | $60,848 |
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 Rhode Island
3 programs in Rhode Island
Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) at Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College school profile · ProvidenceFormatOn campusTuition$10,986per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 (in-state) · NCESAccreditationCSWE- FormatOn campus600-hour practicumTuition$60,848per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 · NCESAccreditationCSWE
Bachelor of Science in Social Work at Salve Regina University
Salve Regina University school profile · NewportFormatOn campus660-hour practicumTuition$47,930per year, tuition and fees 2023-24 · NCESAccreditationCSWE
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 Rhode Island
By the federal figures for 2023-24, tuition and fees at Rhode Island's BSW schools run from $10,986 at Rhode Island College to $60,848 at Providence College; the Rhode Island median is $47,930, against $13,212 nationally. Public universities charge residents less: 1 of 3 schools here are public.
| School | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island College tuitionPublic | $10,986 | $26,519 |
| Salve Regina University tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $47,930 | $47,930 |
| Providence College tuitionPrivate nonprofit | $60,848 | $60,848 |
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 Rhode Island
1 Rhode Island school also runs an MSW that admits BSW graduates with advanced standing, usually about a year of study instead of two: Rhode Island College. 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 Rhode Island
By BSWs awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), Rhode Island College has Rhode Island's largest program, followed by Providence College and Salve Regina University. Size tells you how many classmates and field placement partners to expect, not how good a program is.
| School | BSWs awarded, 2022-23 |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island College social work | 79 |
| Providence College social work | 9 |
| Salve Regina University social work | 9 |
Online BSW Options for Rhode Island Residents
Beyond Rhode Island'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 Rhode Island residents and arrange your field practicum in Rhode Island.
| 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 Rhode Island
| Occupation | Rhode Island median | U.S. median | Jobs in Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $69,870 | $59,550 | 2,450 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $47,720 | $45,930 | 2,290 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $77,570 | $80,390 | 1,370 |
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many BSW Programs Are in Rhode Island?
3 schools in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
No. Rhode Island licenses social workers from the master's level (the LCSW), so you'd need an MSW to be licensed. Many BSW jobs, such as case management and child welfare roles, don't require a license; a CSWE BSW also shortens the MSW through advanced standing.
Can Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island residents and place you in a field practicum in Rhode Island. Online BSW programs.
What Is the Most Affordable BSW in Rhode Island?
By federal figures for 2023-24, the lowest in-state tuition and fees at a Rhode Island public university with a CSWE BSW is at Rhode Island College ($10,986). Grants lower most students' price further.
Nearby States
Sources
- Official program, tuition and admissions pages of the 3 Rhode Island schools listed, reviewed October 2026
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Social Work Examiners
- 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