Northridge, California

California State University-Northridge MSW Programs

CSWE-accreditedCSUN Department of Social Work, College of Social and Behavioral SciencesPublic

What MSW Options Does California State University-Northridge Offer?

California State University-Northridge offers 2 MSW options, 1 of them online. It is CSWE-accredited. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing. Estimated tuition starts at $50,220.

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2 MSW Options at California State University-Northridge

Specializations named on California State University-Northridge's pages: Urban communities (advanced concentration) and Generalist practice.

Admissions, Structure and Cost at California State University-Northridge

ProgramAdvanced standingField educationGREPublished tuition
Master of Social Work (on campus: 2-year full time and 3-year evening)Starts: Fall2026-2027 graduate tuition and other fees: $5,019 per semester, $10,038 per year (seven or more units per semester); non-California residents add $471 per unit (general graduate rate)
Online Master of Social Work (The Tseng College)Starts: Fall, SpringHalf the time of the regular programGRE not required$837 per unit (Fall 2027); total tuition to degree $50,220

From California State University-Northridge'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-Northridge Compares

California State University-Northridge's lowest estimated tuition, $50,220 for Online Master of Social Work (The Tseng College), is above the national median of $40,180 (245th lowest of 349 programs with an estimate). Its MSW requires 60 credits, against a national median of 60. It awarded 170 MSWs in 2022-23 (IPEDS), 5th of 25 in California and 54th of 309 nationally among schools on this site.

California State University-NorthridgeCalifornia medianU.S. median
Estimated tuition (lowest option)$50,220$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.

Is California State University-Northridge's MSW CSWE Accredited?

California State University-Northridge'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-Northridge awarded 170 MSWs in 2022-23.

From California State University-Northridge'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-Northridge

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

California State University-Northridge MSW: Common Questions

Is California State University-Northridge's MSW CSWE Accredited?

California State University-Northridge'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-Northridge Offer an Online MSW?

Yes. Online Master of Social Work (The Tseng College) is offered online.

Does California State University-Northridge Offer Advanced Standing?

Online Master of Social Work (The Tseng College): Half the time of the regular program; Bachelor of Social Work; fall start.

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

Master of Social Work (on campus: 2-year full time and 3-year evening): 2026-2027 graduate tuition and other fees: $5,019 per semester, $10,038 per year (seven or more units per semester); non-California residents add $471 per unit (general graduate rate). Online Master of Social Work (The Tseng College): $837 per unit (Fall 2027); total tuition to degree $50,220 (about $50,220 for 60 credits, before fees). Confirm current rates and fees with the school.

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

Online Master of Social Work (The Tseng College): GRE not required.

More MSW Programs in California

Sources

  1. csun.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