Mississippi has 11 CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work programs, the authoritative count from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. The longest-accredited is The University of Mississippi, which has held CSWE accreditation since 1974. None of the 11 record an online option, all are campus-based. 4 are hosted at a Carnegie R1 (very high research) university and 1 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.
Mississippi BSW programs at a glance
11
CSWE-accredited BSW programs
1974
Oldest, The University of Mississippi, accredited since
0
Offer an online option
5
At an R1 or R2 research university
Mississippi's 11 programs span CSWE accreditation from 1974 to 2013, and the highest-scoring on our five-factor model is The University of Mississippi at 8.3 out of 10, a Carnegie R1 research university. The newest, Belhaven University, earned accreditation in 2013. Among the Mississippi programs we have verified tuition for, published in-state tuition runs from $7,869 to $28,800 a year. A child, family, and school social worker in Mississippi earns a median of $46,530 a year, 22% below the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
All 11 CSWE-Accredited BSW Programs in Mississippi
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
The University of Mississippi
Desoto, MS · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
8.3
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full-time 4 campuses 1 certificate Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
The University of Mississippi has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 4 approved campuses (Desoto, MS; Oxford; Southaven, MS; and more). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare). Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $9,990 · Out-of-state $20,160 / year
2025-26 tuition, full-time flat · olemiss.edu
Locations
Desoto, MS (1974-present); Oxford (1974-present); Southaven, MS (1974-present); Tupelo, MS (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%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #2
Jackson State University
Jackson, MS · CSWE-Accredited since 1975 · On-Campus
7.5
On-Campus Carnegie R2 Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1975Why it ranks here
Jackson State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1975, 51 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Jackson, MS). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $8,520 · Out-of-state $8,520 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Jackson, MS (1975-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%) 3.0
- #3
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS · CSWE-Accredited since 1992 · On-Campus
6.6
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full-time 2 campuses Accred. since 1992Why it ranks here
University of Southern Mississippi has held CSWE accreditation since 1992, 34 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 2 approved campuses (Hattiesburg, MS; Long Beach, MS). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $9,508 · Out-of-state $11,508 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Hattiesburg, MS (1992-present); Long Beach, MS (1992-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.4
- Delivery (22%) 5.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #4
Mississippi Valley State University
Itta Bena, MS · CSWE-Accredited since 1978 · On-Campus
6.6
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1978Why it ranks here
Mississippi Valley State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1978, 48 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Itta Bena, MS). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $7,892 · Out-of-state $7,892 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Itta Bena, MS (1978-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.7
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #5
Delta State University
Cleveland, MS · CSWE-Accredited since 1983 · On-Campus
6.5
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1983Why it ranks here
Delta State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1983, 43 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Cleveland, MS). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 1 embedded certificate (Other).
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $8,435 · Out-of-state $8,435 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Cleveland, MS (1983-Present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 8.9
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #6
Mississippi State University-Starkville
Starkville, MS · CSWE-Accredited since 1995 · On-Campus
6.2
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1995Why it ranks here
Mississippi State University-Starkville has held CSWE accreditation since 1995, 31 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Starkville, MS). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $9,665 · Out-of-state $26,430 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Starkville, MS (1995-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #7
Mississippi State University-Meridian
Meridian, MS · CSWE-Accredited since 1998 · On-Campus
6.0
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1998Why it ranks here
Mississippi State University-Meridian has held CSWE accreditation since 1998, 28 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Meridian, MS). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $9,665 · Out-of-state $26,430 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Meridian, MS (1998-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.5
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #8
Mississippi College
Clinton, MS · CSWE-Accredited since 1994 · On-Campus
5.7
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1994Why it ranks here
Mississippi College has held CSWE accreditation since 1994, 32 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Clinton, MS). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 1 embedded certificate (Other).
Annual tuition (not factored)
$20,246 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Clinton, MS (1994-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.1
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #9
Rust College
Holly Springs, MS · CSWE-Accredited since 2000 · On-Campus
5.6
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 2000Why it ranks here
Rust College has held CSWE accreditation since 2000, 26 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Holly Springs, MS). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$11,385 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Holly Springs, MS (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%) 3.0
- #10
Belhaven University
Jackson, MS · CSWE-Accredited since 2013 · On-Campus
4.8
On-Campus Full-time 2 campuses 1 certificate Accred. since 2013Why it ranks here
Belhaven University has held CSWE accreditation since 2013, 13 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 2 approved campuses (Jackson, MS; Madison, MS). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
$28,800 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Jackson, MS (2013-present); Madison, MS (2013-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 4.1
- Delivery (22%) 5.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #11
Alcorn State University
Lorman, MS · CSWE-Accredited since 2008 · On-Campus
4.6
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 2008Why it ranks here
Alcorn State University has held CSWE accreditation since 2008, 18 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Lorman, MS). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $7,869 · Out-of-state $7,869 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Lorman, MS (2008-Present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 4.9
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
The Social Work Industry in Mississippi
A Bachelor of Social Work is the entry credential for Mississippi'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, Mississippi's 11 accredited programs are based across 15 cities, including Desoto, Oxford, Southaven, Tupelo, Jackson, Hattiesburg, and others, all campus-based. 5 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 Mississippi social-service economy.
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.
Child, family, and school social workers, the most common BSW-level specialty, have a location quotient of 1.13 in Mississippi, meaning the occupation is 13% more concentrated than the national average. The state supports roughly 2.9 of these jobs per 1,000 jobs statewide.
In Mississippi, social workers held about 6,400 jobs across the four social work occupations as of May 2025, per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. Employment, annual wages, and pay range by specialty:
| Occupation | Employed in MS | Median | Mean | 10th to 90th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child, family, and school social workers | 3,310 | $46,530 | $47,750 | $33,590 to $62,130 |
| Healthcare social workers | 1,890 | $62,250 | $60,300 | $39,770 to $78,520 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers | 920 | $48,970 | $50,750 | $25,880 to $78,920 |
| Social workers, all other | 280 | $91,560 | $79,880 | $37,110 to $109,300 |
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. Location quotient compares the state's job concentration to the national average (1.0 = the national rate). O*NET reports tasks, skills, and local outlook by occupation.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Social Workers; BLS state wage data for Mississippi; O*NET: Child, Family, and School Social Workers; CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs; HRSA health workforce shortage areas.
Social Work Licensure in Mississippi
Licensing data from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the body that develops the social work licensing exams, captured 2026.
Mississippi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSW | Licensed Social Worker | ASWB Bachelors exam | Yes |
The license ladder continues to the master's level (LMSW), and the clinical, independent-practice level (LCSW). 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.