San Marcos, California

California State University-San Marcos MSW Programs

CSWE-accreditedCSUSM Department of Social WorkPublic

What MSW Options Does California State University-San Marcos Offer?

California State University-San Marcos offers 2 MSW options, 1 of them online. It is CSWE-accredited. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (30 units). Estimated tuition starts at $33,600.

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2 MSW Options at California State University-San Marcos

Specializations named on California State University-San Marcos's pages: Advanced generalist practice.

Admissions, Structure and Cost at California State University-San Marcos

ProgramAdvanced standingField educationGREPublished tuition
Master of Social Work (2-year hybrid and 1-year Advanced Standing hybrid, San Marcos)Starts: Fall30 units, 1 year16 hours per week first year; 20 hours per week second year2026-27 graduate tuition and mandatory campus fees: $5,522 per semester full time (6.1 units or above, including $4,274 tuition) or $3,728 part time (0-6 units); non-residents add $471 per unit (general graduate rate)
Master of Social Work Three-Year Regional Online ProgramStarts: Fall$560 per unit plus University fees each semester; no out-of-state differential

From California State University-San Marcos'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-San Marcos Compares

California State University-San Marcos's lowest estimated tuition, $33,600 for Master of Social Work Three-Year Regional Online Program, is below the national median of $40,180 (106th lowest of 349 programs with an estimate). Its MSW requires 60 credits, against a national median of 60. It awarded 69 MSWs in 2022-23 (IPEDS), 17th of 25 in California and 131st of 309 nationally among schools on this site.

California State University-San MarcosCalifornia medianU.S. median
Estimated tuition (lowest option)$33,600$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-San Marcos's MSW CSWE Accredited?

California State University-San Marcos'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-San Marcos awarded 69 MSWs in 2022-23.

From California State University-San Marcos'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-San Marcos

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

California State University-San Marcos MSW: Common Questions

Is California State University-San Marcos's MSW CSWE Accredited?

California State University-San Marcos'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-San Marcos Offer an Online MSW?

Yes. Master of Social Work Three-Year Regional Online Program is offered online.

Does California State University-San Marcos Offer Advanced Standing?

Master of Social Work (2-year hybrid and 1-year Advanced Standing hybrid, San Marcos): 30 units; 1 year; BSW from a CSWE-accredited program conferred within the past five years, 3.5 cumulative GPA expected, and at least 500 hours of social service experience.

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

Master of Social Work (2-year hybrid and 1-year Advanced Standing hybrid, San Marcos): 2026-27 graduate tuition and mandatory campus fees: $5,522 per semester full time (6.1 units or above, including $4,274 tuition) or $3,728 part time (0-6 units); non-residents add $471 per unit (general graduate rate). Master of Social Work Three-Year Regional Online Program: $560 per unit plus University fees each semester; no out-of-state differential (about $33,600 for 60 credits, before fees). Confirm current rates and fees with the school.

How Many Field Hours Does California State University-San Marcos's MSW Require?

Master of Social Work (2-year hybrid and 1-year Advanced Standing hybrid, San Marcos): 16 hours per week first year; 20 hours per week second year.

More MSW Programs in California

Sources

  1. csusm.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