Pennsylvania · Verified September 2026
MSW Programs in Pennsylvania
Where Can You Earn an MSW in Pennsylvania, and How Do You Get Licensed?
22 schools in Pennsylvania offer 25 MSW programs we verified, including Alvernia University, Bryn Mawr College and Carlow University. 17 can be taken online and 20 offer advanced standing. Estimated tuition runs from $27,000 to $73,500 before fees. After the MSW, Pennsylvania'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 exam (Masters)For the LSW
- Log supervised clinical hoursAt least 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised clinical experience, …
- Earn the clinical license (LCSW)Independent clinical practice
- programs in Pennsylvania
- 25
- schools
- 22
- CSWE-accredited schools
- 20
- offer advanced standing
- 20
- online programs
- 17
The Pennsylvania Social Work License Path
Pennsylvania Social Work Licenses
Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional CounselorsLicensed Bachelor Social Worker
- Degree
- Bachelor's degree from a CSWE-accredited program of social work or social welfare
- Exam
- ASWB Bachelors
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Licensed Social Worker
- Degree
- Master's degree in social work or social welfare from a school accredited on the date the degree was awarded, or a doctoral degree in social work
- Exam
- ASWB Masters
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Degree
- Master's degree in social work or social welfare, or a doctoral degree in social work, from a CSWE-accredited school
- Exam
- ASWB Clinical
- Supervised experience
- At least 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised clinical experience, completed in no less than 2 years and no more than 6 years, with 500 to 1,800 hours credited in any 12-month period; the supervisor meets the supervisee for at least 2 hours for every 40 hours of experience (at least 1 hour individual and in person)
- Independent practice
- Yes
From Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, 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.
Pennsylvania Schools Compared
| School | Programs | Formats | CSWE | Advanced standing | Lowest est. tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temple UniversityPhiladelphia · Public | 2 | Campus, Online | CSWE | Yes | $71,580 |
| University of PittsburghPittsburgh · Public | 2 | Campus, Online | CSWE | Yes | $66,000 |
| Widener UniversityChester · Private nonprofit | 2 | Campus, Online | CSWE | Yes | $58,140 |
| Alvernia UniversityReading · Private nonprofit | 1 | Online | CSWE | Yes | $32,400 |
| Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr · Private nonprofit | 1 | Campus | CSWE | Yes | |
| Carlow UniversityPittsburgh · Private nonprofit | 1 | Online | CSWE | ||
| Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg · Public | 1 | Online | CSWE | Yes | |
| Eastern UniversitySaint Davids · Private nonprofit | 1 | Online | CSWE | Yes | $27,000 |
| Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown · Public | 1 | CSWE | Yes | ||
| La Salle UniversityPhiladelphia · Private nonprofit | 1 | Hybrid | CSWE | Yes | $57,300 |
| Lancaster Bible CollegeLancaster · Private nonprofit | 1 | Online | CSWE | Yes | $30,240 |
| Marywood UniversityScranton · Private nonprofit | 1 | Campus, Hybrid, Online | CSWE | $39,000 | |
| Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville · Public | 1 | Campus, Online | CSWE | Yes | |
| Moravian UniversityBethlehem · Private nonprofit | 1 | Online | CSWE | Yes | $45,000 |
| Penn (University of Pennsylvania)Philadelphia · Private nonprofit | 1 | Campus, Hybrid | CSWE | Yes | |
| Pennsylvania Western UniversityCalifornia · Public | 1 | Online | CSWE | Yes | |
| Saint Joseph's UniversityPhiladelphia · Private nonprofit | 1 | Online | CSWE | $55,614 | |
| Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaShippensburg · Public | 1 | Campus, Online, Hybrid | CSWE | Yes | |
| Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock · Public | 1 | Online | CSWE | Yes | $33,420 |
| West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester · Public | 1 | Campus | CSWE | Yes | |
| Messiah UniversityMechanicsburg · Private nonprofit | 1 | Online | Candidacy | Yes | $37,515 |
| Penn StateUniversity Park · Public | 1 | Online | Candidacy | $62,880 |
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 Pennsylvania
25 programs in Pennsylvania
- FormatOn campusCredits57Est. tuition$58,140$1,020/creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnlineCredits57Est. tuition$58,140$1,020/creditAccreditationCSWE
Master of Social Work (MSW) at Penn (University of Pennsylvania)
Penn (University of Pennsylvania) · PhiladelphiaFormatOn campus, HybridCredits–Est. tuition$60,272per yearAccreditationCSWEOnline Master of Social Work at Pennsylvania Western University
Pennsylvania Western University · CaliforniaFormatOnline900 field hoursCredits60Est. tuition$557per credit · general rate · resident rateAccreditationCSWEMaster of Social Work (Face-to-Face) at University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh · PittsburghFormatOn campusCredits60Est. tuition$27,412per year · resident rateAccreditationCSWE- FormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$66,000$1,100/creditAccreditationCSWE
Master of Social Work (West Chester Campus and Philadelphia, PASSHE Center City) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University of Pennsylvania · West ChesterFormatOn campusCredits60Est. tuition$1,704per courseAccreditationCSWEMaster of Social Work (on Site: Main Campus, Center City Saturdays) at Temple University
Temple University · PhiladelphiaFormatOn campusCredits60Est. tuition$71,580$1,193/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE- FormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$73,500$1,225/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
Master of Social Work (M.S.W., Formerly Master of Social Service) at Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr College · Bryn MawrFormatOn campusCredits–Est. tuition$5,750per courseAccreditationCSWEMaster of Social Work (Scranton, Lehigh Valley at DeSales, and Online) at Marywood University
Marywood University · ScrantonFormatOn campus, Hybrid, OnlineCredits60Est. tuition$39,000$650/creditAccreditationCSWEMillersville University and Shippensburg University Collaborative MSW (on Campus or Online) at Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania · MillersvilleFormatOn campus, OnlineCredits60Est. tuition$557per credit · general rateAccreditationCSWEMaster of Social Work at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania · KutztownFormat–Credits60Est. tuition$560per credit · general rateAccreditationCSWESocial Work (M.S.W.), Online at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · Slippery RockFormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$33,420$557/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE- FormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$32,400$540/creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatHybrid1,100 field hoursCredits60Est. tuition$57,300$955/creditAccreditationCSWE
Millersville University and Shippensburg University Collaborative MSW (on Campus or Online) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania · ShippensburgFormatOn campus, Online, HybridCredits60Est. tuition$557per credit · general rate · resident rateAccreditationCSWEMaster of Social Work (Online) at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · BloomsburgFormatOnline900 field hoursCredits60Est. tuition$557per credit · general rate · resident rateAccreditationCSWE- FormatOnlineCredits–Est. tuition$670per creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$30,240$504/credit · resident rateAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$27,000$450/creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnlineCredits61Est. tuition$37,515$615/creditAccreditationCandidacy
- FormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$45,000$750/creditAccreditationCSWE
- FormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$62,880$1,048/creditAccreditationCandidacy
- FormatOnlineCredits62Est. tuition$55,614$897/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 Pennsylvania
15 Pennsylvania programs publish enough to estimate tuition before fees, from $27,000 at Eastern University to $73,500 at Temple University. The Pennsylvania median is $55,614, against $40,180 nationally.
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 Pennsylvania
By MSWs awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), Widener University has Pennsylvania's largest program, followed by Penn (University of Pennsylvania) and Pennsylvania Western University. Size tells you how many classmates, alumni and field placement partners to expect, not how good a program is.
Online MSW Options for Pennsylvania Residents
You aren't limited to schools in Pennsylvania: 244 online MSW programs at schools in other states accept students nationwide. Before you apply, confirm the school can enroll Pennsylvania residents online and arrange your field placement in Pennsylvania.
| 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 Pennsylvania
| Occupation | Pennsylvania median | U.S. median | Jobs in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $50,820 | $59,550 | 16,200 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $61,900 | $67,880 | 9,630 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $48,290 | $60,280 | 3,500 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $74,430 | $71,900 | 1,730 |
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 Pennsylvania?
We verified 25 MSW programs at 22 schools in Pennsylvania; 20 of those schools are listed as accredited in CSWE's directory.
What Social Work Licenses Does Pennsylvania Issue?
Pennsylvania's board (Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors) issues LBSW, LSW and LCSW. Clinical practice requires the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), after At least 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised clinical experience, completed in no less than 2 years and no more than 6 years, with 500 to 1,800 hours credited in any 12-month period; the supervisor meets the supervisee for at least 2 hours for every 40 hours of experience (at least 1 hour individual and in person).
Can Pennsylvania Residents Earn an MSW Online?
Yes. Beyond Pennsylvania's own programs, 244 online MSW programs at schools in other states accept students nationwide; confirm each school can enroll Pennsylvania residents and place you in a field practicum in Pennsylvania. Online MSW programs.
How Much Does an MSW Cost in Pennsylvania?
Estimated tuition for Pennsylvania programs that publish a rate and their credits runs from $27,000 to $73,500 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 22 Pennsylvania schools listed, reviewed September 2026
- Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors
- 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