Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University MSW Programs

CSWE-accreditedDepartment of Social Work, College of Health and Human SciencesPublic

What MSW Options Does Western Carolina University Offer?

Western Carolina University offers an MSW, offered on campus. It is CSWE-accredited. BSW graduates can enter with advanced standing (33 graduate credit hours). Published tuition: Fall 2026-Spring 2027 tuition and required fees per semester for full-time (9+ credit hours) Master of Social Work students: in-state $6,667.50; out-of-state $12,027.00 (proposed rates, subject to approval).

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The Western Carolina University MSW

Admissions, Structure and Cost at Western Carolina University

ProgramAdvanced standingField educationGREPublished tuition
Master of Social Work (Standard and Advanced Standing; Cullowhee and Asheville Biltmore Park)33 graduate credit hours, 1 year full time (can be completed in 10 months) or 2 years part time900 hours of field practicum (standard); 600 hours (advanced standing)Fall 2026-Spring 2027 tuition and required fees per semester for full-time (9+ credit hours) Master of Social Work students: in-state $6,667.50; out-of-state $12,027.00 (proposed rates, subject to approval)

From Western Carolina 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 Western Carolina University Compares

Its MSW requires 62 credits, against a national median of 60. It awarded 69 MSWs in 2022-23 (IPEDS), 6th of 13 in North Carolina and 134th of 309 nationally among schools on this site.

Western Carolina UniversityNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
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.

Certificates at Western Carolina University

  • Addiction Studies Program
  • Culturally-Based Native Health
  • School Social Work Licensure

Other Social Work Degrees at Western Carolina University

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

Is Western Carolina University's MSW CSWE Accredited?

Western Carolina 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 Western Carolina University awarded 69 MSWs in 2022-23.

From Western Carolina University'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 Western Carolina University

MSW programs at other CSWE-accredited schools:

Western Carolina University MSW: Common Questions

Is Western Carolina University's MSW CSWE Accredited?

Western Carolina 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 Western Carolina University Offer an Online MSW?

No. Western Carolina University's MSW is offered on campus, according to its own pages.

Does Western Carolina University Offer Advanced Standing?

Master of Social Work (Standard and Advanced Standing; Cullowhee and Asheville Biltmore Park): 33 graduate credit hours; 1 year full time (can be completed in 10 months) or 2 years part time; Bachelor of Social Work earned within the last 5 years; 3.2 GPA.

How Much Does Western Carolina University's MSW Cost?

Master of Social Work (Standard and Advanced Standing; Cullowhee and Asheville Biltmore Park): Fall 2026-Spring 2027 tuition and required fees per semester for full-time (9+ credit hours) Master of Social Work students: in-state $6,667.50; out-of-state $12,027.00 (proposed rates, subject to approval). Confirm current rates and fees with the school.

How Many Field Hours Does Western Carolina University's MSW Require?

Master of Social Work (Standard and Advanced Standing; Cullowhee and Asheville Biltmore Park): 900 hours of field practicum (standard); 600 hours (advanced standing).

More MSW Programs in North Carolina

Sources

  1. wcu.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