West Virginia has 7 CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work programs, the authoritative count from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. The longest-accredited is West Virginia University, which has held CSWE accreditation since 1974. 2 of the 7 record an online option; the rest are campus-based. 1 is 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.
West Virginia BSW programs at a glance
7
CSWE-accredited BSW programs
1974
Oldest, West Virginia University, accredited since
2
Offer an online option
2
At an R1 or R2 research university
West Virginia's 7 programs span CSWE accreditation from 1974 to 2012, and the highest-scoring on our five-factor model is West Virginia University at 8.6 out of 10, a Carnegie R1 research university. The newest, West Liberty University, earned accreditation in 2012. Among the West Virginia programs we have verified tuition for, published in-state tuition runs from $6,288 to $31,920 a year. A child, family, and school social worker in West Virginia earns a median of $52,220 a year, 12% below the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
All 7 CSWE-Accredited BSW Programs in West Virginia
Every one of these BSW programs in West Virginia 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
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV · 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 in West Virginia
West Virginia University teaches the BSW in Morgantown, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in West Virginia. The degree runs on campus and fully online, with 2+2 articulation agreements that let community college students finish an associate degree and complete the bachelor's in two more years, a route first offered in 2002. The online option launched in fall 2025, aimed partly at the shortage of social workers in Appalachia. Placement is confirmed by August 1 before the final year and is taken alongside 400 level coursework in the senior year. All field tasks run through Tevera, and the field education committee is working to convert bachelor's field from a block placement to a concurrent one. In-state tuition runs $10,752 a year against $30,432 for nonresidents, above the West Virginia median of $8,924.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $10,752 · Out-of-state $30,432 / year
2025-26 tuition & fees · wvu.edu
Locations
Morgantown, WV (1974-present); Online (2023-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #2
Concord University
Athens, WV · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · Online or On-Campus
7.8
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 1974Why it ranks in West Virginia
Concord University teaches the BSW in Athens, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in West Virginia. Core coursework runs from introduction to social work through group dynamics and interviewing skills, human behavior in the social environment, social policy and services, human diversity and research methods, with field experience built into many required courses from the introductory class onward. Electives reach corrections, gerontology, health care and post traumatic stress disorder. A separate fully online BSW has carried its own CSWE accreditation since 2022 and keeps the same four-year shape, core courses and rural Appalachian focus as the in-seat degree. Its practicum requirement is identical and cannot be waived for prior work experience. In-state tuition runs $9,100 a year against $20,000 for nonresidents, in line with the West Virginia median of $8,924.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $9,100 · Out-of-state $20,000 / year
Locations
Athens, WV (1974-Present); Online (2022-Present); Beckley, WV (1974-2021)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #3
West Virginia State University
Institute, WV · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.2
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1974Why it ranks in West Virginia
Based in Institute, West Virginia State University is a public university offering a BSW in West Virginia. Formal admission comes after 45 credit hours, when students submit an application packet to the Program Director. It requires a C or better in SW 131 plus a satisfactory rating on that course's field experience component, a C or better in every social work course and in English 101 and 102, and a 2.3 cumulative GPA. The program frames its generalist training around West Virginia specifically, with a stated emphasis on the peoples and institutions of the state and on the relationship between diverse populations and their social environment. In-state tuition runs $8,924 a year against $14,544 for nonresidents, in line with the West Virginia median of $8,924.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $8,924 · Out-of-state $14,544 / year
Locations
Institute, WV (1974-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #4
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV · CSWE-Accredited since 1975 · On-Campus
6.9
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1975Why it ranks in West Virginia
Based in Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a public university offering a BSW in West Virginia. Preparation is built from six pieces the program names outright: classroom instruction, audiovisual laboratory work, practicum observation, practicum experience, community and on-campus workshops, and intensive academic advisement. Assessment coursework asks students to weigh structural pressures first and to work across ecological, strengths-based, solution-focused and structural perspectives. The practicum is a senior-year placement in a local agency, and the partner list stretches across three states from the West Virginia panhandle into Maryland and Virginia. Sites include WVU Medical Center East, the Martinsburg VA Medical Center, Hospice of the Panhandle, Safe Haven Child Advocacy Center, San Mar Children's Home and the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. In-state tuition runs $6,288 a year against $15,774 for nonresidents, below the West Virginia median of $8,924. It carries the lowest published in-state tuition among the BSW programs in West Virginia.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $6,288 · Out-of-state $15,774 / year
Locations
Shepherdstown, WV (1975-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #5
Marshall University
Huntington, WV · CSWE-Accredited since 1990 · On-Campus
6.9
On-Campus Carnegie R2 Full & part-time 2 campuses Accred. since 1990Why it ranks in West Virginia
Marshall University teaches the BSW in Huntington, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in West Virginia. Practicum totals 500 hours, split between a 100-hour introductory placement and a 400-hour advanced one, both carrying a weekly seminar plus learning contracts and weekly logs. Agency instructors are expected to hold a BSW or MSW, have two years of practice with one at the current agency, and supervise weekly. Formal acceptance requires 28 completed hours of general education, a 2.5 GPA and a C or better in SWK 203, then an application and an interview before a committee of full-time social work faculty. The committee can grant full acceptance, conditional acceptance tied to remedial work, or decline, and students may appeal in writing within ten days. CSWE accreditation dates to 1990, 36 years of unbroken standing, below the West Virginia median of 51 years. It operates more approved teaching sites than any of the BSW programs in West Virginia.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $7,372 · Out-of-state $18,724 / year
Locations
Huntington, WV (1990-present); Point Pleasant, WV (1990-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.8
- Delivery (22%) 5.0
- Prestige (15%) 7.5
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #6
Bethany College
Bethany, WV · CSWE-Accredited since 1983 · On-Campus
6.4
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1983Why it ranks in West Virginia
Bethany College teaches the BA in Bethany, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in West Virginia. Field begins early with SOWO 160, a 50-hour observation in an agency the student chooses, and ends with a 500-hour senior placement carried through the fall semester alongside an integrative seminar. Placements sit in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, correctional facilities and domestic violence programs across the tri-state region. An advanced track for students heading straight to graduate school adds two more 50-hour field experiences and psychology statistics, and holds students to a 3.0 major GPA. Electives include Equine Assisted Interventions, built around therapeutic riding and EAGALA sessions, and a psychology dual major aimed at clinical and mental health work. Published tuition is $31,920 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the West Virginia median of $8,924.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$31,920 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Bethany, WV (1983-Present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 8.9
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 4.5
- #7
West Liberty University
West Liberty, WV · CSWE-Accredited since 2012 · On-Campus
4.9
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 2012Why it ranks in West Virginia
West Liberty University teaches the BSW in West Liberty, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in West Virginia. Required social work coursework totals 70 credits and runs a three-course practice sequence, SWK 400 through 402, alongside human behavior, social welfare policy and research methods. The required support courses are more specific than most: financial literacy, statistics, lifespan development, and a history course on West Virginia and the Appalachian region. One-credit courses bracket the sequence, SWK 290 in social work competencies early and SWK 470 in professional preparation before field. The department also offers a social work minor and an addictions studies minor, and it posts its student learning outcomes assessments publicly, with reports going back to 2018. CSWE accreditation dates to 2012, 14 years of unbroken standing, below the West Virginia median of 51 years.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $8,716 · Out-of-state $17,100 / year
Locations
West Liberty, WV (2012-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 4.2
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
The Social Work Industry in West Virginia
A Bachelor of Social Work is the entry credential for West Virginia'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, West Virginia's 7 accredited programs are based across 8 cities, including Morgantown, Athens, Institute, Shepherdstown, Huntington, Point Pleasant, and others, 2 offering an online option. 2 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 West Virginia 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 1.34 in West Virginia, meaning the occupation is 34% more concentrated than the national average. The state supports roughly 3.4 of these jobs per 1,000 jobs statewide.
In West Virginia, social workers held about 4,580 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 WV | Median | Mean | 10th to 90th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child, family, and school social workers | 2,380 | $52,220 | $52,610 | $38,410 to $66,980 |
| Healthcare social workers | 1,100 | $60,140 | $63,470 | $46,120 to $79,800 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers | 420 | $50,070 | $52,000 | $38,410 to $70,190 |
| Social workers, all other | 680 | $62,590 | $69,510 | $38,940 to $108,040 |
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 West Virginia; O*NET: Child, Family, and School Social Workers; CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs; HRSA health workforce shortage areas.
Social Work Licensure in West Virginia
Licensing data from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the body that develops the social work licensing exams, captured 2026.
West Virginia 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 |
| LSW-P(provisional) | Provisional Licensed Social Worker | ASWB Bachelors exam | Not specified |
The license ladder continues to the master's level (LCSW, LGSW), and the clinical, independent-practice level (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.