Michigan has 20 CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work programs, the authoritative count from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. The longest-accredited is University of Detroit Mercy, which has held CSWE accreditation since 1968. 5 of the 20 record an online option; the rest are campus-based. 2 are hosted at a Carnegie R1 (very high research) university and 2 at a Carnegie R2 (high research) university.
Each program below is scored on the same five-factor model used in our national ranking, so the order reflects accreditation longevity, delivery and schedule flexibility, program breadth, and the institution's Carnegie research tier, all applied identically nationwide. A program marked National # ranks among the top 20 of all 537 accredited BSW programs in the country, per our five-factor scoring method.
All 20 CSWE-Accredited BSW Programs in Michigan
Accreditation status, dates, locations, online option, and program details are sourced directly from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. Tuition is shown for reference only and is not factored into the score.
- #1 National #1
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · Online or On-Campus
9.3
Online or On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full & part-time 1 campus + online 6 certificates Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
Michigan State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The BASW is offered both online and on campus (East Lansing, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 6 embedded certificates (Child and Family, Child Welfare, Gerontology, and more). Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $16,916 · Out-of-state $44,300 / year
2025-26 tuition, full-time lower-division · msu.edu
Locations
East Lansing, MI (1974-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 10.0
- #2
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · Online or On-Campus
8.6
Online or On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full & part-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
Wayne State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Detroit, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $13,643 · Out-of-state $31,248 / year
2025-26 tuition · wayne.edu
Locations
Detroit, MI (1974-present); Online (2018-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #3
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · Online or On-Campus
8.0
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online 1 certificate Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
Northern Michigan University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Marquette, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $14,702 · Out-of-state $20,198 / year
2025-26 tuition & fees, lower-division · nmu.edu
Locations
Marquette, MI (1974-present); Online (2023-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #4
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
8.0
On-Campus Carnegie R2 Full & part-time 1 campus 2 certificates Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
Eastern Michigan University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Ypsilanti, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 2 embedded certificates (Child Welfare, School Social Work). Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Ypsilanti, MI (1974-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 7.5
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #5
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1975 · On-Campus
7.8
On-Campus Carnegie R2 Full & part-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1975Why it ranks here
Western Michigan University has held CSWE accreditation since 1975, 51 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Kalamazoo, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare). Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Kalamazoo, MI (1975-present); Benton Harbor, MI (1975-2020)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 7.5
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #6
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1982 · On-Campus
7.4
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 3 certificates Accred. since 1982Why it ranks here
Saginaw Valley State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1982, 44 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (University Center, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 3 embedded certificates (Child Welfare, Gerontology, Other).
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
University Center, MI (1982 - present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 9.0
- #7
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1968 · On-Campus
7.2
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1968Why it ranks here
University of Detroit Mercy has held CSWE accreditation since 1968, 58 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Detroit, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Detroit, MI (1990-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #8
Andrews University
Berrien Springs MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1972 · On-Campus
7.1
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus 2 certificates Accred. since 1972Why it ranks here
Andrews University has held CSWE accreditation since 1972, 54 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Berrien Springs MI). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 2 embedded certificates (Child Welfare, School Social Work).
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Berrien Springs MI (1972-1983; 1990-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #9
Madonna University
Livonia, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1981 · On-Campus
7.0
On-Campus Full-time 3 campuses 1 certificate Accred. since 1981Why it ranks here
Madonna University has held CSWE accreditation since 1981, 45 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 3 approved campuses (Livonia, MI; Dearborn, MI; Gaylord, MI). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 1 embedded certificate (Addictions).
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Livonia, MI (1981-Present); Dearborn, MI (2019-Present); Gaylord, MI (1996-Present); Detroit, MI (2001-2009; 2015-2018)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.2
- Delivery (22%) 6.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #10
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1989 · On-Campus
6.9
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 2 certificates Accred. since 1989Why it ranks here
Ferris State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1989, 37 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Big Rapids, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 2 embedded certificates (Child Welfare, School Social Work) and 1 dual-degree option.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Big Rapids, MI (1989-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.9
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 8.5
- #11
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1992 · Online or On-Campus
6.8
Online or On-Campus Full-time 2 campuses + online 1 certificate Accred. since 1992Why it ranks here
Spring Arbor University has held CSWE accreditation since 1992, 34 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Spring Arbor, MI; Flint, MI). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Spring Arbor, MI (1992-present); Online (2021-present); Southfield, MI (1992-2024); Flint, MI; Jackson, MI (2006-2024); Lansing, MI (2006-2024); Metro Detroit/Detroit, MI (2006-2024); Metro Toledo/Lambertville, MI (2007-2024); Grand Rapids, MI (2007-2024); Petosky, MI (2008-2024); Battle Creek, MI (2008-2024); Troy, MI (2010-2024); Kalamazoo, MI (2015-2024); Freemont, OH, (2012-2014)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.4
- Delivery (22%) 8.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #12
Grand Valley State University
Grand Rapids, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1990 · On-Campus
6.5
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1990Why it ranks here
Grand Valley State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1990, 36 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Grand Rapids, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (School Social Work).
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Grand Rapids, MI (1990-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.8
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #13
University of Michigan-Flint
Online · CSWE-Accredited since 1997 · Online
6.5
Online Full & part-time 0 campuses + online 1 certificate Accred. since 1997Why it ranks here
University of Michigan-Flint has held CSWE accreditation since 1997, 29 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered fully online. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Crisis Intervention).
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Online (2018-present); Flint, MI (1998-2020)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.6
- Delivery (22%) 6.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #14
Calvin University
Grand Rapids, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1990 · On-Campus
6.3
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1990Why it ranks here
Calvin University has held CSWE accreditation since 1990, 36 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Grand Rapids, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Grand Rapids, MI (1990-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.8
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #15
Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 2000 · On-Campus
5.8
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 2000Why it ranks here
Cornerstone University has held CSWE accreditation since 2000, 26 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Grand Rapids, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Grand Rapids, MI (2000-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.2
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #16
Hope College
Holland, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 1993 · On-Campus
5.6
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1993Why it ranks here
Hope College has held CSWE accreditation since 1993, 33 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Holland, MI). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Holland, MI (1993-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.3
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #17
Kuyper College
Grand Rapids, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 2002 · On-Campus
5.5
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 2002Why it ranks here
Kuyper College has held CSWE accreditation since 2002, 24 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Grand Rapids, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Grand Rapids, MI (2002-present); Online (2018-2024)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 5.8
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #18
Oakland University
Rochester, MI , Mount Clemens, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 2007 · On-Campus
5.4
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 2007Why it ranks here
Oakland University has held CSWE accreditation since 2007, 19 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Rochester, MI , Mount Clemens, MI). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Rochester, MI (2007-Present), Mount Clemens, MI (2013-Present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 5.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #19
Central Michigan University
Mt. Pleasant, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 2000 · On-Campus
5.1
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 2000Why it ranks here
Central Michigan University has held CSWE accreditation since 2000, 26 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Mt. Pleasant, MI). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Mt. Pleasant, MI (2000-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.2
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #20
Adrian College
Adrian, MI · CSWE-Accredited since 2006 · On-Campus
4.8
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 2006Why it ranks here
Adrian College has held CSWE accreditation since 2006, 20 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Adrian, MI). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Adrian, MI (2006-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 5.2
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
The Social Work Industry in Michigan
A Bachelor of Social Work is the entry credential for Michigan's front-line social-service workforce. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET, social workers are employed across public human-services and child-welfare agencies, hospitals and health systems, K-12 schools, community mental-health and substance-use programs, aging and disability services, and nonprofit and faith-based organizations. BSW-level roles are generalist and direct-practice: case manager, child and family caseworker, community and behavioral-health worker, and social and human-service assistant. Supervisory, therapeutic, and independent clinical positions generally require a master's. If you plan to pursue graduate education, BestMSWPrograms.org covers the best MSW programs to help you take that next step.
Per the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs, Michigan's 20 accredited programs are based across 18 cities, including East Lansing, Detroit, Marquette, Ypsilanti, Kalamazoo, University Center, and others, 5 offering an online option. 4 are hosted at a Carnegie research university (R1 or R2), which adds research and teaching-hospital placements to the local training pipeline. CSWE standards require supervised field education, so programs build placement partnerships with local agencies, hospitals, schools, and nonprofits, which makes the state's campuses a training and hiring pipeline into the surrounding Michigan social-service economy. Online-capable programs extend that access to students in rural and remote parts of the state, areas the federal government (HRSA) frequently designates as mental-health workforce shortage areas.
Nationally, the BLS projects social-worker employment will grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 67,300 openings projected each year, many from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation. The BLS projects faster-than-average growth for healthcare social workers and for mental health and substance abuse social workers, specialties that hire at both the bachelor's and master's levels.
In Michigan, social workers held about 26,940 jobs across the four social work occupations as of May 2025, per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. State median annual wages by specialty:
| Occupation | Employed in MI | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Child, family, and school social workers | 15,760 | $59,270 |
| Healthcare social workers | 4,860 | $67,600 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers | 4,620 | $60,830 |
| Social workers, all other | 1,700 | $62,140 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025. Wages cover all workers in each occupation; BLS does not break wages out by degree, and BSW-level roles typically fall toward the lower end of each range. O*NET reports tasks, skills, and local outlook by occupation.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Social Workers; BLS state wage data for Michigan; O*NET: Child, Family, and School Social Workers; CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs; HRSA health workforce shortage areas.
Social Work Licensure in Michigan
Licensing data from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the body that develops the social work licensing exams, captured 2026.
Michigan licenses social workers at the bachelor level, so a CSWE-accredited BSW is the degree requirement for an entry-level license here. That makes program accreditation, the basis of our ranking, a direct licensing prerequisite.
| License | Name | Exam | CSWE BSW required |
|---|---|---|---|
| LBSW | Licensed Bachelor Social Worker | ASWB Bachelors exam | Yes |
The license ladder continues to the master's level (LLMSW, LMSW-M), and the clinical, independent-practice level (LMSW-C). A CSWE-accredited BSW also qualifies graduates for Advanced Standing admission to a master's program.
How We Ranked These Programs
Every program is scored on the same five-factor model used in the national ranking, with no state-specific adjustments. Four factors are drawn from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs; prestige uses the institution's 2025 Carnegie research classification.
- Accreditation longevity (40%): years of continuous CSWE accreditation.
- Delivery flexibility (22%): online option and number of approved campus locations.
- Prestige (15%): 2025 Carnegie research tier (R1, R2, or baseline).
- Schedule flexibility (12%): full-time and part-time plans of study.
- Program breadth (11%): embedded certificates and dual-degree options.
For the full model, see our ranking methodology.