Portland, Maine

University of Southern Maine MSW Programs

CSWE-accreditedSchool of Social WorkPublic

What MSW Options Does University of Southern Maine Offer?

University of Southern Maine offers 2 MSW options, offered on campus and hybrid. It is CSWE-accredited. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (33 credits). Estimated tuition starts at $36,661.

Researched and edited by · Updated

2 MSW Options at University of Southern Maine

Admissions, Structure and Cost at University of Southern Maine

ProgramAdvanced standingField educationGREPublished tuition
Standard Master of Social Work (Portland campus)Starts: Fall33 credits, 1 year full time; 2 years part time900 hours (400-hour and 500-hour field internships); advanced standing one 500-hour internshipGRE not required$601 per credit hour tuition and mandatory fees ($494 tuition + $107 fees) for in-state, Canadian and out-of-state MSW students, 2026-27
Three-Year Low-Residency Master of Social WorkStarts: Fall (cohorts every other year; next Fall 2026)900 hours (400-hour and 500-hour field internships)GRE not required$601 per credit hour tuition and mandatory fees for MSW students, 2026-27

From University of Southern Maine'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 University of Southern Maine Compares

University of Southern Maine's lowest estimated tuition, $36,661 for Standard Master of Social Work (Portland campus), is below the national median of $40,180 (131st lowest of 349 programs with an estimate). Its MSW requires 61 credits, against a national median of 60. It awarded 34 MSWs in 2022-23 (IPEDS), 3rd of 3 in Maine and 215th of 309 nationally among schools on this site.

University of Southern MaineMaine medianU.S. median
Estimated tuition (lowest option)$36,661$36,661$40,180
Credits616060

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 University of Southern Maine

  • Bachelor of Social Work (on campus). A BSW from a CSWE-accredited program is what qualifies you for advanced standing in an MSW.

Is University of Southern Maine's MSW CSWE Accredited?

University of Southern Maine'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 University of Southern Maine awarded 34 MSWs in 2022-23.

From University of Southern Maine's MSW to a Maine License

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

Maine license tiers from its social work board · License pathway planner

Similar MSW Programs to Compare With University of Southern Maine

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

University of Southern Maine MSW: Common Questions

Is University of Southern Maine's MSW CSWE Accredited?

University of Southern Maine'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 University of Southern Maine Offer an Online MSW?

No. University of Southern Maine's MSW is offered on campus and hybrid, according to its own pages.

Does University of Southern Maine Offer Advanced Standing?

Standard Master of Social Work (Portland campus): 33 credits; 1 year full time; 2 years part time; BSW from a CSWE-accredited (or CASSW-accredited) program within the last seven years.

How Much Does University of Southern Maine's MSW Cost?

Standard Master of Social Work (Portland campus): $601 per credit hour tuition and mandatory fees ($494 tuition + $107 fees) for in-state, Canadian and out-of-state MSW students, 2026-27 (about $36,661 for 61 credits, before fees). Three-Year Low-Residency Master of Social Work: $601 per credit hour tuition and mandatory fees for MSW students, 2026-27 (about $36,661 for 61 credits, before fees). Confirm current rates and fees with the school.

Does University of Southern Maine Require the GRE for Its MSW?

Standard Master of Social Work (Portland campus): GRE not required. Three-Year Low-Residency Master of Social Work: GRE not required.

How Many Field Hours Does University of Southern Maine's MSW Require?

Standard Master of Social Work (Portland campus): 900 hours (400-hour and 500-hour field internships); advanced standing one 500-hour internship. Three-Year Low-Residency Master of Social Work: 900 hours (400-hour and 500-hour field internships).

More MSW Programs in Maine

Sources

  1. usm.maine.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. Maine Board of Social Worker Licensure, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation

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