New Hampshire has 2 CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work programs, the authoritative count from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. The longest-accredited is Plymouth State University, which has held CSWE accreditation since 1994. None of the 2 record an online option, all are campus-based.
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.
New Hampshire BSW programs at a glance
2
CSWE-accredited BSW programs
1994
Oldest, Plymouth State University, accredited since
0
Offer an online option
0
At an R1 or R2 research university
New Hampshire's 2 programs span CSWE accreditation from 1994 to 1996, and the highest-scoring on our five-factor model is University of New Hampshire at 6.0 out of 10. The newest, University of New Hampshire, earned accreditation in 1996. Among the New Hampshire programs we have verified tuition for, published in-state tuition runs from $7,536 to $11,870 a year. A child, family, and school social worker in New Hampshire earns a median of $71,010 a year, 19% above the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
All 2 CSWE-Accredited BSW Programs in New Hampshire
Every one of these BSW programs in New Hampshire holds current CSWE accreditation. Status, dates, campus locations and online options come from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs, and each card cites its own sources inline. Tuition is shown for reference only and is not factored into the score.
- #1
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH · CSWE-Accredited since 1996 · On-Campus
6.0
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1996Why it ranks in New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire teaches the BSSW in Durham, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in New Hampshire. The major is 13 four-credit social work courses inside a 128-credit degree, running from Human Behavior and Social Environment I and II through practice with individuals and families and then groups, organizations and communities, plus two policy courses and Anti-Oppressive Practice. Majors must hold a 2.6 semester GPA and earn a C or better in every one. Before applying to the internship, students log 40 hours of approved human service work, 20 of them at a single agency, paid or volunteer. The senior capstone is a 400-hour internship spread over two consecutive semesters, each paired with its own seminar, and no course credit is granted for prior life or work experience. In-state tuition runs $7,536 a year against $9,096 for nonresidents, below the New Hampshire median of $9,703.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $7,536 · Out-of-state $9,096 / year
Locations
Durham, NH (1996-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.8
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 4.5
- #2
Plymouth State University
Plymouth, NH · CSWE-Accredited since 1994 · On-Campus
5.5
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1994Why it ranks in New Hampshire
Based in Plymouth, Plymouth State University is a public university offering a BSW in New Hampshire. The practicum is a 12-credit placement of at least 450 supervised hours in New Hampshire schools, hospitals, residential facilities, youth agencies, protective service offices and domestic violence programs. It runs concurrently with an integrative seminar, and no transfer credit is granted for either one. Students apply to the major by sophomore year while enrolled in or after finishing Introduction to Social Work, submitting a written statement and sitting for a faculty interview, with a decision within 14 calendar days. Entering the practicum requires a 2.5 major GPA and a C or better in eight foundation courses. In-state tuition runs $11,870 a year against $22,810 for nonresidents, above the New Hampshire median of $9,703.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $11,870 · Out-of-state $22,810 / year
Locations
Plymouth, NH (1994-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.1
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
The Social Work Industry in New Hampshire
A Bachelor of Social Work is the entry credential for New Hampshire'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, New Hampshire's 2 accredited programs are based across 2 cities, including Durham, Plymouth, all campus-based. 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 New Hampshire 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 0.99 in New Hampshire, meaning the occupation is about as concentrated as the national average. The state supports roughly 2.5 of these jobs per 1,000 jobs statewide.
In New Hampshire, social workers held about 2,710 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 NH | Median | Mean | 10th to 90th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child, family, and school social workers | 1,700 | $71,010 | $70,740 | $41,150 to $101,570 |
| Healthcare social workers | 590 | $78,260 | $80,160 | $60,200 to $98,930 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers | 320 | $63,900 | $75,280 | $49,140 to $123,560 |
| Social workers, all other | 100 | $103,710 | $91,760 | $42,640 to $120,430 |
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 New Hampshire; O*NET: Child, Family, and School Social Workers; CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs; HRSA health workforce shortage areas.
Social Work Licensure in New Hampshire
Licensing data from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the body that develops the social work licensing exams, captured 2026.
New Hampshire 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 clinical, independent-practice level (CSWC, LICSW). 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.