CSWE-Accredited BSW Program Directory
Bachelor of Social Work Programs: Every Accredited BSW, Compared
A bachelor of social work (BSW) is the four-year professional degree that starts a social work career, and only programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education qualify you for bachelor-level licensure and advanced standing in an MSW. BestBSWPrograms lists every CSWE-accredited bachelor's in social work program in the United States, ranked and compared on accreditation history, delivery format, tuition and research standing.
536
CSWE-accredited programs
50
States covered, plus DC and Puerto Rico
$46K-$68K
Median BSW-career pay
+7%
Projected job growth, 2024 to 2034
Program data from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. Wage and employment data from BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Before you apply
What to Weigh When Choosing a Bachelor of Social Work Program
CSWE accreditation
A CSWE-accredited BSW is required to sit for a bachelor-level social work license and to qualify for Advanced Standing MSW admission. Every program here is verified against the official CSWE directory.
How we verify and rank →Bachelor-level licensure
In 41 states a CSWE-accredited BSW lets you sit for an entry-level license, usually the LBSW, after passing the ASWB Bachelors exam. Rules vary by state.
BSW licenses by state →Cost and delivery
Programs differ widely on online versus on-campus delivery, full-time and part-time options, and tuition. Weigh them side by side before you apply.
Compare programs →The directory
How Many Accredited BSW Programs Are There? 536
Filter the full directory by delivery format, schedule, research tier, and tuition.
By delivery format
- Online 12 · 2%
- Hybrid 136 · 25%
- On-campus 388 · 72%
148 programs offer at least one online option.
By research tier and breadth
78
at R1 research universities
72
at R2 research universities
146
offer an embedded certificate
53
offer a dual-degree path
Prestige uses each institution's 2025 Carnegie research classification.
By state
Find CSWE-Accredited BSW Programs in Your State
Licensure rules, tuition, and wages are state-specific. Start with your state. Includes DC and Puerto Rico.
Start here
BSW Program Rankings and Comparison Tools
Ranking
Best BSW Programs
The top CSWE-accredited programs nationally, scored on a five-factor model.
Explore →Ranking
Best Online BSW
The online-eligible programs ranked on delivery, flexibility, and accreditation.
Explore →Tool
Compare Programs
Filter all 536 programs and compare up to five side by side.
Explore →Tool
Compare Salaries
Median pay, hourly wages, and percentiles across every BSW career.
Explore →Reference
Credentials and Licensure
Bachelor-level licenses by state and the ASWB Bachelors exam.
Explore →Reference
Our Methodology
Exactly how each program is scored, and where every data point comes from.
Explore →Where a BSW leads
Social Work Careers and Pay for BSW Graduates
National median wages for the front-line careers a CSWE-accredited BSW opens up.
| Career | Median salary | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Medical or Hospital Social Worker | $67,880 | Salary / Career |
| Behavioral-Health and Substance-Use Support Specialist | $60,280 | Salary / Career |
| Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW) | $59,550 | Salary / Career |
| School Social Worker | $59,550 | Salary / Career |
| Child, Family, and Child-Welfare Caseworker | $59,550 | Salary / Career |
| Case Manager and Care Coordinator | $45,930 | Salary / Career |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), national figures. Several BSW roles share a BLS occupation.
Guides
Guides to the Social Work Degree and the BSW
Plain answers to the questions people ask before they pick a program: what each social work degree leads to, what a BSW involves, how fast it can be finished online, what it costs and how it shortens an MSW.
- Social Work Degree: Types, Levels and Where Each Leads Associate, BSW, MSW, DSW and PhD compared.
- BSW Degree: What It Is and What It Qualifies You For Coursework, admission to the major and licensure.
- Fast-Track and Accelerated Online Social Work Degrees What can be shortened, and the 400 hours that cannot.
- Cheapest Online BSW Programs Tuition compared on the same basis.
- Advanced Standing MSW Programs for BSW Graduates Who qualifies and how much of the MSW it saves.
- Can You Earn a BSW Part-Time? Part-time plans of study and the practicum.
After the degree
Social Work Licensure With a Bachelor's in Social Work
A BSW is the entry credential for social work. In most states you can earn the LBSW after passing the ASWB Bachelors exam, then advance to the master's (LMSW) and clinical (LCSW) levels. A CSWE-accredited BSW also qualifies you for Advanced Standing MSW admission, which can shorten a master's to about a year.
Explore credentials-
LBSW
The entry-level bachelor license, a protected title in the 41 states that license at this level.
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ASWB Bachelors exam
The national entry-level licensing exam, taken after a CSWE-accredited BSW.
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Advanced Standing
A BSW can shorten an MSW to about a year for those pursuing clinical practice.
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BSW careers
The front-line roles a BSW prepares you for, with BLS pay and outlook.
About this data
Accreditation status and program structure come directly from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. Prestige uses the 2025 Carnegie Classifications. Wage and employment figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine, with licensure data from the ASWB. Rankings follow a published, five-factor model, applied the same way to every program. See our methodology for the full breakdown.