Long Beach, California

California State University-Long Beach MSW Programs

CSWE-accreditedCSULB School of Social Work, College of Health and Human ServicesPublic

What MSW Options Does California State University-Long Beach Offer?

California State University-Long Beach offers 2 MSW options, offered on campus. It is CSWE-accredited. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing. Estimated tuition starts at $20,924.

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2 MSW Options at California State University-Long Beach

Specializations named on California State University-Long Beach's pages: Child and Family Wellbeing, Adulthood and Aging and Integrated Health.

Admissions, Structure and Cost at California State University-Long Beach

ProgramAdvanced standingField educationGREPublished tuition
Master of Social Work (Long Beach campus: 2-year, 3-year and Advanced Standing plans)Starts: FallOfferedTwo 500-hour practicum placementsGRE not requiredEstimated total tuition and fees for California residents (as of 6/11/2026): Advanced Standing $14,962; 2-Year $20,924; 3-Year $33,720
Master of Social Work Distance Education Program (Sonoma State and CSU Channel Islands sites)Starts: FallTwo 500-hour practicum placementsGRE not requiredApproximately $525 per unit; the school's cost-benefit sheet gives expected total tuition of $31,500 for the 60-unit program (pending finalization of the Distance Education budget)

From California State University-Long Beach's own program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed September 30, 2026. Blank cells: the school's pages don't state that detail. Tuition changes each year; confirm fees with the school.

How California State University-Long Beach Compares

California State University-Long Beach's lowest estimated tuition, $20,924 for Master of Social Work (Long Beach campus: 2-year, 3-year and Advanced Standing plans), is below the national median of $40,180 (31st lowest of 349 programs with an estimate). Its MSW requires 60 credits, against a national median of 60. It awarded 222 MSWs in 2022-23 (IPEDS), 2nd of 25 in California and 35th of 309 nationally among schools on this site.

California State University-Long BeachCalifornia medianU.S. median
Estimated tuition (lowest option)$20,924$48,600$40,180
Credits606060

Medians across programs on this site that publish the figure, September 2026. The MSW cost and loan calculator adds fees and federal loan limits.

Other Social Work Degrees at California State University-Long Beach

Is California State University-Long Beach's MSW CSWE Accredited?

California State University-Long Beach's MSW is listed as accredited in the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) directory (September 2026). CSWE accredits the program, which covers every format the school offers it in. All CSWE-accredited MSW programs

Federal data (IPEDS) show California State University-Long Beach awarded 222 MSWs in 2022-23.

From California State University-Long Beach's MSW to a California License

  1. Earn a CSWE-accredited MSW2 years full time, or about 1 with advanced standing
  2. Pass the ASWB exam (California Law and Ethics Exam (must be taken annually until passed to renew the ASW registration, and passed to receive a subsequent registration))For the ASW
  3. Log supervised clinical hoursMinimum 3,000 hours over a minimum of 104 supervised weeks, including …
  4. Earn the clinical license (LCSW)Independent clinical practice

California license tiers from its social work board · License pathway planner

Similar MSW Programs to Compare With California State University-Long Beach

MSW programs at other CSWE-accredited schools, closest in estimated tuition:

California State University-Long Beach MSW: Common Questions

Is California State University-Long Beach's MSW CSWE Accredited?

California State University-Long Beach's MSW is listed as accredited in the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) directory (September 2026). CSWE accredits the program, which covers every format the school offers it in.

Does California State University-Long Beach Offer an Online MSW?

No. California State University-Long Beach's MSW is offered on campus, according to its own pages.

Does California State University-Long Beach Offer Advanced Standing?

Master of Social Work (Long Beach campus: 2-year, 3-year and Advanced Standing plans): Baccalaureate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program completed within the last 5 years.

How Much Does California State University-Long Beach's MSW Cost?

Master of Social Work (Long Beach campus: 2-year, 3-year and Advanced Standing plans): 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. Master of Social Work Distance Education Program (Sonoma State and CSU Channel Islands sites): Approximately $525 per unit; the school's cost-benefit sheet gives expected total tuition of $31,500 for the 60-unit program (pending finalization of the Distance Education budget) (about $31,500 for 60 credits, before fees). Confirm current rates and fees with the school.

Does California State University-Long Beach Require the GRE for Its MSW?

Master of Social Work (Long Beach campus: 2-year, 3-year and Advanced Standing plans): GRE not required. Master of Social Work Distance Education Program (Sonoma State and CSU Channel Islands sites): GRE not required.

How Many Field Hours Does California State University-Long Beach's MSW Require?

Master of Social Work (Long Beach campus: 2-year, 3-year and Advanced Standing plans): Two 500-hour practicum placements. Master of Social Work Distance Education Program (Sonoma State and CSU Channel Islands sites): Two 500-hour practicum placements.

More MSW Programs in California

Sources

  1. csulb.edu: program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed September 30, 2026
  2. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), directory of accredited programs (September 2026)
  3. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23
  4. California Board of Behavioral Sciences

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