Richmond, Virginia
VCU MSW Programs
Virginia Commonwealth University
What MSW Options Does VCU Offer?
VCU offers 2 MSW options, 1 of them online. It is CSWE-accredited. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (42 credits). Estimated tuition starts at $38,040.
2 MSW Options at VCU
- FormatOn campus900 field hoursCredits60Est. tuition$7,330per term · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$38,040$634/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
Specializations named on VCU's pages: Clinical social work practice, Macro social work practice and Macro practice.
Admissions, Structure and Cost at VCU
| Program | Advanced standing | Field education | GRE | Published tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Social Work (on campus, Richmond)Starts: Fall, Summer (advanced standing) | 42 credits, 1 year (three continuous semesters: summer, fall, spring) | 900 hours across two field placements (750 hours for advanced standing) | 2026-27 Masters - Monroe Park Campus rate (the option the School of Social Work tells on-campus MSW students to select): $7,330 per semester in-state and $14,594 per semester out-of-state for 9-15 credits; $815 in-state and $1,622 out-of-state per credit for 8 credits or less; university fees and School of Social Work field instructional fees are extra | |
| Master of Social Work (online option)Starts: Fall, Spring, Summer | 42 credits (12 bridge credits and 30 concentration credits), 12 months | $634 per credit in-state; $750 per credit out-of-state; plus a $100 per-credit online program fee |
From VCU'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 VCU Compares
VCU's lowest estimated tuition, $38,040 for Master of Social Work (online option), is below the national median of $40,180 (146th lowest of 349 programs with an estimate). Its MSW requires 60 credits, against a national median of 60. It awarded 331 MSWs in 2022-23 (IPEDS), 1st of 5 in Virginia and 16th of 309 nationally among schools on this site.
| VCU | Virginia median | U.S. median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated tuition (lowest option) | $38,040 | $34,800 | $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.
MSW Dual Degrees at VCU
Certificates at VCU
- Combined M.S.W. and Certificate in Mental Health, on campus and online
- Combined M.S.W. and Certificate in Aging Studies, on campus and online
- Combined M.S.W. and Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention, on campus
- Combined M.S.W. and Certificate in Nonprofit Management
Other Social Work Degrees at VCU
- Bachelor of Social Work (on campus). A BSW from a CSWE-accredited program is what qualifies you for advanced standing in an MSW.
- Ph.D. in Social Work
Is VCU's MSW CSWE Accredited?
VCU'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 VCU awarded 331 MSWs in 2022-23.
From VCU's MSW to a Virginia License
- Earn a CSWE-accredited MSW2 years full time, or about 1 with advanced standing
- Pass the ASWB exam (Masters)For the LMSW
- Log supervised clinical hoursAt least 3,000 hours of board-registered, supervised post-master's cli…
- Earn the clinical license (LCSW)Independent clinical practice
Virginia license tiers from its social work board · License pathway planner
Similar MSW Programs to Compare With VCU
Online MSW programs at other CSWE-accredited schools, closest in estimated tuition:
Clinical Master of Social Work at Westfield State University
Westfield State University · Westfield, MAFormatOn campus, Online500 field hoursCredits66Est. tuition$38,016$576/creditAccreditationCSWEOnline Master of Social Work at Colorado State University Pueblo
Colorado State University Pueblo · Pueblo, COFormatOnlineCredits69Est. tuition$37,950$550/creditAccreditationCSWEMaster of Social Work (Distance Learning Out-of-State Online) at UT Arlington
UT Arlington · Arlington, TXFormatOnlineCredits61Est. tuition$37,922$622/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE- FormatOnline, On campusCredits62Est. tuition$37,820$610/creditAccreditationCSWE
Master of Social Work (in Person in Nampa, Idaho Falls Satellite Campus, or Live Online) at Northwest Nazarene University
Northwest Nazarene University · Nampa, IDFormatOn campus, OnlineCredits63Est. tuition$37,800$600/creditAccreditationCSWE
VCU MSW: Common Questions
Is VCU's MSW CSWE Accredited?
VCU'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 VCU Offer an Online MSW?
Yes. Master of Social Work (online option) is offered online.
Does VCU Offer Advanced Standing?
Master of Social Work (on campus, Richmond): 42 credits; 1 year (three continuous semesters: summer, fall, spring); B.S.W. from a CSWE-accredited institution earned within the previous five years and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0; full time only. Master of Social Work (online option): 42 credits (12 bridge credits and 30 concentration credits); 12 months; B.S.W. no more than five years old from a CSWE-accredited institution, undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, and an A, B or pass in senior field placement.
How Much Does VCU's MSW Cost?
Master of Social Work (on campus, Richmond): 2026-27 Masters - Monroe Park Campus rate (the option the School of Social Work tells on-campus MSW students to select): $7,330 per semester in-state and $14,594 per semester out-of-state for 9-15 credits; $815 in-state and $1,622 out-of-state per credit for 8 credits or less; university fees and School of Social Work field instructional fees are extra. Master of Social Work (online option): $634 per credit in-state; $750 per credit out-of-state; plus a $100 per-credit online program fee (about $38,040 for 60 credits, before fees). Confirm current rates and fees with the school.
How Many Field Hours Does VCU's MSW Require?
Master of Social Work (on campus, Richmond): 900 hours across two field placements (750 hours for advanced standing).