Chapel Hill, North Carolina

UNC Chapel Hill MSW Programs

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

CSWE-accreditedUNC School of Social WorkPublic

What MSW Options Does UNC Chapel Hill Offer?

UNC Chapel Hill offers 2 MSW options, 1 of them online. It is CSWE-accredited. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing. Estimated tuition starts at $51,026.

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2 MSW Options at UNC Chapel Hill

Specializations named on UNC Chapel Hill's pages: Direct Practice (DP) and Community, Management, and Policy Practice (CMPP).

Admissions, Structure and Cost at UNC Chapel Hill

ProgramAdvanced standingField educationGREPublished tuition
Master of Social Work (Chapel Hill campus: full-time, part-time extended and advanced standing)Starts: FallBegins in May and graduates the following MayUp to 1,100 hours in field educationGRE not requiredNC resident $823.00 per credit hour (semester maximum $7,407.00); non-resident $1,873.40 per credit hour (semester maximum $16,860.50); fees extra
Online MSW Program (including Online Advanced Standing)Starts: Spring, Summer, Fall40 credit hours (Accelerated Bridge + Specialization)1,000 total practicum hours in the student's local community (400 generalist + 600 specialization); advanced standing 760 hoursGRE not requiredNC resident $823.00 per credit hour (semester maximum $7,407.00); non-resident $1,873.40 per credit hour (semester maximum $16,860.50); distance fee $29.42 per credit hour; $300 practicum education fee per practicum semester

From UNC Chapel Hill'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 UNC Chapel Hill Compares

UNC Chapel Hill's lowest estimated tuition, $51,026 for Master of Social Work (Chapel Hill campus: full-time, part-time extended and advanced standing), is above the national median of $40,180 (249th lowest of 349 programs with an estimate). Its MSW requires 62 credits, against a national median of 60. It awarded 139 MSWs in 2022-23 (IPEDS), 1st of 13 in North Carolina and 64th of 309 nationally among schools on this site.

UNC Chapel HillNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Estimated tuition (lowest option)$51,026$20,473$40,180
Credits626060

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 UNC Chapel Hill

Certificates at UNC Chapel Hill

  • Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership
  • Graduate Certificate in I/DD and ND Studies

Other Social Work Degrees at UNC Chapel Hill

Is UNC Chapel Hill's MSW CSWE Accredited?

UNC Chapel Hill'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 UNC Chapel Hill awarded 139 MSWs in 2022-23.

From UNC Chapel Hill's MSW to a North Carolina License

  1. Earn a CSWE-accredited MSW2 years full time, or about 1 with advanced standing
  2. Pass the ASWB exam (Masters (or ACSW examination))For the CMSW
  3. Log supervised clinical hoursUsually about two years of post-MSW practice
  4. Earn the clinical license (LCSWA)Independent clinical practice

North Carolina license tiers from its social work board · License pathway planner

Similar MSW Programs to Compare With UNC Chapel Hill

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

UNC Chapel Hill MSW: Common Questions

Is UNC Chapel Hill's MSW CSWE Accredited?

UNC Chapel Hill'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 UNC Chapel Hill Offer an Online MSW?

Yes. Online MSW Program (including Online Advanced Standing) is offered online.

Does UNC Chapel Hill Offer Advanced Standing?

Master of Social Work (Chapel Hill campus: full-time, part-time extended and advanced standing): Begins in May and graduates the following May; CSWE-accredited BSW completed before enrollment; B or higher GPA on the last 60 credit hours; B or higher in required undergraduate social work courses; 400 hours in a direct service placement with a B or higher. Online MSW Program (including Online Advanced Standing): 40 credit hours (Accelerated Bridge + Specialization); BSW from a CSWE-accredited institution; 3-5 years of post-BSW social work experience preferred; summer cohort only.

How Much Does UNC Chapel Hill's MSW Cost?

Master of Social Work (Chapel Hill campus: full-time, part-time extended and advanced standing): NC resident $823.00 per credit hour (semester maximum $7,407.00); non-resident $1,873.40 per credit hour (semester maximum $16,860.50); fees extra (about $51,026 for 62 credits, before fees). Online MSW Program (including Online Advanced Standing): NC resident $823.00 per credit hour (semester maximum $7,407.00); non-resident $1,873.40 per credit hour (semester maximum $16,860.50); distance fee $29.42 per credit hour; $300 practicum education fee per practicum semester (about $51,026 for 62 credits, before fees). Confirm current rates and fees with the school.

Does UNC Chapel Hill Require the GRE for Its MSW?

Master of Social Work (Chapel Hill campus: full-time, part-time extended and advanced standing): GRE not required. Online MSW Program (including Online Advanced Standing): GRE not required.

How Many Field Hours Does UNC Chapel Hill's MSW Require?

Master of Social Work (Chapel Hill campus: full-time, part-time extended and advanced standing): Up to 1,100 hours in field education. Online MSW Program (including Online Advanced Standing): 1,000 total practicum hours in the student's local community (400 generalist + 600 specialization); advanced standing 760 hours.

More MSW Programs in North Carolina

Sources

  1. ssw.unc.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. North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board

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