Maine · Verified September 2026
MSW Programs in Maine
Where Can You Earn an MSW in Maine, and How Do You Get Licensed?
3 schools in Maine offer 5 MSW programs we verified, including University of Maine, University of New England and University of Southern Maine. 1 can be taken online and 4 offer advanced standing. Estimated tuition runs from $33,972 to $60,600 before fees. After the MSW, Maine's clinical license is the Licensed Master Social Worker, Conditional Clinical (MC).
- Earn a CSWE-accredited MSW2 years full time, or about 1 with advanced standing
- Pass the ASWB exam (Masters)For the LM
- Log supervised clinical hoursUsually about two years of post-MSW practice
- Earn the clinical license (MC)Independent clinical practice
- programs in Maine
- 5
- schools
- 3
- CSWE-accredited schools
- 3
- offer advanced standing
- 4
- online programs
- 1
The Maine Social Work License Path
Maine Social Work Licenses
Maine Board of Social Worker Licensure, Office of Professional and Occupational RegulationLicensed Social Worker, Conditional
- Degree
- Bachelor's degree with education sufficiently related to social work or social welfare
- Exam
- none
- Supervised experience
- Must hold an active consultation agreement to practice; to advance to LS, completes 96 hours of consultation concurrent with 3,200 hours of social work employment while holding the LSX
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Licensed Social Worker
- Degree
- Bachelor's degree in social work or social welfare, or completion of the consultation requirements while licensed as an LSX
- Exam
- ASWB Bachelors
- Supervised experience
- LS applicants with a social work degree hold a consultation agreement for the first 2 to 4 years of licensure and complete 96 hours of consultation concurrent with 3,200 hours of social work employment
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Licensed Master Social Worker
- Degree
- Master's or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
- Exam
- ASWB Masters
- Independent practice
- Yes
Licensed Master Social Worker, Conditional Clinical
- Degree
- Master's or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
- Exam
- ASWB Masters
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Degree
- Master's or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program
- Exam
- ASWB Clinical
- Supervised experience
- 96 hours of consultation concurrent with 3,200 hours of social work employment in a clinical setting while licensed as an MC (Board Rules Ch. 13: within not less than 2 years, 72 hours individual; applicants with non-clinical MSW concentrations complete 192 hours of consultation concurrent with 6,400 hours over not less than 4 years)
- Independent practice
- Yes
- Social Work Licensure Compact
- Listed by the Social Work Licensure Compact as a jurisdiction that has passed the compact language; the Compact states multistate licenses are not yet being issued
From Maine Board of Social Worker Licensure, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, 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.
Maine Schools Compared
| School | Programs | Formats | CSWE | Advanced standing | Lowest est. tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of MaineOrono · Public | 2 | Campus, Hybrid | CSWE | Yes | $33,972 |
| University of Southern MainePortland · Public | 2 | Campus, Hybrid | CSWE | Yes | $36,661 |
| University of New EnglandBiddeford · Private nonprofit | 1 | Online | CSWE | Yes | $60,600 |
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 Maine
5 programs in Maine
- FormatOnline900 field hoursCredits60Est. tuition$60,600$1,010/creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campus500 field hoursCredits57Est. tuition$33,972$596/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
- FormatHybrid500 field hoursCredits57Est. tuition$37,107$651/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
Standard Master of Social Work (Portland Campus) at University of Southern Maine
University of Southern Maine · PortlandFormatOn campus900 field hoursCredits61Est. tuition$36,661$601/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWEThree-Year Low-Residency Master of Social Work at University of Southern Maine
University of Southern Maine · PortlandFormatHybrid900 field hoursCredits61Est. tuition$36,661$601/creditAccreditationCSWE
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 Maine
5 Maine programs publish enough to estimate tuition before fees, from $33,972 at University of Maine to $60,600 at University of New England. The Maine median is $36,661, against $40,180 nationally.
| Program | Credits | Est. tuition | With advanced standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maine: Master of Social Work (On-Campus, Orono)Master of Social Work (On-Campus, Orono) | 57 | $33,972 | $25,032 |
| University of Southern Maine: Standard Master of Social Work (Portland campus)Standard Master of Social Work (Portland campus) | 61 | $36,661 | $19,833 |
| University of Southern Maine: Three-Year Low-Residency Master of Social WorkThree-Year Low-Residency Master of Social Work | 61 | $36,661 | |
| University of Maine: Online-Blended Master of Social WorkOnline-Blended Master of Social Work | 57 | $37,107 | $27,342 |
| University of New England: Online Master of Social WorkOnline Master of Social Work | 60 | $60,600 | $30,300 |
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 Maine
By MSWs awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), University of New England has Maine's largest program, followed by University of Maine and University of Southern Maine. Size tells you how many classmates, alumni and field placement partners to expect, not how good a program is.
| School | MSWs awarded, 2022-23 |
|---|---|
| University of New England | 130 |
| University of Maine | 47 |
| University of Southern Maine | 34 |
Online MSW Options for Maine Residents
You aren't limited to schools in Maine: 260 online MSW programs at schools in other states accept students nationwide. Before you apply, confirm the school can enroll Maine residents online and arrange your field placement in Maine.
| 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 Maine
| Occupation | Maine median | U.S. median | Jobs in Maine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $63,290 | $59,550 | 2,000 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $71,610 | $67,880 | 790 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $57,050 | $60,280 | 1,860 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $60,280 | $71,900 | 470 |
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many MSW Programs Are in Maine?
We verified 5 MSW programs at 3 schools in Maine; 3 of those schools are listed as accredited in CSWE's directory.
What Social Work Licenses Does Maine Issue?
Maine's board (Maine Board of Social Worker Licensure, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) issues LSX, LS, LM, MC and LC. Clinical practice requires the Licensed Master Social Worker, Conditional Clinical (MC).
Can Maine Residents Earn an MSW Online?
Yes. Beyond Maine's own programs, 260 online MSW programs at schools in other states accept students nationwide; confirm each school can enroll Maine residents and place you in a field practicum in Maine. Online MSW programs.
How Much Does an MSW Cost in Maine?
Estimated tuition for Maine programs that publish a rate and their credits runs from $33,972 to $60,600 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 3 Maine schools listed, reviewed September 2026
- Maine Board of Social Worker Licensure, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation
- 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