San Francisco, CA · Verified September 2026
MSW Programs Near San Francisco, California
Where Can You Earn an MSW Near San Francisco?
3 schools offer a campus or hybrid MSW within 50 miles of San Francisco, the closest being San Francisco State University (30 miles), Samuel Merritt University (42 miles) and UC Berkeley (43 miles). Online MSW programs from schools elsewhere are also open to California residents.
- schools within 50 miles
- 3
- closest: San Francisco State University
- 30 mi
- offer advanced standing
- 0
- part-time options
- 1
- median estimated tuition nearby
- $63,113
Campus and Hybrid MSW Programs Within 50 Miles of San Francisco
| School and program | Distance | Format | CSWE | Est. tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco State University: Master of Social WorkMaster of Social Work · San Francisco, CA | 30 mi | Hybrid | CSWE | |
| Samuel Merritt University: Master of Social Work (three-year hybrid, part time)Master of Social Work (three-year hybrid, part time) · Oakland, CA | 42 mi | Hybrid | CSWE | $63,113 |
| UC Berkeley: Master of Social Welfare (MSW)Master of Social Welfare (MSW) · Berkeley, CA | 43 mi | On campus | CSWE |
Straight-line distance from the center of San Francisco (U.S. Census Gazetteer) to each school's main campus (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). Some programs meet at other sites; check the program page.
Advanced Standing and Part-Time MSW Options Near San Francisco
Working while you study? One program near San Francisco offers a part-time schedule, the closest at Samuel Merritt University, 42 miles away.
The lowest estimated tuition within 50 miles is $63,113 for Master of Social Work (three-year hybrid, part time) at Samuel Merritt University; 2 of the 3 schools nearby are public. Estimates are the published rate times the credits required, before fees.
Lowest-Cost CSWE-Accredited Online MSWs for San Francisco Residents
| Program | Est. tuition |
|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic University: Master of Social Work - 100% Online Advanced StandingMaster of Social Work - 100% Online Advanced Standing · Florida | $11,155 |
| Appalachian State University: Master of Social Work, Advanced Standing (App State Online)Master of Social Work, Advanced Standing (App State Online) · North Carolina | $11,359 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Metro: Maestría en Trabajo Social (MSW), Especialidad en Trabajo Social Clínico - Online / PresencialMaestría en Trabajo Social (MSW), Especialidad en Trabajo Social Clínico - Online / Presencial · Puerto Rico | $12,939 |
Online programs still place you in a supervised field practicum, so confirm the school can arrange one near San Francisco. Compare all of them on the online MSW programs and most affordable online MSW pages.
Getting Licensed in California
- Earn a CSWE-accredited MSW2 years full time, or about 1 with advanced standing
- 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
- Log supervised clinical hoursMinimum 3,000 hours over a minimum of 104 supervised weeks, including …
- Earn the clinical license (LCSW)Independent clinical practice
California license tiers from its board · Every MSW program in California
MSW Programs Near Other California Cities
- MSW programs near Stanford52 mi away · 6 within 50 mi
- MSW programs near Santa Rosa53 mi away · 8 within 100 mi
- MSW programs near Fremont62 mi away · 7 within 50 mi
- MSW programs near Antioch70 mi away · 8 within 50 mi
- MSW programs near Santa Cruz76 mi away · 4 within 50 mi
- MSW programs near Folsom121 mi away · 10 within 100 mi
Sources
- Official program pages of each school listed, reviewed September 2026
- CSWE directory of accredited programs
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 Gazetteer places file
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS institutional characteristics