South Carolina · Verified September 2026
MSW Programs in South Carolina
Where Can You Earn an MSW in South Carolina, and How Do You Get Licensed?
2 schools in South Carolina offer 4 MSW programs we verified, including University of South Carolina-Columbia and Winthrop University. 2 can be taken online and 4 offer advanced standing. After the MSW, South Carolina's clinical license is the Licensed Independent Social Worker - Clinical Practice (LISW-CP).
- 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 hours3,000 hours of social work practice under clinical supervision after L…
- Earn the clinical license (LISW-CP)Independent clinical practice
- programs in South Carolina
- 4
- schools
- 2
- CSWE-accredited schools
- 2
- offer advanced standing
- 4
- online programs
- 2
The South Carolina Social Work License Path
South Carolina Social Work Licenses
South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation)Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker
- Degree
- Baccalaureate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program or a program with substantially similar standards
- Exam
- ASWB Bachelors
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Licensed Master Social Worker
- Degree
- Master's or doctorate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program or a program with substantially similar standards
- Exam
- ASWB Masters
- Independent practice
- No, practice under supervision or in an agency
Licensed Independent Social Worker - Advanced Practice
- Degree
- Master's or doctorate in social work from a CSWE-accredited program, with 90 academic contact hours of course work in advanced social work practice with communities and organizations
- Exam
- ASWB (level not named in the board documents retrieved)
- Supervised experience
- 3,000 hours of social work practice under advanced practice supervision after LMSW licensure, over a minimum two-year and maximum four-year period, including at least 100 hours of face-to-face direct advanced practice supervision, under a plan filed with the board
- Independent practice
- Yes
Licensed Independent Social Worker - Clinical Practice
- Degree
- Master's or doctorate in social work from a CSWE-accredited program, with 45 academic contact hours each of psychopathology and psychodiagnostics
- Exam
- ASWB Clinical
- Supervised experience
- 3,000 hours of social work practice under clinical supervision after LMSW licensure, over a minimum two-year and maximum four-year period, including at least 100 hours of face-to-face direct clinical supervision, under a supervision plan filed with the board before supervision begins
- Independent practice
- Yes
From South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners (Department of Labor, Licensing and 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.
South Carolina Schools Compared
| School | Programs | Formats | CSWE | Advanced standing | Lowest est. tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia · Public | 2 | Campus, Hybrid, Online | CSWE | Yes | |
| Winthrop UniversityRock Hill · Public | 2 | Campus, Online | CSWE | Yes | $41,940 |
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 South Carolina
4 programs in South Carolina
Master of Social Work, In-Person (Full Time in Columbia; Extended Time in Columbia, Charleston or Greenville) at University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia · ColumbiaFormatOn campus, HybridCredits60Est. tuition$6,867per term · resident rateAccreditationCSWEOnline Master of Social Work at University of South Carolina-Columbia
University of South Carolina-Columbia · ColumbiaFormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$6,867per term · resident rateAccreditationCSWEMaster of Social Work, Full-Time Traditional and Advanced Standing (on Campus) at Winthrop University
Winthrop University · Rock HillFormatOn campusCredits60Est. tuition–AccreditationCSWE- FormatOnlineCredits60Est. tuition$41,940$699/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 South Carolina
One South Carolina program publishes enough to estimate tuition: Winthrop University, $41,940 before fees. The South Carolina median is $41,940, against $40,180 nationally.
| Program | Credits | Est. tuition | With advanced standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winthrop University: Online M.S.W. (part time)Online M.S.W. (part time) | 60 | $41,940 | $27,261 |
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 South Carolina
By MSWs awarded in 2022-23 (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS), University of South Carolina-Columbia has South Carolina's largest program, followed by Winthrop 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 South Carolina-Columbia | 167 |
| Winthrop University | 127 |
Online MSW Options for South Carolina Residents
You aren't limited to schools in South Carolina: 259 online MSW programs at schools in other states accept students nationwide. Before you apply, confirm the school can enroll South Carolina residents online and arrange your field placement in South Carolina.
| 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 South Carolina
| Occupation | South Carolina median | U.S. median | Jobs in South Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $51,800 | $59,550 | 5,520 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $60,840 | $67,880 | 3,100 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $39,930 | $60,280 | 720 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $96,350 | $71,900 | 440 |
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 South Carolina Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many MSW Programs Are in South Carolina?
We verified 4 MSW programs at 2 schools in South Carolina; 2 of those schools are listed as accredited in CSWE's directory.
What Social Work Licenses Does South Carolina Issue?
South Carolina's board (South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation)) issues LBSW, LMSW, LISW-AP and LISW-CP. Clinical practice requires the Licensed Independent Social Worker - Clinical Practice (LISW-CP), after 3,000 hours of social work practice under clinical supervision after LMSW licensure, over a minimum two-year and maximum four-year period, including at least 100 hours of face-to-face direct clinical supervision, under a supervision plan filed with the board before supervision begins.
Can South Carolina Residents Earn an MSW Online?
Yes. Beyond South Carolina's own programs, 259 online MSW programs at schools in other states accept students nationwide; confirm each school can enroll South Carolina residents and place you in a field practicum in South Carolina. Online MSW programs.
How Much Does an MSW Cost in South Carolina?
Estimated tuition for South Carolina programs that publish a rate and their credits runs from $41,940 to $41,940 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 2 South Carolina schools listed, reviewed September 2026
- South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners (Department of Labor, Licensing and 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