Earning an online Master of Social Work (MSW) can be an excellent career move. Although it is possible to enter the field with a bachelor’s degree, the MSW can open the door to increased salary and leadership positions. Some kinds of social workers, such as clinical social workers, need to earn a master’s degree, perform supervised clinical experience, and apply for a license from the state in which they are practicing, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Although the median pay for a social worker is $50,390 a year, those on top of their field may earn more than $82,000. Social workers are also very much in demand, with the job outlook expected to increase by 9% — faster than average — over the next decade.
Earning your degree online can be a cost-effective and flexible way to get an MSW. In some cases, the costs are less than they would be if you were taking your courses at a brick-and-mortar college or university. If your undergraduate degree was in social work, you might save significantly in the number of credit hours that are required. You may also save on travel expenses, textbook expenses, and campus-based fees that online students do not need to pay.
How to Find the Most Affordable Online MSW Programs
If you are looking for the cheapest online MSW programs, there are a few factors to consider. Understanding how these factors may impact the costs of your degree may help you choose the most inexpensive option. Let’s take a look at some of the elements that affect the cost of MSW programs.
Cost per credit
The largest cost associated with earning your MSW is likely to be tuition. Most schools charge a fixed amount per credit hour, but this amount can vary greatly from school to school. In general, public, state-supported schools charge less than private schools. At public schools, it’s also possible that you will pay less if you attend a college or university in your home state rather than out of state. Many — but not all — public schools offer a lower rate to in-state students than out-of-state students.
When you are shopping for the most affordable online MSW program, one of the first things to do is to determine how much the institution charges for each credit hour. This information is usually found on the website, but if not, an admissions counselor can outline the tuition costs for you.
Number of credits required
The number of credit hours you’ll need to earn for your degree can also vary from school to school. For many programs, you can expect to earn anywhere from 45 to 60 credit hours to complete your degree. If you have previous classroom or work experience, your institution may credit that in your favor, which means you’ll need fewer class credits.
Students earn credit hours for all courses taken as well as for internships or clinical experiences. An average classroom-based course, for example, may be worth three credit hours. The fewer the number of credit hours required for your program, the less you’ll pay in total for your degree.
Transfer credits
If you’ve taken advanced courses in the past, you may be able to transfer that credit to your current institution, which will also decrease your total tuition cost. When applying to your chosen school, be sure you find out if your past credits are transferable. Each school has its own policies on transfer credit, but it can save you significantly if the college you’ve chosen accepts credits that you’ve earned in the past.
Some programs accept your real-world professional experience in lieu of some credit hours too. If you are already working in the field of social work, ask your admissions counselor if any of that experience can translate into credits earned.
Scholarship opportunities
Every school also has a list of scholarships, grants, loans, and other financial sources that can decrease the cost of your degree. You should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) when you are in the process of applying. Next, meet with a financial aid counselor at your chosen school. Most schools offer financial assistance for students, whether it consists of grants and scholarships or loans. If you were an exceptional student at the undergraduate level, you may be eligible for merit-based scholarships, as schools will want to encourage you to apply.
Finally, note that there are other financial aid sources outside of the government and your school. Private companies and other organizations offer fellowships and aid to students who fit specific criteria. If you are working, for example, your employer may offer funding assistance. It may take some legwork to track down these external funding sources, but it can save you considerably on your college costs.
Distance learning fees
In addition to tuition costs, most schools charge students, both online and in-person, other fees to cover everything from lab supplies to internet infrastructure. These costs may not be immediately apparent when you go to apply. Check the institution’s website, which may feature a list of fees. Although these are unlikely to be as costly as your tuition, they can add up, especially if there is more than one fee you are required to pay.
Online students will likely have to pay a distance learning fee to cover the cost of the technology used to present classes and cover technology costs. These fees vary greatly from school to school, so be sure to check with each institution you’re considering to see how they add to the cost of your MSW program.
Our Research
This list features some of the cheapest online MSW programs in the country. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for postsecondary institutions.
We evaluated the tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation of each program on this list. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of the cheapest online MSW programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify your program search. We’ve pored through these rankings so you don’t have to.
The 50 Cheapest Online MSW Programs
