Palo Alto, California

Palo Alto University MSW Programs

CSWE candidacyPalo Alto University Social Work ProgramPrivate nonprofit

What MSW Options Does Palo Alto University Offer?

Palo Alto University offers an MSW, offered online. It is in CSWE candidacy, not yet accredited. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (56 units). Estimated tuition starts at $57,376.

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The Palo Alto University MSW

Specializations named on Palo Alto University's pages: Culturally Informed Behavioral Health Practice, Practice with Children and Youth in School and Community Settings (CY) track and Practice with Adults in Public Behavioral Health Settings (PBH) track.

Admissions, Structure and Cost at Palo Alto University

ProgramAdvanced standingField educationGREPublished tuition
Online Master of Social Work (clinical)Starts: Fall56 units, 5 quarters900 hours of field experience (500 hours for advanced standing)GRE not requiredAcademic year 2026-27 (new students): $652 per unit tuition plus $65 per unit fees ($717 total per unit rate); school-published program total $63,096 for regular standing (88 units) and $40,152 for advanced standing (56 units)

From Palo Alto University'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 Palo Alto University Compares

Palo Alto University's lowest estimated tuition, $57,376 for Online Master of Social Work (clinical), is above the national median of $40,180 (280th lowest of 349 programs with an estimate). Its MSW requires 88 credits, against a national median of 60.

Palo Alto UniversityCalifornia medianU.S. median
Estimated tuition (lowest option)$57,376$48,600$40,180
Credits886060

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

Certificates at Palo Alto University

  • Optional Certificate in Leadership and Management in Public Behavioral Health (within the MSW), online

Is Palo Alto University's MSW CSWE Accredited?

Palo Alto University's MSW is in CSWE candidacy (September 2026): it is working toward accreditation but is not yet accredited. Most state boards require a degree from a CSWE-accredited program; CSWE's policy is that students who graduate after a program earns initial accreditation are treated as graduates of an accredited program, so confirm the program's expected accreditation date before you enroll. All CSWE-accredited MSW programs

From Palo Alto University'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 Palo Alto University

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

Palo Alto University MSW: Common Questions

Is Palo Alto University's MSW CSWE Accredited?

Palo Alto University's MSW is in CSWE candidacy (September 2026): it is working toward accreditation but is not yet accredited. Most state boards require a degree from a CSWE-accredited program; CSWE's policy is that students who graduate after a program earns initial accreditation are treated as graduates of an accredited program, so confirm the program's expected accreditation date before you enroll.

Does Palo Alto University Offer an Online MSW?

Yes. Online Master of Social Work (clinical) is offered online.

Does Palo Alto University Offer Advanced Standing?

Online Master of Social Work (clinical): 56 units; 5 quarters; Bachelor's degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program earned in the last 15 years (including ISWDRES-recognized degrees).

How Much Does Palo Alto University's MSW Cost?

Online Master of Social Work (clinical): Academic year 2026-27 (new students): $652 per unit tuition plus $65 per unit fees ($717 total per unit rate); school-published program total $63,096 for regular standing (88 units) and $40,152 for advanced standing (56 units) (about $57,376 for 88 credits, before fees). Confirm current rates and fees with the school.

Does Palo Alto University Require the GRE for Its MSW?

Online Master of Social Work (clinical): GRE not required.

How Many Field Hours Does Palo Alto University's MSW Require?

Online Master of Social Work (clinical): 900 hours of field experience (500 hours for advanced standing).

More MSW Programs in California

Sources

  1. paloaltou.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