Maryland · Verified September 2026
MSW Programs in Maryland
Where Can You Earn an MSW in Maryland, and How Do You Get Licensed?
3 schools in Maryland offer 6 MSW programs we verified, including Morgan State University, Salisbury University and University of Maryland School of Social Work. 3 can be taken online and 6 offer advanced standing. Estimated tuition runs from $28,086 to $52,576 before fees. After the MSW, Maryland's clinical license is the Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C).
- 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 hours2 years as a licensee with at least 3,000 hours of supervised experien…
- Earn the clinical license (LCSW-C)Independent clinical practice
- programs in Maryland
- 6
- schools
- 3
- CSWE-accredited schools
- 3
- offer advanced standing
- 6
- online programs
- 3
The Maryland Social Work License Path
Maryland Social Work Licenses
Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE), Maryland Department of HealthLicensed Bachelor Social Worker
- Degree
- Baccalaureate degree in social work from a program accredited, or a candidate for accreditation, by the Council on Social Work Education
- Exam
- ASWB Bachelors
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Licensed Master Social Worker
- Degree
- Master's degree from a program accredited, or a candidate for accreditation, by the Council on Social Work Education
- Exam
- ASWB Masters
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Licensed Certified Social Worker
- Degree
- Master's degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
- Supervised experience
- 2 years as a licensee with at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience after the master's degree, including a minimum of 100 hours of face-to-face supervision
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical
- Degree
- Master's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program, with 12 academic credits of clinical course work (at least 6 of them in the master's program)
- Exam
- ASWB Clinical
- Supervised experience
- 2 years as a licensee with at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience after the master's degree, 1,500 of them in face-to-face client contact, with a minimum of 100 hours of face-to-face supervision in assessment, diagnosis, treatment of behavioral health disorders and psychotherapy
- 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. The board's home page says there is no definite date for issuing compact licenses, likely within 9 to 12 months.
From Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE), Maryland Department of Health, 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.
Maryland Schools Compared
| School | Programs | Formats | CSWE | Advanced standing | Lowest est. tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan State UniversityBaltimore · Public | 2 | Campus, Online | CSWE | Yes | $29,700 |
| Salisbury UniversitySalisbury · Public | 2 | Hybrid, Online | CSWE | Yes | $28,086 |
| University of Maryland School of Social WorkBaltimore · Public | 2 | Hybrid, Online | CSWE | Yes | $45,160 |
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 Maryland
6 programs in Maryland
60-Credit Hybrid MSW (Baltimore or Universities at Shady Grove) at University of Maryland School of Social Work
University of Maryland School of Social Work · BaltimoreFormatHybridCredits60Est. tuition$45,160$753/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE60-Credit Online MSW at University of Maryland School of Social Work
University of Maryland School of Social Work · BaltimoreFormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$45,160$753/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWEMaster of Social Work (Hybrid, Salisbury and Four Regional Maryland Sites) at Salisbury University
Salisbury University · SalisburyFormatHybrid400 field hoursCredits62Est. tuition$28,086$453/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE- FormatOnline400 field hoursCredits62Est. tuition$52,576$848/creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOn campusCredits60Est. tuition$29,700$495/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$40,020$667/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 Maryland
6 Maryland programs publish enough to estimate tuition before fees, from $28,086 at Salisbury University to $52,576 at Salisbury University. The Maryland median is $40,020, against $40,180 nationally.
| Program | Credits | Est. tuition | With advanced standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salisbury University: Master of Social Work (hybrid, Salisbury and four regional Maryland sites)Master of Social Work (hybrid, Salisbury and four regional Maryland sites) | 62 | $28,086 | $14,496 |
| Morgan State University: Master of Social Work (campus-based)Master of Social Work (campus-based) | 60 | $29,700 | $14,850 |
| Morgan State University: Online MSW (OMSW)Online MSW (OMSW) | 60 | $40,020 | $20,010 |
| University of Maryland School of Social Work: 60-Credit Hybrid MSW (Baltimore or Universities at Shady Grove)60-Credit Hybrid MSW (Baltimore or Universities at Shady Grove) | 60 | $45,160 | $27,096 |
| University of Maryland School of Social Work: 60-Credit Online MSW60-Credit Online MSW | 60 | $45,160 | $27,096 |
| Salisbury University: Online Master of Social Work (asynchronous)Online Master of Social Work (asynchronous) | 62 | $52,576 | $27,136 |
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 Maryland
By MSWs awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), University of Maryland School of Social Work has Maryland's largest program, followed by Salisbury University and Morgan State University. 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 Maryland School of Social Work | 358 |
| Salisbury University | 171 |
| Morgan State University | 83 |
Online MSW Options for Maryland Residents
You aren't limited to schools in Maryland: 258 online MSW programs at schools in other states accept students nationwide. Before you apply, confirm the school can enroll Maryland residents online and arrange your field placement in Maryland.
| 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 Maryland
| Occupation | Maryland median | U.S. median | Jobs in Maryland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $76,390 | $59,550 | 4,710 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $76,440 | $67,880 | 4,750 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $73,580 | $60,280 | 2,250 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $75,600 | $71,900 | 1,270 |
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 Maryland Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many MSW Programs Are in Maryland?
We verified 6 MSW programs at 3 schools in Maryland; 3 of those schools are listed as accredited in CSWE's directory.
What Social Work Licenses Does Maryland Issue?
Maryland's board (Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE), Maryland Department of Health) issues LBSW, LMSW, LCSW and LCSW-C. Clinical practice requires the Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C), after 2 years as a licensee with at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience after the master's degree, 1,500 of them in face-to-face client contact, with a minimum of 100 hours of face-to-face supervision in assessment, diagnosis, treatment of behavioral health disorders and psychotherapy.
Can Maryland Residents Earn an MSW Online?
Yes. Beyond Maryland's own programs, 258 online MSW programs at schools in other states accept students nationwide; confirm each school can enroll Maryland residents and place you in a field practicum in Maryland. Online MSW programs.
How Much Does an MSW Cost in Maryland?
Estimated tuition for Maryland programs that publish a rate and their credits runs from $28,086 to $52,576 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 Maryland schools listed, reviewed September 2026
- Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE), Maryland Department of Health
- 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