Colorado · Verified September 2026
MSW Programs in Colorado
Where Can You Earn an MSW in Colorado, and How Do You Get Licensed?
6 schools in Colorado offer 11 MSW programs we verified, including Colorado Mesa University, Colorado State University Pueblo and Colorado State University-Fort Collins. 4 can be taken online and 11 offer advanced standing. Estimated tuition runs from $36,327 to $108,540 before fees. After the MSW, Colorado's clinical license is the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
- Earn a CSWE-accredited MSW2 years full time, or about 1 with advanced standing
- Pass the ASWB examFor the LSW
- Log supervised clinical hoursAt least 2 years of practice under a licensed clinical social worker, …
- Earn the clinical license (LCSW)Independent clinical practice
- programs in Colorado
- 11
- schools
- 6
- CSWE-accredited schools
- 6
- offer advanced standing
- 11
- online programs
- 4
The Colorado Social Work License Path
Colorado Social Work Licenses
Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA)Licensed Social Worker
- Degree
- Master's or doctorate in social work from a CSWE-approved program or equivalent
- Exam
- none
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Clinical Social Worker Candidate
- Degree
- Master's or doctoral degree in social work (official transcript required)
- Exam
- none
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Provisional Social Worker
- Degree
- Master's or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Degree
- Master's or doctorate in social work from a CSWE-approved program or equivalent
- Exam
- ASWB Clinical
- Supervised experience
- At least 2 years of practice under a licensed clinical social worker, documented as 3,000 hours of clinical social work practice and 96 hours of supervision (at least 48 face-to-face individual) reasonably spread over at least 24 months.
- Independent practice
- Yes
- Social Work Licensure Compact
- Listed by the Compact Commission among jurisdictions that have passed the compact language. The Commission states the compact has reached activation but multistate licenses are not yet being issued; the Colorado licensing guide estimates the compact will become active in late 2026.
- State exam
- Colorado Mental Health Professions Jurisprudence Examination required for LSW, LCSW, SWC and SWP applicants
From Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA), reviewed 2026-09-30. Rules change; confirm with the board before you plan your supervised hours. Plan your own timeline with the license pathway planner.
Colorado Schools Compared
| School | Programs | Formats | CSWE | Advanced standing | Lowest est. tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of DenverDenver · Private nonprofit | 4 | Campus, Online, Hybrid | CSWE | Yes | $69,579 |
| Colorado State University PuebloPueblo · Public | 2 | Campus, Online | CSWE | Yes | $37,950 |
| Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins · Public | 2 | Campus, Hybrid | CSWE | Yes | $46,314 |
| Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand Junction · Public | 1 | Campus | CSWE | Yes | |
| Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver · Public | 1 | Online, Campus | CSWE | Yes | $36,327 |
| University of Colorado Colorado SpringsColorado Springs · Public | 1 | Campus, Online, Hybrid | CSWE | Yes |
From each school's own pages, reviewed September 2026. CSWE status from CSWE's directory. Estimated tuition is the published per-credit rate times the stated credits, before fees, or the school's published total.
Every MSW Program in Colorado
11 programs in Colorado
- FormatOn campusCredits81Est. tuition$108,540$1,340/creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnline900 field hoursCredits–Est. tuition$78,000published totalAccreditationCSWE
- FormatHybridCredits81Est. tuition$69,579$859/creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatHybridCredits81Est. tuition$69,579$859/creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnline, On campus400 field hoursCredits60Est. tuition$36,327published total · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
Master of Social Work, Full-Time on Campus (Fort Collins) at Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort CollinsFormatOn campus600 field hoursCredits62Est. tuition$6,097per term · general rate · resident rateAccreditationCSWEHybrid MSW (Part Time, Delivered Through CSU Online; Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins Cohorts) at Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Colorado State University-Fort Collins · Fort CollinsFormatHybrid600 field hoursCredits62Est. tuition$46,314$747/creditAccreditationCSWESocial Work, MSW at University of Colorado Colorado Springs
University of Colorado Colorado Springs · Colorado SpringsFormatOn campus, Online, HybridCredits60Est. tuition$6,661per term · resident rateAccreditationCSWEMaster of Social Work (Weekend In-Person, Colorado Springs and Pueblo) at Colorado State University Pueblo
Colorado State University Pueblo · PuebloFormatOn campus948 field hoursCredits69Est. tuition$442per credit · general rate · resident rateAccreditationCSWEOnline Master of Social Work at Colorado State University Pueblo
Colorado State University Pueblo · PuebloFormatOnlineCredits69Est. tuition$37,950$550/creditAccreditationCSWEMaster of Social Work: Foundation at Colorado Mesa University
Colorado Mesa University · Grand JunctionFormatOn campus1,050 field hoursCredits74Est. tuition$606per credit · general rate · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
No programs match these filters.
Program facts come from each school's own pages, reviewed September 2026. Estimated tuition is the published per-credit rate times the stated credits, before fees, or the school's published program total; "resident rate" means the school charges nonresidents more. CSWE status comes from CSWE's directory of accredited programs.
What an MSW Costs in Colorado
7 Colorado programs publish enough to estimate tuition before fees, from $36,327 at Metropolitan State University of Denver to $108,540 at University of Denver. The Colorado median is $69,579, against $40,180 nationally.
| Program | Credits | Est. tuition | With advanced standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan State University of Denver: Master of Social Work (fully online or mixed traditional delivery)Master of Social Work (fully online or mixed traditional delivery) | 60 | $36,327 | |
| Colorado State University Pueblo: Online Master of Social WorkOnline Master of Social Work | 69 | $37,950 | |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins: Hybrid MSW (part time, delivered through CSU Online; Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins cohorts)Hybrid MSW (part time, delivered through CSU Online; Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins cohorts) | 62 | $46,314 | |
| University of Denver: Four Corners MSW (Durango)Four Corners MSW (Durango) | 81 | $69,579 | $46,386 |
| University of Denver: Western Colorado MSW (Glenwood Springs)Western Colorado MSW (Glenwood Springs) | 81 | $69,579 | $46,386 |
| University of Denver: MSW@Denver (online MSW)MSW@Denver (online MSW) | $78,000 | ||
| University of Denver: Denver Campus MSWDenver Campus MSW | 81 | $108,540 | $72,360 |
Public universities' figures are usually the in-state rate. Turn any program into a full cost and loan estimate with the MSW cost and loan calculator.
Largest MSW Programs in Colorado
By MSWs awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), University of Denver has Colorado's largest program, followed by Metropolitan State University of Denver and Colorado State University-Fort Collins. Size tells you how many classmates, alumni and field placement partners to expect, not how good a program is.
Online MSW Options for Colorado Residents
You aren't limited to schools in Colorado: 257 online MSW programs at schools in other states accept students nationwide. Before you apply, confirm the school can enroll Colorado residents online and arrange your field placement in Colorado.
| Lowest-cost CSWE-accredited online programs elsewhere | 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 |
| University of North Alabama: Master of Social Work (online)Master of Social Work (online) · Alabama | $14,850 |
| University of Arkansas: Online Advanced Standing Master of Social WorkOnline Advanced Standing Master of Social Work · Arkansas | $15,151 |
| East Carolina University: Master of Social Work, part-time online (Regular Pathway and Advanced Standing)Master of Social Work, part-time online (Regular Pathway and Advanced Standing) · North Carolina | $16,624 |
Compare every option on the online MSW programs page, or let the program matcher rank them for you.
Social Worker Pay in Colorado
| Occupation | Colorado median | U.S. median | Jobs in Colorado |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $63,720 | $59,550 | 8,200 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $63,480 | $67,880 | 3,670 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $65,620 | $60,280 | 1,640 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $61,610 | $71,900 | 2,190 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. A high median on few jobs describes a small market. What you can do with an MSW.
MSW Programs Near Colorado Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many MSW Programs Are in Colorado?
We verified 11 MSW programs at 6 schools in Colorado; 6 of those schools are listed as accredited in CSWE's directory.
What Social Work Licenses Does Colorado Issue?
Colorado's board (Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA)) issues LSW, SWC, SWP and LCSW. Clinical practice requires the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), after At least 2 years of practice under a licensed clinical social worker, documented as 3,000 hours of clinical social work practice and 96 hours of supervision (at least 48 face-to-face individual) reasonably spread over at least 24 months.
Can Colorado Residents Earn an MSW Online?
Yes. Beyond Colorado's own programs, 257 online MSW programs at schools in other states accept students nationwide; confirm each school can enroll Colorado residents and place you in a field practicum in Colorado. Online MSW programs.
How Much Does an MSW Cost in Colorado?
Estimated tuition for Colorado programs that publish a rate and their credits runs from $36,327 to $108,540 before fees. Public universities usually charge nonresidents more, and advanced standing cuts the total for BSW graduates.
Nearby States
Sources
- Official program, tuition and admissions pages of the 6 Colorado schools listed, reviewed September 2026
- Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA)
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), directory of accredited programs
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025