San Diego, California

San Diego State University MSW Programs

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

What MSW Options Does San Diego State University Offer?

San Diego State University offers 2 MSW options, offered on campus. It is CSWE-accredited. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (38 units). Published tuition: 2026-27 graduate standard costs (full time, 9-month academic year): CSU basic tuition $8,548 plus campus fees $2,942 per year; non-residents add $471 per unit (general graduate rate).

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2 MSW Options at San Diego State University

Specializations named on San Diego State University's pages: Direct Practice / Clinical and Administration and Community Development (Macro).

Admissions, Structure and Cost at San Diego State University

ProgramAdvanced standingField educationGREPublished tuition
Master of Social Work (San Diego campus; 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year plans)Starts: Fall, Summer38 units, 1 year, beginning with summer bridge courses2026-27 graduate standard costs (full time, 9-month academic year): CSU basic tuition $8,548 plus campus fees $2,942 per year; non-residents add $471 per unit (general graduate rate)
Master of Social Work - Imperial Valley cohortStarts: Summer2026-27 graduate standard costs (full time, 9-month academic year): CSU basic tuition $8,548 per year; Imperial Valley Campus fees are $1,040 less than the $2,942 San Diego campus fees; non-residents add $471 per unit (general graduate rate)

From San Diego State 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 San Diego State University Compares

Its MSW requires 60 credits, against a national median of 60. It awarded 110 MSWs in 2022-23 (IPEDS), 10th of 25 in California and 86th of 309 nationally among schools on this site.

San Diego State UniversityCalifornia medianU.S. median
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.

MSW Dual Degrees at San Diego State University

Certificates at San Diego State University

  • Advanced Certificate in Social Work Administration
  • Pupil Personnel Services Credential

Other Social Work Degrees at San Diego State University

Is San Diego State University's MSW CSWE Accredited?

San Diego State University'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 San Diego State University awarded 110 MSWs in 2022-23.

From San Diego State 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 San Diego State University

MSW programs at other CSWE-accredited schools:

San Diego State University MSW: Common Questions

Is San Diego State University's MSW CSWE Accredited?

San Diego State University'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 San Diego State University Offer an Online MSW?

No. San Diego State University's MSW is offered on campus, according to its own pages.

Does San Diego State University Offer Advanced Standing?

Master of Social Work (San Diego campus; 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year plans): 38 units; 1 year, beginning with summer bridge courses; Undergraduate social work degree from a CSWE-accredited program earned within five years of admission.

How Much Does San Diego State University's MSW Cost?

Master of Social Work (San Diego campus; 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year plans): 2026-27 graduate standard costs (full time, 9-month academic year): CSU basic tuition $8,548 plus campus fees $2,942 per year; non-residents add $471 per unit (general graduate rate). Master of Social Work - Imperial Valley cohort: 2026-27 graduate standard costs (full time, 9-month academic year): CSU basic tuition $8,548 per year; Imperial Valley Campus fees are $1,040 less than the $2,942 San Diego campus fees; non-residents add $471 per unit (general graduate rate). Confirm current rates and fees with the school.

More MSW Programs in California

Sources

  1. socialwork.sdsu.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