Verified September 2026

Child and Family Social Work MSW Programs

Which MSW Programs Prepare You to Be a Child and Family Social Worker?

To become a child and family social worker, most people earn an MSW with a children, youth and families concentration, and 112 program options at 88 schools in 33 states offer one. Estimated tuition runs from $11,359 at Appalachian State's online advanced standing MSW to $111,456 at USC's campus and hybrid MSW, with a median of $47,700. Nearly all of them (104) are CSWE-accredited.

Researched and edited by · Updated

programs
112
schools
88
CSWE-accredited
104
offer advanced standing
99
median estimated tuition
$47,700
median credits
60
A social worker with a clipboard meets a family and their young daughter at a kitchen table
Photo: Pavel Danilyuk / Pexels

What a Child and Family Social Worker Does

The Bureau of Labor Statistics describes child and family social workers as the people who “protect vulnerable children and help families in need of assistance.” In practice that means helping families find housing, childcare or benefits such as food stamps, stepping in when children are in danger of neglect or abuse, and, for some, arranging adoptions, finding foster families or working to reunite families.

An MSW with a children, youth and families concentration trains you for that work at a deeper level than a BSW: family assessment, trauma, child development, and the policy that governs child welfare systems. The BLS notes that entry-level nonclinical jobs typically need a BSW, while clinical roles need an MSW, so the master’s is what opens therapy with children and families and supervisory positions.

Who a Child and Family MSW Suits

This concentration fits you if you want to work in child protection, foster care and adoption, family preservation, youth services or family therapy. It also suits people who already work in a child welfare agency and want to move up; 78 of the 112 options offer a part-time plan.

Many programs let you pair children and families with a second skill set. Of the 112 options, 74 also list a mental health or clinical concentration, 51 a macro track, 19 a school social work track and 16 a substance use track. If you know you want therapy with young clients, compare clinical MSW programs too; if you want to work inside schools, see school social work MSW programs.

The Numbers Behind 112 Child and Family MSW Options

  • Format: 63 options are on campus, 48 online and 16 hybrid.
  • Accreditation: 104 are CSWE-accredited; 8 are in candidacy or pre-candidacy.
  • Length: the median traditional program is 60 credits. Advanced standing, offered by 99 options, has a median of 33 credits.
  • Field education: the median is 900 practicum hours.
  • Cost: 77 options publish enough to estimate tuition. Estimated tuition (published per-credit rate times credits, before fees) runs from $11,359 to $111,456, with a median of $47,700. Per-credit rates run from $230 to $2,322, with a median of $750.
  • GRE: 56 options say the GRE is not required or can be waived; 2 require it.

12 Most Affordable Child and Family MSW Programs

How this list is ranked: lowest estimated tuition first. Estimated tuition is the school's published per-credit rate times the credits it states, before fees, or the school's own published program total, for programs that publish those figures (one program per school). General graduate rates and cost-of-attendance figures are left out. Rates were read on each school's site in September 2026.

  1. Appalachian State University: Master of Social Work, Advanced Standing (App State Online)Master of Social Work, Advanced Standing (App State Online)

    $11,359estimated tuition

    Appalachian State University (Boone, NC, public) offers this online MSW in 33 credits (1 year full time; 2 years part time). At $344 per credit, estimated tuition is $11,359 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (33 credit hours, 1 year full time; 2 years part time), about $11,359 in tuition at the same rate. A part-time plan is offered. GRE: GRE scores required unless waived. Field education: face-to-face practicum with an online seminar. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: App State Online graduate, Fall 2026/Spring 2027: NC resident $306.95 tuition plus $37.33 fees ($344.21 per credit hour); non-NC resident $1,291.00 tuition plus $37.33 fees ($1,328.33 per credit hour) (2026-27)

    Appalachian State University MSW credits, field hours and tuition · Total cost of Appalachian State University's MSW with loans · All 2 MSW options at Appalachian State University

  2. Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus: Maestría En Trabajo Social Con Especialidad En Trabajo Social Con Familias (Master in Social Work, Specialization in Social Work With Families)Maestría En Trabajo Social Con Especialidad En Trabajo Social Con Familias (Master in Social Work, Specialization in Social Work With Families)

    $12,420estimated tuition

    Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus (Gurabo, PR, private nonprofit) offers this on campus MSW in 54 credits. At $230 per credit, estimated tuition is $12,420 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (27 credits of the specialization (programa avanzado)), about $6,210 in tuition at the same rate. Field education: 300 contact hours per supervised practicum course (SOWO 515, FASW 682, FASW 683). CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $230 per credit hour (master's degree, School of Liberal Arts) (2026-27)

    Admission rules for Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus's MSW · Can federal loans cover Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus? · Compare Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus's other formats

  3. Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus: Master of Social WorkMaster of Social Work

    $19,020estimated tuition

    Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus (Portales, NM, public) offers this online MSW in 60 credits (2 years full time; part-time available). At $317 per credit, estimated tuition is $19,020 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (30 credit hours, 1 year), about $9,510 in tuition at the same rate. A part-time plan is offered. In CSWE candidacy (not yet accredited).

    School's tuition wording: $317 per credit hour (New Mexico resident graduate); $415.50 per credit hour for non-residents enrolled in more than 6 credit hours ($317 at 6 or fewer); registration fee $35-$60 per term

    How the Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus MSW is structured · Monthly payment on a Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus MSW

  4. Albany State University: Master of Social Work (Online)Master of Social Work (Online)

    $20,288estimated tuition

    Albany State University (Albany, GA, public) offers this online MSW in 64 credits (generalist Practice Year and Specialized Clinical Practice Year; all requirements within four years of admission). At $317 per credit, estimated tuition is $20,288 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing. A part-time plan is offered. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $317 per credit hour (ASU 100% Online graduate rate) plus $505 online fee (2026-27)

    Albany State University MSW format and advanced standing · Albany State University MSW cost with fees and living costs

  5. California State University-Long Beach: Master of Social Work (Long Beach Campus: 2-Year, 3-Year and Advanced Standing Plans)Master of Social Work (Long Beach Campus: 2-Year, 3-Year and Advanced Standing Plans)

    $20,924published program total

    California State University-Long Beach (Long Beach, CA, public) offers this on campus MSW in 60 credits (2-year plan (four semesters); 3-year plan (eight terms including summers)). The school publishes a program total of $20,924. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing. A part-time plan is offered. No GRE required. Field education: two 500-hour practicum placements. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: Estimated total tuition and fees for California residents (as of 6/11/2026): Advanced Standing $14,962; 2-Year $20,924; 3-Year $33,720 (2026-27)

    What the California State University-Long Beach MSW asks of applicants · Loan gap at California State University-Long Beach under 2026 limits · Compare California State University-Long Beach's other formats

  6. Governors State University: Social Work, M.S.W. (Full Program and Advanced Standing)Social Work, M.S.W. (Full Program and Advanced Standing)

    $25,260estimated tuition

    Governors State University (University Park, IL, public) offers this on campus MSW in 60 credits (as little as two years full time; three- or four-year part-time options). At $421 per credit, estimated tuition is $25,260 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (32 credit hours, as little as one year full time; two-year part-time option), about $13,472 in tuition at the same rate. A part-time plan is offered. Field education: four semesters of field education: 14 hours weekly at the generalist level and 16-20 hours weekly at the specialized level (advanced standing: 16-20 hours weekly in Fall and Spring). CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: 2026-2027 master's tuition (All Other Master's Programs): $421 per credit hour U.S. resident; $842 per credit hour non-U.S. resident (2026-27)

    Governors State University MSW credits, field hours and tuition · Total cost of Governors State University's MSW with loans

  7. Alabama a &Amp; M University: Master of Social WorkMaster of Social Work

    $25,560estimated tuition

    Alabama A & M University (Normal, AL, public) offers this on campus MSW in 60 credits (2 years (traditional); 3 or 4 years (part time)). At $426 per credit, estimated tuition is $25,560 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing. A part-time plan is offered. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: Tuition and mandatory fees $426 per hour resident; $848 per hour non-resident (Fall 2026) (2026-27)

    Admission rules for Alabama A & M University's MSW · Can federal loans cover Alabama A & M University?

  8. University of Illinois: Online MSW Program (iMSW)Online MSW Program (iMSW)

    $27,412estimated tuition

    University of Illinois (Champaign, IL, public) offers this online MSW in 44 credits. At $623 per credit, estimated tuition is $27,412 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (32 credit hours of advanced coursework plus 1-2 semesters (12-24 credit hours) of field placement), about $19,936 in tuition at the same rate. A part-time plan is offered. No GRE required. Field education: minimum 900 hours for traditional students; minimum 500 hours for advanced standing students (600 for the school social work focus area). CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $623.00 per credit hour (iMSW, 2026-2027) (2026-27)

    How the University of Illinois MSW is structured · Monthly payment on a University of Illinois MSW · Compare University of Illinois's other formats

  9. Southern University at New Orleans: Master of Social Work (MSW)Master of Social Work (MSW)

    $28,500estimated tuition

    Southern University at New Orleans (New Orleans, LA, public) offers this on campus and online MSW in 60 credits (full time: 2 years (fall and spring); part time: 3 years (fall, spring and summer)). At $475 per credit, estimated tuition is $28,500 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (36 hours of coursework (admissions page); the FAQ lists 39 credit hours, three semesters (summer, fall, spring)), about $17,100 in tuition at the same rate. A part-time plan is offered. No GRE required. Field education: 900 hours of field education (advanced standing: 450 hours). CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: SUNO Online graduate tuition $475 per semester credit hour, Fall 2026 (2026-27)

    Southern University at New Orleans MSW format and advanced standing · Southern University at New Orleans MSW cost with fees and living costs

  10. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale: Master of Social Work (Campus-Based or Online)Master of Social Work (Campus-Based or Online)

    $28,740estimated tuition

    Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (Carbondale, IL, public) offers this on campus and online MSW in 60 credits (2 years). At $479 per credit, estimated tuition is $28,740 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (9 hours of transition courses and 30 hours of advanced curriculum), about $14,370 in tuition at the same rate. A part-time plan is offered. GRE: GRE not required (required only for graduate assistantship applicants). Field education: 360 hours in the foundation year and 607 hours in the second (advanced) year; advanced standing students complete the 607-hour advanced practicum. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $479.00 per credit hour resident-equivalent graduate tuition (Fall 2026), plus a general student fee of $131.50 per hour on campus or $80.00 per hour online/off-campus (2026-27)

    What the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale MSW asks of applicants · Loan gap at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale under 2026 limits

  11. University of Alabama: Master of Social Work (Primarily Online)Master of Social Work (Primarily Online)

    $28,800estimated tuition

    University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL, public) offers this online MSW in 60 credits (2 years full time). At $480 per credit, estimated tuition is $28,800 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (42 credit hours, three semesters full time, starting in late May), about $20,160 in tuition at the same rate. Field education: 1,000 hours of in-person practicum education (Traditional); 500 hours (Advanced Standing). CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $480 per credit hour (Distance Learning graduate rate, Fall 2026/Spring 2027) (2026-27)

    University of Alabama MSW credits, field hours and tuition · Total cost of University of Alabama's MSW with loans · Compare University of Alabama's other formats

  12. Jackson State University: Master of Social WorkMaster of Social Work

    $29,811estimated tuition

    Jackson State University (Jackson, MS, public) offers this on campus and online MSW in 57 credits. At $523 per credit, estimated tuition is $29,811 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing. A part-time plan is offered. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $523 per credit hour for Mississippi residents (flat $4,704 per term at 9 or more hours); non-residents pay an additional $2,000 non-resident fee (2026-27)

    Admission rules for Jackson State University's MSW · Can federal loans cover Jackson State University?

All 112 Child and Family Social Work MSW Programs

Filter by format, schedule, advanced standing, specialization, the GRE and state; tick up to three programs to compare them side by side.

112 programs

Program facts come from each school's own pages, reviewed September 2026. Estimated tuition is the published per-credit rate times the stated credits, before fees, or the school's published program total; "resident rate" means the school charges nonresidents more. CSWE status comes from CSWE's directory of accredited programs.

How Child and Family MSW Programs Compare

The table mixes the most affordable options with larger and better-known programs. Estimated tuition is at the resident rate where a school splits resident and nonresident pricing.

Program Format Child and family focus Credits Field hours Estimated tuition Advanced standing estimate
Appalachian State online advanced standing MSW Online Individuals and Families 33 Face-to-face practicum $11,359 $11,359
Cal State Long Beach MSW Campus Child and Family Wellbeing 60 Two 500-hour placements $20,924
Governors State University MSW Campus Children and Family Practice 60 Four semesters $25,260 $13,472
Southern University at New Orleans MSW Campus, online Children, Youth, and Families 60 900 $28,500 $17,100
Southern Illinois University Carbondale MSW Campus, online Children, Youth & Families 60 360 plus 607 $28,740 $14,370
Stony Brook University MSW Campus Families, Youth, and Transition to Adulthood 68 $37,060 $19,620
Erikson Institute MSW Hybrid, online Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health 52 900 $53,560 $21,630
Montclair State online MSW Online Children, Youth and Families 60 400 plus 500 $57,720
Daemen University online MSW Online Clinical practice with children, youth and families 60 450 plus 500 $71,880 $35,940
University of Denver campus MSW Campus Child Welfare; Family Systems Practice 81 quarter $108,540 $72,360

A blank cell means the school’s program page gives no figure for that item.

Cal State Long Beach’s $20,924 is the school’s published program total for California residents on the 2-year plan; its advanced standing total is $14,962 and its 3-year plan $33,720. Everything else in the table is a per-credit estimate before fees, and fees can be real money: Southern Illinois adds a general fee of $80.00 per hour online or $131.50 on campus.

The pattern is clear. Public universities in the South and Midwest cluster at the low end, and advanced standing brings each price down further, as Governors State’s $13,472 advanced standing estimate shows. At the top, Denver’s 81 credits are quarter credits at $1,340 each. Price your own plan with the MSW cost calculator and test your eligibility with the advanced standing checker.

What You Study in a Children, Youth and Families Concentration

Concentration names tell you where a program’s emphasis sits. In this set you will find:

  • Child welfare systems: “Child Welfare” at the University of Denver, “Family & Child Welfare” at Alabama A&M, “Child Welfare Social Work Practice” at Tuskegee, and a track one school calls “Child Welfare (Title IV-E).”
  • Clinical work with young people: Daemen’s “Advanced clinical practice with children, youth and families,” Jackson State’s “Advanced direct practice with children, youth, and families” and Madonna University’s “Mental Health with Children and Youth.”
  • Development and transitions: Denver’s “Children & Youth: Risks and Healthy Development,” Stony Brook’s “Families, Youth, and Transition to Adulthood” and Erikson’s “Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health.”
  • Family systems: Denver’s “Family Systems Practice” and the College of Saint Scholastica’s online options in treatment with families and couples and treatment of trauma.

Some schools make the family focus optional. The University of Delaware, in candidacy, lists Children and Families as one of three optional concentrations. Governors State lets you choose a Child Welfare Practice or Mental Health subspecialty inside its Children and Family Practice track.

Field Placements in Child and Family Settings

Your specialized placement is where you get child welfare or family practice experience, and schools structure it differently. Clark Atlanta University asks for 16 hours a week in the foundation year and 24 in the concentration year. San Francisco State asks for two days a week in year one and three in year two. The University of Alabama requires 1,000 hours of in-person practicum, above the 900-hour median, and USC requires 1,200.

Online programs still place you in person. Appalachian State’s online option uses a face-to-face practicum with an online seminar, and Penn State World Campus, in candidacy, runs its practicum “in person at the student’s location.” If you already work in a child-serving agency, ask whether an employment-based placement is possible before you apply.

CPS Social Worker Jobs and Where the Work Happens

Child protective services (CPS) work is the part of child and family social work that the BLS describes as intervening “when children are in danger of neglect or abuse.” Much of it sits in public agencies: across all social workers, state and local government is the largest employer at 27%, followed by individual and family services at 17%.

The BLS is candid about the conditions. Most social workers are office-based but visit clients, some work evenings, weekends and holidays or are on call, and understaffing and heavy caseloads can cause stress. That is worth knowing before you commit to a child welfare track.

For pay, the BLS groups child, family and school social workers together. In May 2025 they held 392,550 jobs with a national median of $59,550; the lowest-paid 10% earned under $42,280 and the top 10% over $95,530. Location changes the picture: the median was $78,970 in Connecticut, $76,280 in New Jersey and $75,570 in Massachusetts, against $55,680 in Texas and $47,510 in Georgia. See the social work careers guide for how this compares with the other social work occupations.

Licenses for Child and Family Social Workers

Licensing rules are set by each state, so check your own board. Texas shows how the two levels work:

Step Texas LMSW Texas LCSW
Degree Master’s or doctorate in social work from a CSWE-accredited program The same, with a completed field placement
Supervised experience None required 3,000 hours over at least 24 months, with 100 hours of supervision
Exams ASWB Masters plus Texas jurisprudence ASWB Clinical plus Texas jurisprudence

In Texas the LMSW needs no post-degree supervised hours, so you can apply once you graduate and pass the two exams; the 3,000 supervised hours come into play only for the LCSW. The ASWB Masters exam costs US$230 and the Clinical exam US$260. Read more in the LMSW license guide and social work license guide, or map your state’s steps with the license pathway tool. State pages such as Texas and Illinois list local programs next to each board’s rules.

How to Choose a Child and Family MSW

  • Accreditation. CSWE says most state licensing rules require a degree from an accredited program. Penn State World Campus and the University of Delaware are in candidacy, not yet accredited.
  • Concentration depth. A named child welfare or children, youth and families concentration, as at Southern University at New Orleans, gives you more child-focused courses than an elective cluster.
  • Advanced standing fit. Windows differ: Bowling Green State asks for a BSW earned in the past three years with a 3.2 major GPA, or three years of field experience with an LSW; Erikson accepts a BSW earned within ten years.
  • Schedule. Montclair State’s online MSW runs 3 years of evening classes, and Erikson offers 20, 28, 32 or 40-month plans.
  • Where you want to work. If a state agency is the goal, a school in that state, like the Illinois programs at Governors State, Southern Illinois and Erikson, will know its local placement sites.

Trade-Offs Worth Weighing

Online versus campus. Campus programs outnumber online ones here, 63 to 48, and campus-based schools often have long-standing agency partners. Online programs like Southern University at New Orleans ($475 per credit hour) can cost less, but you or the school must find a placement near you.

Advanced standing versus traditional. Advanced standing cuts the median from 60 credits to 33 for BSW holders, but most programs want a recent BSW and a strong GPA.

Direct practice versus macro. Child and family practice is direct work with families. If you care more about fixing the systems that serve them, 51 of these options also offer a macro track; compare macro social work MSW programs and part-time MSW programs if you plan to keep working.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Need an MSW to Work in Child Welfare?

Not always. The BLS says entry-level nonclinical social work jobs typically need a bachelor's in social work, while clinical roles need an MSW. An MSW with a child and family concentration opens supervisory and therapy roles and the path to a clinical license.

How Long Is a Child and Family MSW?

The median traditional program is 60 credits, about two years full time. With a CSWE-accredited BSW, advanced standing has a median of 33 credits; Appalachian State's online advanced standing MSW is 33 credit hours over 1 year full time.

What Do Child, Family and School Social Workers Earn?

The BLS reports a national median of $59,550 in May 2025 for child, family and school social workers, across 392,550 jobs. The top 10% earned more than $95,530.

Can You Study Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health in an MSW?

Yes. Erikson Institute's hybrid or online MSW lists an Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health concentration alongside Clinical Practice: Children, Adolescents & Adults, with 900 field hours over two years.

Is a Candidacy Program Worth It for Child Welfare?

Weigh it carefully. Texas, for one, requires a CSWE-accredited degree for its LMSW. Eight child and family options are in candidacy or pre-candidacy, including Penn State World Campus and the University of Delaware.

Which Exam Do You Take for a Master's-Level License?

In Texas, the LMSW requires the ASWB Masters exam and the Texas jurisprudence exam. The ASWB Masters exam costs US$230 and has 122 questions with a 4-hour limit.

Related Program Lists

Sources

  1. Official program, tuition and admissions pages of each school listed, reviewed September 2026
  2. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), directory of accredited programs, captured September 30, 2026
  3. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2022-23 completions and institutional characteristics
  4. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Social Workers
  5. CSWE: accreditation
  6. ASWB: the social work licensing exams
  7. Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners: how to become an LMSW
  8. Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners: how to become an LCSW

Every program on this site was checked against the school's own website. Accreditation status comes only from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) directory, license rules from each state's social work board, and graduate counts from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS). Sponsored listings are labeled and never change which programs we list or how we rank them. How we verify programs