Verified September 2026

Clinical and Mental Health MSW Programs

Which MSW Programs Offer a Clinical or Mental Health Specialization?

A masters in clinical social work is an MSW with a clinical or mental health concentration, and 256 program options at 207 schools in 46 states offer one. Estimated tuition runs from $11,155 at Florida Atlantic University's online advanced standing MSW to $116,155 at NYU's campus and online MSW. The degree is the first step to the LCSW, which in Texas and California also takes 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience and the ASWB Clinical exam.

Researched and edited by · Updated

programs
256
schools
207
CSWE-accredited
224
offer advanced standing
238
median estimated tuition
$41,175
median credits
60
A clinician with a notebook listens to a client during a counseling session in a bright office
Photo: Vitaly Gariev / Pexels

What a Masters in Clinical Social Work Actually Is

A masters in clinical social work is a Master of Social Work (MSW) with a clinical, mental health or behavioral health concentration. Schools award the MSW itself; the clinical part is the concentration, which shapes the second half of your coursework and your advanced field placement.

Every CSWE-accredited MSW is built on CSWE’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), which set a generalist curriculum and a specialized one. The clinical concentration is the specialized part. That is why the same school can offer a 60-credit traditional clinical MSW and a much shorter advanced standing version: BSW graduates have already done the generalist part.

The concentration goes by many names. Schools in this set call it “Advanced Clinical Practice,” “Mental Health and Trauma,” “Behavioral Health & Integrated Practice (BHIP),” “Community Mental Health (CMH),” “Adult Mental Health & Wellness” or “Clinical Practice with Individuals and Families.” If a program’s concentration trains you to assess, diagnose and treat, it belongs here.

Who a Clinical MSW Suits

The clinical track fits you if you want to provide therapy, work in behavioral health, or eventually practice independently. The Bureau of Labor Statistics describes clinical social workers as the ones who “diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional problems,” and all states require them to be licensed. The clinical MSW is the degree that starts that license path.

It also suits people who want range. Of the 256 clinical options here, 74 also list a child and family concentration, 55 a health concentration and 25 a substance use concentration, so you can pair clinical skills with a population. If you would rather run programs or shape policy, compare macro social work MSW programs first; 99 schools in this set offer a macro track alongside the clinical one.

The Numbers Behind 256 Clinical MSW Options

The spread is wide, and the numbers tell you where to look:

  • Format: 129 options are online, 130 on campus and 40 hybrid; 169 offer a part-time plan.
  • Accreditation: 224 are CSWE-accredited. The other 32 are in CSWE candidacy or pre-candidacy.
  • Length: the median traditional program is 60 credits. Advanced standing, offered by 238 options, has a median of 33 credits.
  • Field education: the median is 900 practicum hours.
  • Cost: 187 options publish enough to estimate tuition. Estimated tuition (published per-credit rate times credits, before fees) runs from $11,155 to $116,155, with a median of $41,175. Per-credit rates run from $203 to $2,322, with a median of $675.
  • GRE: 93 options say the GRE is not required or can be waived. One requires it.

15 Most Affordable Clinical and Mental Health 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. Florida Atlantic University: Master of Social Work - 100% Online Advanced StandingMaster of Social Work - 100% Online Advanced Standing

    $11,155estimated tuition

    Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL, public) offers this online MSW in 30 credits (as few as 3 semesters (full time only)). At $372 per credit, estimated tuition is $11,155 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing. No GRE required. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $371.82 per credit hour for Florida residents (graduate tuition and fees, 2026-2027; online courses add a $30 per credit distance learning fee) (2026-27)

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

  2. Savannah State University: Master of Social WorkMaster of Social Work

    $12,180estimated tuition

    Savannah State University (Savannah, GA, public) offers this on campus MSW in 60 credits (two years (minimum 15 credit hours per semester)). At $203 per credit, estimated tuition is $12,180 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (33 credit hours, 12 months), about $6,699 in tuition at the same rate. No GRE required. Field education: 900 clock hours of field practicum (400 hours foundation year, 500 hours advanced year). CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $203 per credit hour in-state; $800 per credit hour out-of-state (graduate tuition) (2026-27)

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

  3. Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus: Maestría En Trabajo Social Clínico (Master in Social Work, Specialization in Clinical Social Work) - Carolina, Cabo Rojo and Santa IsabelMaestría En Trabajo Social Clínico (Master in Social Work, Specialization in Clinical Social Work) - Carolina, Cabo Rojo and Santa Isabel

    $12,420estimated tuition

    Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus (Gurabo, PR, private nonprofit) offers this on campus MSW in 54 credits (3-year and 2-year sequences (8-week sessions); 1.5-year advanced program). At $230 per credit, estimated tuition is $12,420 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (up to 26 credits waived, 1.5 years), about $5,980 in tuition at the same rate. CSWE-accredited.

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

    How the Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus MSW is structured · Monthly payment on a Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus MSW · Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus school profile and CSWE status

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

    $12,474estimated tuition

    Fort Valley State University (Fort Valley, GA, public) offers this online MSW in 54 credits (2 years full time; 3 years part time). At $231 per credit, estimated tuition is $12,474 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (30 credit hours, 1 year), about $6,930 in tuition at the same rate. A part-time plan is offered. In CSWE candidacy (not yet accredited).

    School's tuition wording: $231 per credit hour (FVSU Online graduate rate) plus an Online Learning Fee of $380 for students in all-online classes (2026-27)

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

  5. East Carolina University: Master of Social Work, Part-Time Online (Regular Pathway and Advanced Standing)Master of Social Work, Part-Time Online (Regular Pathway and Advanced Standing)

    $16,624estimated tuition

    East Carolina University (Greenville, NC, public) offers this online MSW in 60 credits (3 years part time). At $277 per credit, estimated tuition is $16,624 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (42 credit hours, 3 years part time), about $11,637 in tuition at the same rate. A part-time plan is offered. Field education: 1,032 hours of field education (regular pathway); 672 hours (advanced standing). CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: Fall 2026 distance education graduate tuition: resident $277.06 per credit hour; non-resident $1,044.06 per credit hour; plus $45.00 per credit hour additional tuition for all MS of Social Work programs and DE fees (2026-27)

    What the East Carolina University MSW asks of applicants · Loan gap at East Carolina University under 2026 limits · Compare East Carolina University's other formats

  6. Malone University: Master of Social Work (MSW), OnlineMaster of Social Work (MSW), Online

    $16,950estimated tuition

    Malone University (Canton, OH, private nonprofit) offers this online MSW in 30 credits (1-3 years). At $565 per credit, estimated tuition is $16,950 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing. Field education: 400 practicum hours in the generalist year and 500 in the specialization year. In CSWE pre-candidacy (not yet accredited).

    School's tuition wording: $565 per credit hour

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

  7. Kennesaw State University: Master of Social WorkMaster of Social Work

    $18,360estimated tuition

    Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, GA, public) offers this on campus MSW in 60 credits (two years (four academic semesters)). At $306 per credit, estimated tuition is $18,360 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (36 credit hours, 3 semesters (Summer-Fall-Spring)), about $11,016 in tuition at the same rate. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $306 per credit hour in-state; $1,175 per credit hour out-of-state; student fees billed separately (graduate tuition, Fall 2026-Summer 2027) (2026-27)

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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. University of Arkansas at Little Rock: Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)Master of Social Work (M.S.W.)

    $20,625estimated tuition

    University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, AR, public) offers this on campus and online MSW in 60 credits (2 years full time; 3 years part time). At $344 per credit, estimated tuition is $20,625 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: $343.75 per credit hour resident; $776.50 per credit hour non-resident; plus $15.50 per credit hour technology fee (2026-27)

    What the University of Arkansas at Little Rock MSW asks of applicants · Loan gap at University of Arkansas at Little Rock under 2026 limits

  11. New Mexico Highlands University: Master of Social Work (Las Vegas Main Campus and Five New Mexico Centers)Master of Social Work (Las Vegas Main Campus and Five New Mexico Centers)

    $20,686estimated tuition

    New Mexico Highlands University (Las Vegas, NM, public) offers this on campus and hybrid MSW in 63 credits (24 months full time; 36 months part time; must finish within 5 calendar years). At $328 per credit, estimated tuition is $20,686 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (32 credit hours, 9-12 months), about $10,507 in tuition at the same rate. A part-time plan is offered. Field education: two field practicums, each spanning two semesters. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: Graduate tuition and fees $328.35 per credit hour (resident), $527.35 (non-resident); Fall 2026-Summer 2027 (2026-27)

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

  12. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston: MSW in Clinical Social WorkMSW in Clinical Social Work

    $21,700estimated tuition

    The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (Houston, TX, public) offers this MSW in 62 credits (2 years full time). At $350 per credit, estimated tuition is $21,700 before fees. That is the resident rate; the school publishes a different rate for nonresidents. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (30 semester credit hours including 12 practicum SCH), about $10,500 in tuition at the same rate. No GRE required. Field education: 1,020 field hours (540 field hours for advanced standing). In CSWE pre-candidacy (not yet accredited).

    School's tuition wording: 2026-27 tuition: $350 per semester credit hour resident; $1,256 per semester credit hour non-resident; plus school fees including a $235 per semester clinical placement fee

    Admission rules for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston's MSW · Can federal loans cover The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston?

  13. Minnesota State University Moorhead: Master of Social Work (MSW)Master of Social Work (MSW)

    $21,794estimated tuition

    Minnesota State University Moorhead (Moorhead, MN, public) offers this online MSW in 31 credits. At $703 per credit, estimated tuition is $21,794 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing. Field education: field Practicum I-II 200 hours each (foundation); Field Practicum III-IV 250 hours each (specialization). CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $703.04 per credit (MSW program rate)

    How the Minnesota State University Moorhead MSW is structured · Monthly payment on a Minnesota State University Moorhead MSW

  14. Arkansas State University: Master of Social Work (MSW) OnlineMaster of Social Work (MSW) Online

    $22,050estimated tuition

    Arkansas State University (Jonesboro, AR, public) offers this online MSW in 63 credits (as few as 25 months). At $350 per credit, estimated tuition is $22,050 before fees. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (36 credit hours, as few as 12 months), about $12,600 in tuition at the same rate. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $350 per credit hour, all fees included, same rate for all U.S. residents (listed total tuition $22,050 standard; $12,600 advanced standing)

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

  15. Florida Gulf Coast University: Master of Social Work (MSW)Master of Social Work (MSW)

    $22,403estimated tuition

    Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers, FL, public) offers this on campus MSW in 60 credits (2 years full time; 4 years part time). At $373 per credit, estimated tuition is $22,403 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. No GRE required. Field education: 500 hours of field education per academic year. CSWE-accredited.

    School's tuition wording: $373.38 per credit hour for Florida residents; $1,439.75 per credit hour for non-residents (graduate tuition and fees)

    What the Florida Gulf Coast University MSW asks of applicants · Loan gap at Florida Gulf Coast University under 2026 limits

All 256 Clinical and Mental Health MSW Programs

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

256 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 Clinical MSW Programs Compare on Cost and Length

The table below puts well-known and low-cost clinical options side by side. Estimated tuition is the published per-credit rate times credits, before fees, at the resident rate where the school sets a resident and nonresident split.

Program Format Credits Advanced standing Field hours Estimated tuition CSWE
Savannah State University MSW Campus 60 33 credits, 12 months 900 $12,180 Accredited
Kennesaw State University MSW Campus 60 36 credits, 3 semesters $18,360 Accredited
Arkansas State University online MSW Online 63 36 credits, as few as 12 months $22,050 Accredited
University of Illinois iMSW Online 44 32 credits plus field 900 minimum $27,412 Accredited
CUNY Hunter College MSW Campus 60 36 credits, 3 semesters $37,200 Accredited
Portland State University MSW Campus, online 78 46 credits, 4 terms 900 $46,098 Accredited
Walden University online MSW Online 92 quarter 52 quarter credits 900 $52,440 Accredited
Tulane University online MSW Online 60 45 credits, 12 months 900 $87,540 Accredited
Case Western Reserve online MSW Online 60 39 credits 900 $102,000 Accredited
USC MSW Campus, hybrid 48 units 24 units, 12 months 1,200 $111,456 Accredited

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

Two patterns stand out. First, public schools in Georgia and Arkansas dominate the low end: Savannah State’s in-state rate is $203 per credit hour, the lowest in the set. Second, credits are not comparable across calendars. Walden’s 92 credits are quarter credits, and USC’s 48 are units at $2,322 each, which is how a shorter-looking program lands near the top on cost.

Advanced standing changes the math the most. Case Western’s estimate drops from $102,000 to $66,300 with advanced standing, Hunter’s from $37,200 to $22,320, and the Illinois iMSW’s from $27,412 to $19,936. Check your eligibility with the advanced standing checker, then price your own plan in the MSW cost calculator.

What You Study in a Clinical Concentration

The first half of a traditional MSW is generalist: practice skills, human behavior, policy, research and ethics. The clinical half is where programs differ. Some split clinical work by population, some by setting, and some by approach:

  • By population: USC runs an “Adult Mental Health & Wellness” track; Daemen University’s online MSW focuses on “Advanced clinical practice with children, youth and families.”
  • By setting: Palo Alto University’s online clinical MSW, in candidacy, offers a “Practice with Adults in Public Behavioral Health Settings” track; UTHealth Houston’s MSW, in pre-candidacy, covers clinical and medical social work.
  • By approach: Case Western lists “Trauma and Healing,” Moravian University lists “Healing centered clinical practice,” and East Carolina University teaches “Clinical-Community Social Work Practice from a Relational Perspective.”

Several programs build in a second focus. Walden’s online MSW lists Addictions, Child and Family, Healthcare, Military and Trauma options. The University of Kentucky’s online MSW offers certificates in clinical social work, substance use disorder and trauma-responsive practice. If addiction treatment is your goal, the substance use MSW programs page narrows the list further.

Field Placements: Where Clinical Training Happens

Your advanced field placement is where the clinical concentration becomes real practice, and hours vary more than most applicants expect. The median is 900 hours, but USC requires 1,200, the University of the Pacific’s online MSW requires 1,104 (744 for advanced standing), and Loma Linda University pairs a 480-hour generalist practicum with a 600-hour clinical practicum.

Online does not mean remote fieldwork. Loma Linda’s online MSW places students “in person at approved sites,” and the University of Alabama requires 1,000 hours of in-person practicum. If you work full time, look at programs built around that: NYU’s Hybrid MSW allows its single 900-hour placement to be with your employer, and the Rutgers Intensive Weekend MSW spreads 900 hours across eight semesters at 8 hours a week.

How to Become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker

The LCSW (the title varies by state) is what lets you practice clinically without another clinician signing off. The general path looks like this:

  1. Graduate from a CSWE-accredited MSW. CSWE notes that most state and territory requirements call for graduation from an accredited program.
  2. Get your state’s master’s-level license or registration, if it has one.
  3. Complete post-degree supervised clinical experience. Of the 52 state and territory boards whose rules this site tracks, the 38 that set an hours figure range from 1,500 to 4,000 hours, and 3,000 is the middle value.
  4. Pass the ASWB Clinical exam and any state law or ethics test.

Here is how two large states apply it:

Requirement Texas LCSW California LCSW
Degree Master’s or doctorate in social work from a CSWE-accredited program, with field placement MSW, then register as an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW)
Supervised experience 3,000 hours over at least 24 months 3,000 hours over at least 104 weeks
Before you count hours Apply with your degree; at least 100 hours of supervisory sessions within the 3,000 Register as an ASW first (outside the board’s 90-day rule)
Exams ASWB Clinical plus the Texas jurisprudence exam California Law and Ethics Exam plus ASWB Clinical

The ASWB Clinical exam has 122 questions (110 scored) and a 4-hour limit, and costs US$260. For every state’s rules, see LCSW requirements by state and the ASWB exam guide, or map your own route with the license pathway tool. State pages such as Texas and California pair each board’s rules with local programs.

If you may move, note that the Social Work Licensure Compact’s site lists 33 jurisdictions that have passed the compact language as of September 2026. It is meant to let a licensed social worker practice across member states, but multistate licenses are not yet being issued.

Clinical Social Worker Jobs, Settings and Pay

The BLS says clinical social workers provide individual, group, family and couples therapy, help clients build strategies to change behavior or cope with hard situations, and refer them to other services. Across all social workers, the largest employers are state and local government (27%), individual and family services (17%), ambulatory healthcare (15%), hospitals (10%) and schools (10%). Most work in offices, and some work evenings, weekends or on call.

For pay, the closest BLS occupation is mental health and substance abuse social workers, which the BLS says “often are licensed clinical social workers.” In May 2025, 132,810 held these jobs nationally, with a median wage of $60,280. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $39,740 and the top 10% over $104,170. State matters: the median was $79,380 in New York and $79,000 in California, against $46,630 in Texas. See the social work careers guide for the other three social work occupations.

How to Choose a Clinical MSW Program

Work through this list with the program’s own pages open:

  • Accreditation first. Texas, for one, requires a CSWE-accredited degree for the LCSW. Candidacy programs such as Oakwood University’s online clinical MSW and Fort Valley State are not yet accredited, so weigh that before you enroll.
  • Advanced standing fine print. Florida Atlantic’s $11,155 online advanced standing MSW is open only to Florida residents with a 3.5 GPA in their final 60 BSW credits. Palo Alto accepts a BSW earned in the last 15 years; Moravian sets no time limit.
  • The real price. Estimates exclude fees. Fort Valley State adds a $380 online learning fee, and East Carolina adds $45.00 per credit hour for its social work programs.
  • Field hours and flexibility. Compare 900 hours with 1,200, and ask where placements happen before you commit to an online program.
  • Schedule. 169 options list a part-time plan. NYU’s 32-month evening and weekend track is for applicants with 3+ years of experience.

Trade-Offs to Weigh Before You Apply

Online versus campus. Online programs make up 129 of the 256 options and include some of the most affordable, such as Arkansas State at a flat $350 per credit hour for all U.S. residents. The catch is field education: you still need an in-person placement, and in a region with few clinical sites, finding one can slow you down.

Advanced standing versus traditional. Advanced standing cuts the median from 60 credits to 33, but eligibility windows are strict. Many schools want a BSW earned within five years, and CUNY Hunter also asks for a 3.0 overall and 3.2 in the major.

Clinical versus macro. Clinical training leads to therapy and the LCSW; macro leads to administration and policy. Programs like Rutgers, which pairs Clinical Social Work with Management and Policy, let you decide after the generalist year. Browse all options on the clinical and specialization overview or the online MSW programs list.

Accredited versus candidacy. A candidacy program can cost less, as Fort Valley State’s $12,474 estimate shows, but CSWE says graduation from an accredited program is what most licensing rules ask for. Confirm the program’s timeline to full accreditation before you pay a deposit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an MSW the Same as a Clinical Social Work Degree?

Schools award an MSW, and you choose a clinical or mental health concentration; 256 of the program options on this site list one. The clinical license (LCSW) comes after graduation, from your state board.

How Long Does a Clinical MSW Take?

A traditional clinical MSW has a median of 60 credits, about two years full time. With a CSWE-accredited BSW, advanced standing cuts the median to 33 credits; Arkansas State lists as few as 12 months, and Tulane lists 12 months full time.

Can You Become an LCSW With an Online MSW?

Yes, if the program is CSWE-accredited and you complete its in-person field placement. Texas, for example, asks for a master's in social work from a CSWE-accredited program with a completed field placement, and does not ask whether the classes were online.

Do Clinical Social Work Internships Pay?

Most MSW field placements are unpaid practicum hours, and the hours are set by the school: 900 is the median, and USC requires 1,200. Some programs let you place with your employer; NYU's Hybrid MSW says its single 900-hour placement may be with your employer.

What Is the Most Affordable Clinical MSW?

By estimated tuition, Florida Atlantic University's online advanced standing MSW at $11,155 for Florida residents, then Savannah State University at $12,180 for the full 60-credit program at the in-state rate.

Which Exam Do Clinical Social Workers Take?

The ASWB Clinical exam: 122 questions (110 scored), a 4-hour limit and a US$260 fee. Some states add their own test, such as the Texas jurisprudence exam or California's Law and Ethics Exam.

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 LCSW
  8. California Board of Behavioral Sciences: LCSW
  9. Social Work Licensure Compact: compact jurisdictions

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