University Park, Pennsylvania
Penn State MSW Programs
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
What MSW Options Does Penn State Offer?
Penn State offers an MSW, offered online. It is in CSWE candidacy, not yet accredited. Estimated tuition starts at $62,880.
The Penn State MSW
- FormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$62,880$1,048/creditAccreditationCandidacy
Specializations named on Penn State's pages: Children and Families and Mental Health and Substance Use.
Admissions, Structure and Cost at Penn State
| Program | Advanced standing | Field education | GRE | Published tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Social Work (online, Penn State World Campus) | 12 credits of field education practicum, in person at the student's location | $1,048 per credit |
From Penn State'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 Penn State Compares
Penn State's lowest estimated tuition, $62,880 for Master of Social Work (online, Penn State World Campus), is above the national median of $40,180 (302nd lowest of 349 programs with an estimate). Its MSW requires 60 credits, against a national median of 60.
| Penn State | Pennsylvania median | U.S. median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated tuition (lowest option) | $62,880 | $55,614 | $40,180 |
| Credits | 60 | 60 | 60 |
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 Penn State
- Social Work, B.S.W. (on campus). A BSW from a CSWE-accredited program is what qualifies you for advanced standing in an MSW.
Is Penn State's MSW CSWE Accredited?
Penn State'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 Penn State's MSW to a Pennsylvania License
- Earn a CSWE-accredited MSW2 years full time, or about 1 with advanced standing
- Pass the ASWB exam (Masters)For the LSW
- Log supervised clinical hoursAt least 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised clinical experience, …
- Earn the clinical license (LCSW)Independent clinical practice
Pennsylvania license tiers from its social work board · License pathway planner
Similar MSW Programs to Compare With Penn State
Online MSW programs at other CSWE-accredited schools, closest in estimated tuition:
- FormatOnlineCredits58Est. tuition$63,800$1,100/creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnline900 field hoursCredits60Est. tuition$60,600$1,010/creditAccreditationCSWE
Master of Social Work (In-Person NYC Track and 100% Online Track) at Touro University
Touro University · New York, NYFormatOn campus, Online900 field hoursCredits65Est. tuition$60,450$930/creditAccreditationCSWEMaster of Social Work at Samford University
Samford University · Birmingham, ALFormatOnline, On campusCredits60Est. tuition$60,300$1,005/creditAccreditationCSWEOnline Master of Social Work (Low Residency) at Adelphi University
Adelphi University · Garden City, NYFormatOnline450 field hoursCredits61Est. tuition$65,575$1,075/creditAccreditationCSWE
Penn State MSW: Common Questions
Is Penn State's MSW CSWE Accredited?
Penn State'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 Penn State Offer an Online MSW?
Yes. Master of Social Work (online, Penn State World Campus) is offered online.
How Much Does Penn State's MSW Cost?
Master of Social Work (online, Penn State World Campus): $1,048 per credit (about $62,880 for 60 credits, before fees). Confirm current rates and fees with the school.
How Many Field Hours Does Penn State's MSW Require?
Master of Social Work (online, Penn State World Campus): 12 credits of field education practicum, in person at the student's location.
More MSW Programs in Pennsylvania
- Alvernia UniversityReading
- Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr
- Carlow UniversityPittsburgh
- Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg
- Eastern UniversitySaint Davids
- Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown
- La Salle UniversityPhiladelphia
- Lancaster Bible CollegeLancaster
- All MSW programs in PennsylvaniaState guide and license path
Sources
- worldcampus.psu.edu: program, admissions and tuition pages, reviewed September 30, 2026
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), directory of accredited programs (September 2026)
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23
- Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors