Pennsylvania has 30 CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work programs, the authoritative count from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. The longest-accredited is University of Pittsburgh, which has held CSWE accreditation since 1974. 8 of the 30 record an online option; the rest are campus-based. 3 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.
Pennsylvania BSW programs at a glance
30
CSWE-accredited BSW programs
1974
Oldest, University of Pittsburgh, accredited since
8
Offer an online option
4
At an R1 or R2 research university
Pennsylvania's 30 programs span CSWE accreditation from 1974 to 2022, and the highest-scoring on our five-factor model is Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania at 8.4 out of 10. The newest, Pennsylvania State University, earned accreditation in 2022. Among the Pennsylvania programs we have verified tuition for, published in-state tuition runs from $7,716 to $55,322 a year. A child, family, and school social worker in Pennsylvania earns a median of $50,820 a year, 15% below the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
All 30 CSWE-Accredited BSW Programs in Pennsylvania
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
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
Bloomsburg, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1977 · Online or On-Campus
8.4
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 3 campuses + online Accred. since 1977Why it ranks here
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania has held CSWE accreditation since 1977, 49 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Bloomsburg, PA; Lock Haven, PA; Mansfield, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 dual-degree option.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $11,858 · Out-of-state $24,224 / year
2025-26 tuition & fees · commonwealthu.edu
Locations
Bloomsburg, PA (1988-present); Lock Haven, PA (1977-present); Mansfield, PA (1983-present); Online (2022-present); Lock Haven Online (2017-2022)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.8
- Delivery (22%) 9.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 4.5
- #2
Pennsylvania Western University
California, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1976 · Online or On-Campus
8.3
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 2 campuses + online 1 certificate Accred. since 1976Why it ranks here
Pennsylvania Western University has held CSWE accreditation since 1976, 50 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (California, PA; Edinboro, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Trauma).
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $11,075 · Out-of-state $17,006 / year
2025-26 tuition & fees · pennwest.edu
Locations
California, PA (1976-Present); Edinboro, PA (1986-Present); Online (2020-Present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 8.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #3
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1981 · Online or On-Campus
8.1
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online 2 certificates Accred. since 1981Why it ranks here
Millersville University of Pennsylvania has held CSWE accreditation since 1981, 45 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Millersville, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 2 embedded certificates (Gerontology, Other) and 1 dual-degree option.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $9,570 · Out-of-state $19,290 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Millersville, PA (1981-present); Online (2021-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.2
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 8.5
- #4
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
8.1
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
University of Pittsburgh has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Pittsburgh, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 dual-degree option. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $20,154 · Out-of-state $38,520 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Pittsburgh, PA (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%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 4.5
- #5
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.9
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
Temple University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Philadelphia, PA). 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 $21,023 · Out-of-state $36,280 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Philadelphia, PA (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%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #6
Misericordia University
Dallas, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1975 · On-Campus
7.8
On-Campus Full & part-time 2 campuses 2 certificates Accred. since 1975Why it ranks here
Misericordia University has held CSWE accreditation since 1975, 51 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 2 approved campuses (Dallas, PA; Nanticoke,PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 2 embedded certificates (Addictions, Gerontology).
Annual tuition (not factored)
$36,400 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Dallas, PA (1975-present); Nanticoke,PA (1975-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 5.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #7
West Chester University
West Chester, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.8
On-Campus Carnegie R2 Full & part-time 2 campuses Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
West Chester University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 2 approved campuses (West Chester, PA; Philadelphia, PA). 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 $7,716 · Out-of-state $19,290 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
West Chester, PA (1974-present); Philadelphia, PA (1974-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 5.0
- Prestige (15%) 7.5
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #8
Alvernia University
Reading, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1997 · Online or On-Campus
7.4
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 2 campuses + online 1 certificate Accred. since 1997Why it ranks here
Alvernia University has held CSWE accreditation since 1997, 29 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Reading, PA; Elkins Park, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Gerontology) and 3 dual-degree options.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$41,060 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Reading, PA (1998-present); Elkins Park, PA (2012-present); Online (2024-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.6
- Delivery (22%) 8.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 9.5
- #9
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.4
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
Cedar Crest College has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Allentown, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
$44,334 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Allentown, PA (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%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #10
Marywood University
Scranton, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.3
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus 2 certificates Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
Marywood University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Scranton, PA). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 2 embedded certificates (Other, School Social Work) and 1 dual-degree option.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$37,700 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Scranton, PA (1974-present); Pocono, PA (former); Lehigh Valley, PA (former)
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%) 8.5
- #11
Gannon University
Erie, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1977 · Online or On-Campus
7.3
Online or On-Campus Full-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 1977Why it ranks here
Gannon University has held CSWE accreditation since 1977, 49 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Erie, PA). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$36,865 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Erie, PA (1977-present); Online (2026-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.8
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #12
Shippensburg University
Shippensburg, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.2
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
Shippensburg University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Shippensburg, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $9,570 · Out-of-state $11,574 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Shippensburg, PA (1974-present); Harrisburg, PA (1974-2025)
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
- #13
Eastern University
St. Davids, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.1
On-Campus Full-time 2 campuses Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
Eastern University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 2 approved campuses (St. Davids, PA; Philadelphia, PA). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 1 dual-degree option.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$36,760 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
St. Davids, PA (1974-present); Philadelphia, PA (1974-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 5.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 4.5
- #14
Widener University
Chester, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1979 · On-Campus
7.0
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1979Why it ranks here
Widener University has held CSWE accreditation since 1979, 47 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Chester, PA). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 3 dual-degree options.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$52,598 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Chester, PA (1979-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.5
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.5
- #15
Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1981 · On-Campus
6.8
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1981Why it ranks here
Juniata College has held CSWE accreditation since 1981, 45 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Huntingdon, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$55,322 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Huntingdon, PA (1981-Present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.2
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #16
La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1982 · On-Campus
6.8
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1982Why it ranks here
La Salle University has held CSWE accreditation since 1982, 44 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Philadelphia, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$34,270 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Philadelphia, PA (1983-Present); Plymouth Meeting, PA (2014-2019)
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%) 3.0
- #17
Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1982 · On-Campus
6.8
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1982Why it ranks here
Slippery Rock University has held CSWE accreditation since 1982, 44 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Slippery Rock, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $7,716 · Out-of-state $11,574 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Slippery Rock, PA (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%) 3.0
- #18
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
6.7
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
Saint Francis University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Loretto, PA). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$41,020 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Loretto, PA (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%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #19
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1977 · On-Campus
6.6
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1977Why it ranks here
Elizabethtown College has held CSWE accreditation since 1977, 49 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Elizabethtown, PA). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$36,166 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Elizabethtown, PA (1977-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.8
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #20
Seton Hill University
Greensburg, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1998 · On-Campus
6.5
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 5 certificates Accred. since 1998Why it ranks here
Seton Hill University has held CSWE accreditation since 1998, 28 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Greensburg, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 5 embedded certificates (Addictions, School Social Work, Behavioral Health, and more) and 2 dual-degree options.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$40,864 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Greensburg, PA (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%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 10.0
- #21
Carlow University
Online · CSWE-Accredited since 1997 · Online
6.3
Online Full & part-time 0 campuses + online Accred. since 1997Why it ranks here
Carlow University 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.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$33,376 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Online (2022-present); Pittsburgh, PA (1997-2025)
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%) 3.0
- #22
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1987 · On-Campus
6.1
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1987Why it ranks here
Messiah University has held CSWE accreditation since 1987, 39 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Mechanicsburg, PA). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 1 dual-degree option.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$39,700 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Mechanicsburg, PA (1987-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 8.2
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 4.5
- #23
Chatham University
Pittsburgh, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 2001 · On-Campus
6.0
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 2 certificates Accred. since 2001Why it ranks here
Chatham University has held CSWE accreditation since 2001, 25 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Pittsburgh, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 2 embedded certificates (Other, Forensic Social Work).
Annual tuition (not factored)
$42,250 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Pittsburgh, PA (2001-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #24
Kutztown University
Kutztown, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 1996 · On-Campus
5.9
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1996Why it ranks here
Kutztown University has held CSWE accreditation since 1996, 30 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Kutztown, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $7,716 · Out-of-state $12,220 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Kutztown, PA (1996-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.8
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #25
University of Valley Forge
Phoenixville, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 2008 · Online or On-Campus
5.8
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 2008Why it ranks here
University of Valley Forge has held CSWE accreditation since 2008, 18 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Phoenixville, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$23,100 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Phoenixville, PA (2008-present); Online (2018-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 4.9
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #26
Pennsylvania State University
McKeesport, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 2022 · On-Campus
5.4
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full & part-time 1 campus 2 certificates Accred. since 2022Why it ranks here
Pennsylvania State University has held CSWE accreditation since 2022, 4 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (McKeesport, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 2 embedded certificates (Addictions, Diversity Studies). Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $20,468 · Out-of-state $42,860 / year
2025-26 tuition, University Park · psu.edu
Locations
McKeesport, PA (2022-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 2.6
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #27
Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 2017 · Online or On-Campus
5.2
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 2017Why it ranks here
Gwynedd Mercy University has held CSWE accreditation since 2017, 9 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Gwynedd Valley, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$37,825 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Gwynedd Valley, PA (2017-present); Online (2026-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 3.4
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #28
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 2012 · On-Campus
5.1
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 2012Why it ranks here
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania has held CSWE accreditation since 2012, 14 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (East Stroudsburg, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Crisis Intervention).
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $7,716 · Out-of-state $15,432 / year
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
East Stroudsburg, PA (2012-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 4.2
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #29
Lancaster Bible College
Lancaster, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 2013 · On-Campus
4.8
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 2013Why it ranks here
Lancaster Bible College has held CSWE accreditation since 2013, 13 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Lancaster, PA). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$29,990 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Lancaster, PA (2013-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 4.1
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #30
Grove City College
Grove City, PA · CSWE-Accredited since 2017 · On-Campus
4.1
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 2017Why it ranks here
Grove City College has held CSWE accreditation since 2017, 9 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Grove City, PA). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$20,890 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2023-24 published tuition (IPEDS) · IPEDS / NCES
Locations
Grove City, PA (2017-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 3.4
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
What Does a BSW Cost in Pennsylvania in 2026?
Sticker prices for a Pennsylvania BSW span an enormous range. At the bottom, West Chester publishes in-state tuition of $7,716, a figure matched by Slippery Rock, Kutztown and East Stroudsburg. At the top, Juniata College lists $55,322. The public side is not one number: Shippensburg and Millersville publish $9,570, Pennsylvania Western $11,075 and Commonwealth University $11,858, while the three big research universities sit near or just above $20,000. Treat each published rate as its own fact, look up the current figure for the campus you are considering, and remember these are 2023-24 published prices before any aid is applied.
Grove City College is the number that breaks the usual pattern. Its published price of $20,890 is the lowest of any private BSW option in the state, and it lands almost level with the University of Pittsburgh at $20,154, Penn State at $20,468 and Temple at $21,023. The usual assumption, that a private college will cost roughly double a research university's in-state rate, would steer you wrong here. If a small private campus appeals to you but the $40,000 tier of privates does not, Grove City belongs on your comparison list beside the big publics rather than in the private column at all.
Sticker is where the comparison starts, not where it ends. Private colleges commonly award institutional aid that brings the price a student actually pays well below the published figure, which means a $37,700 listing at Marywood or a $33,376 listing at Carlow is an opening number, not a bill. Request a net price estimate from every program on your shortlist before ruling anything out on cost, and weigh those estimates against what four years of debt would mean on a social work salary. If the aid offers disappoint, the four campuses publishing $7,716 keep a CSWE-accredited degree within reach for Pennsylvania residents at one of the lowest published rates in this ranking.
What Can You Do With an LBSW in Pennsylvania in 2026?
Most states offer no social work licence at the bachelor's level. Pennsylvania offers one at every level of the profession, a three-rung ladder that is genuinely rare in American social work regulation. The first rung, the Licensed Bachelor Social Worker, has two requirements under 49 Pa. Code Chapter 47, the board's regulations: a bachelor's degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program and a passing score on the ASWB bachelor's-level examination. Finish an accredited Pennsylvania BSW, pass one national exam, and you hold a state credential before your first professional job. In most of the country a graduate waits years, and a master's degree, for anything comparable.
Watch the naming as you climb. Pennsylvania calls its master's-level credential the LSW, not the LMSW used in most states, and the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors grants it on a CSWE-accredited master's or doctoral degree plus the ASWB master's-level examination. No supervised experience is required for the LSW itself. That detail matters for planning. A BSW graduate who moves into an Advanced Standing MSW, an option a CSWE-accredited bachelor's unlocks and one that can shorten the master's by up to a year, can reach the second rung of the ladder unusually fast.
Be clear about the ceiling. Pennsylvania law limits diagnosis and independent practice to the LCSW level, and reaching that level takes a CSWE-accredited master's or doctoral degree, the ASWB clinical examination, and at least 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised clinical experience over a minimum of two years. The LBSW is a real credential for supervised generalist work, not a shortcut to a clinical caseload of your own. Treat it as what it is: state recognition of an accredited education and a passed national exam, and the first step on a ladder Pennsylvania makes visible from the very beginning of a career.
How Pennsylvania's 2022 University Mergers Changed BSW Options in 2026
Six university names disappeared from Pennsylvania higher education on July 1, 2022, and two took their place. Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities integrated as Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, and California, Clarion and Edinboro merged into Pennsylvania Western University, known as PennWest. Both new institutions hold CSWE-accredited BSW programs, both record an online option, and both publish mid-range public tuition, $11,075 at Pennsylvania Western and $11,858 at Commonwealth. The result is something no other state ranking on this site has to explain: an applicant in 2026 applies under an institutional name only a few years old while joining a social work program with a lineage running back decades.
That lineage is documented campus by campus. Commonwealth University's BSW carries forward delivery at Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield, with campus accreditation dates reaching back to 1977 at Lock Haven, 1983 at Mansfield and 1988 at Bloomsburg. PennWest's accredited BSW is delivered at its California and Edinboro locations, where accreditation reaches back to 1976 and 1986 respectively. In practical terms the youngest thing about these programs is the letterhead. The mergers changed the name on the door of social work education that has been running in these towns since the 1970s and 1980s, and a student weighing either institution should read the program's age, not the university's, as the meaningful number.
The practical homework is confirming where your program actually happens. A merged university's BSW is not automatically delivered at every campus carrying the university's name: PennWest's accredited listing names the California and Edinboro locations. Check the CSWE directory for campus-level detail, then ask admissions directly which campus or online format your cohort would join, where your advisers sit, and where field placements are coordinated from. A program spread across several delivery sites is a genuine advantage if you live near one of them. It becomes a logistical problem only if you assumed everything happens at the campus pictured in the brochure.
Why Do Pennsylvania Social Work Salaries Trail the National Median in 2026?
Every social work specialty in Pennsylvania pays below its national median. Child, family and school social workers earn a median of $50,820 against a national figure of $59,550, roughly 15 percent under. Healthcare social workers earn $61,900, about 9 percent under the national median, and mental health and substance abuse social workers earn $48,290, about 20 percent under. The pattern holds across the board, so switching specialties inside Pennsylvania will not move you out from under it. What varies is only the size of the gap, smallest in healthcare and widest in mental health and substance abuse work.
Set that against how much of this work the state actually has. Pennsylvania employs healthcare social workers at 1.32 times the national concentration, the standout figure in its employment profile, and child, family and school work also runs above the national rate. Read plainly, the state relies on social workers more heavily than the country does while paying them less. That is not a market rewarding scarcity. It is a market where hospitals, schools and service systems can fill roles at the posted wage. Comparatively moderate living costs outside Philadelphia soften the arithmetic and help explain why the wages clear, but they do not turn a below-median salary into an above-median one.
For a new BSW graduate the honest framing sits lower still. BLS pools every degree level into these medians, so bachelor's-level roles cluster toward the bottom of each range, and the child, family and school distribution starts near $38,430 at its 10th percentile. The longer view is steadier. BLS projects 7 percent national growth for social workers from 2024 to 2034, and Pennsylvania's above-national concentration in healthcare and in child, family and school work means the jobs exist here in volume. Plan on modest early pay, expect it to stretch further outside Philadelphia than the raw number suggests, and use the LBSW and an eventual master's to climb rather than counting on the market to lift you.
Where Do Pennsylvania BSW Students Complete Field Placements in 2026?
Field education is where a BSW becomes real: CSWE's 2022 standards require a minimum of 400 hours of supervised field education at the bachelor's level. What those hours look like depends heavily on where in Pennsylvania you study. Students at Temple, La Salle, Widener in Chester and West Chester train inside the Philadelphia region's dense web of placement settings. Around Pittsburgh, students at Pitt, Chatham, Seton Hill in Greensburg and Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport work a similarly deep urban market. Marywood places students from its Scranton base, Gannon works from Erie, and Cedar Crest in Allentown and Alvernia in Reading draw on the Lehigh Valley and Berks County.
The rural centre of the state is a different assignment altogether. Programs at Shippensburg, Millersville, Kutztown, Elizabethtown, Juniata in Huntingdon, Saint Francis in Loretto, Grove City and Slippery Rock place students across wide, thinly served territory, where a single placement can mean a long drive and a caseload spanning several kinds of need in one week. That is not a lesser experience. Generalist practice across a rural county is precisely what a BSW curriculum is built for, and much of Pennsylvania is exactly this kind of place. But budget for a car, for fuel and for distance in a way a student in Philadelphia never has to.
Delivery format adds one more variable. Eight programs record an online option in the CSWE directory, and Carlow University now runs its BSW entirely online after ending campus delivery in Pittsburgh in 2025, while Commonwealth and PennWest span multiple campuses. Before committing, put specific questions to the field office: who arranges the placement, you or the program; how far students typically travel; whether an online student is placed in their own community; and which campus the field coordinators actually work from. The 400 hours are the same everywhere. The experience of completing them is not, and the field office's answers will tell you more than any viewbook.
The Social Work Industry in Pennsylvania
A Bachelor of Social Work is the entry credential for Pennsylvania'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, Pennsylvania's 30 accredited programs are based across 32 cities, including Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield, California, Edinboro, Millersville, and others, 8 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 Pennsylvania 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.
Child, family, and school social workers, the most common BSW-level specialty, have a location quotient of 1.06 in Pennsylvania, meaning the occupation is 6% more concentrated than the national average. The state supports roughly 2.7 of these jobs per 1,000 jobs statewide.
In Pennsylvania, social workers held about 31,060 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 PA | Median | Mean | 10th to 90th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child, family, and school social workers | 16,200 | $50,820 | $55,330 | $38,430 to $78,470 |
| Healthcare social workers | 9,630 | $61,900 | $65,690 | $46,770 to $83,220 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers | 3,500 | $48,290 | $52,850 | $37,790 to $73,940 |
| Social workers, all other | 1,730 | $74,430 | $75,760 | $39,890 to $112,570 |
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 Pennsylvania; O*NET: Child, Family, and School Social Workers; CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs; HRSA health workforce shortage areas.
Social Work Licensure in Pennsylvania
Licensing data from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the body that develops the social work licensing exams, captured 2026.
Pennsylvania 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 (LSW), 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.