Wisconsin has 15 CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work programs, the authoritative count from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. The longest-accredited is University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, which has held CSWE accreditation since 1974. 6 of the 15 record an online option; the rest are campus-based. 2 are hosted at a Carnegie R1 (very 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 535 accredited BSW programs in the country, per our five-factor scoring method.
Wisconsin BSW programs at a glance
15
CSWE-accredited BSW programs
1974
Oldest, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, accredited since
6
Offer an online option
2
At an R1 or R2 research university
Wisconsin's 15 programs span CSWE accreditation from 1974 to 2018, and the highest-scoring on our five-factor model is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 9.0 out of 10, a Carnegie R1 research university. The newest, Alverno College, earned accreditation in 2018. Among the Wisconsin programs we have verified tuition for, published in-state tuition runs from $6,767 to $39,100 a year. A child, family, and school social worker in Wisconsin earns a median of $59,280 a year, about the same as the national median of $59,550 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
All 15 CSWE-Accredited BSW Programs in Wisconsin
Every one of these BSW programs in Wisconsin 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 National #9
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1975 · Online or On-Campus
9.0
Online or On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full & part-time 1 campus + online 2 certificates Accred. since 1975Why it ranks in Wisconsin
Based in Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a public university offering a BSW in Wisconsin. Both field semesters are spent at the same agency, about 215 hours each at 14 to 17 hours a week, in five credit courses that carry a faculty-taught seminar and run concurrently with the practice courses. Applications close May 15 for fall and September 15 for spring, and February 15 for any placement outside Milwaukee County. Advancing to the major, required before field placement, happens automatically once a student has 48 credits, has taken or is taking case management, advocacy and empowerment, and welfare policy, and holds a 2.5 cumulative GPA including transfer work. Practice and field courses then demand a B or better, with the department chair reviewing anyone who falls short. In-state tuition runs $11,768 a year against $24,368 for nonresidents, above the Wisconsin median of $9,644.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $11,768 · Out-of-state $24,368 / year
2025-26 tuition & fees · uwm.edu
Locations
Milwaukee, WI (1975-present); Online (2025-present)
Visit the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee BSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #2
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · Online or On-Campus
8.3
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online 2 certificates Accred. since 1974Why it ranks in Wisconsin
Based in Whitewater, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a public university offering a BSW in Wisconsin. The 480 hour placement usually lands in the final semester and can be compressed into one term at roughly 32 hours a week, spread over two at 16 to 20, or done across a 12 week summer at 40. It is the one course that cannot be taken online, even within the online degree. A 2023-24 survey put 96% of recent social work graduates in a job or an advanced degree program a year after finishing. Graduates have landed at Rock County Child Protective Services, Rogers Behavioral Health, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and Beloit Health System. CSWE accreditation dates to 1974, 52 years of unbroken standing, above the Wisconsin median of 44 years.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $9,047 · Out-of-state $19,147 / year
2025-26 tuition & fees · uww.edu
Locations
Whitewater, WI (1974-Present); Online (2021-Present)
Visit the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater BSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #3
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.8
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 3 certificates Accred. since 1974Why it ranks in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire teaches the BSW in Eau Claire, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in Wisconsin. The degree ends in a supervised internship at an approved site, with a department internship coordinator helping each student find one that matches their stated interests. The department reports connections to more than 100 internship sites in Eau Claire and the surrounding area. Students apply to the major after 30 credits, having passed SW 100 and SW 220 with a C or better, cleared the university writing requirement and held a 2.0 GPA. Applications open in set windows each fall and spring, usually closing at 4pm on the third Friday of the semester, with decisions about a month later. In-state tuition runs $7,645 a year against $16,884 for nonresidents, below the Wisconsin median of $9,644.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $7,645 · Out-of-state $16,884 / year
Locations
Eau Claire, WI (1974-present)
Visit the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire BSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 9.0
- #4
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1975 · On-Campus
7.4
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1975Why it ranks in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Madison teaches the BSW in Madison, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in Wisconsin. Applying means finishing Social Work 205 and 206 plus an approved statistics course, reaching junior standing at 71 credits, and submitting one letter of recommendation with a four to five page essay answering four set prompts. Applicants are told outright not to use AI to write that essay. The Sandra Rosenbaum School awarded $750,000 in scholarships to social work students last year and counts roughly 11,000 living alumni working as social workers. It also runs a Title IV-E Public Child Welfare Training Program that trains undergraduate and graduate students for public child welfare practice. CSWE accreditation dates to 1975, 51 years of unbroken standing, above the Wisconsin median of 44 years.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $9,644 · Out-of-state $39,042 / year
Locations
Madison, WI (1975-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #5
Concordia University Wisconsin
Mequon, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1997 · Online or On-Campus
6.8
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 1997Why it ranks in Wisconsin
Based in Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a private university offering a BSW in Wisconsin. The 120-credit degree comes in two versions with separate admission processes, a traditional on-campus program that meets during the day and an online program built for working adults. Students move through in a cohort, and upper division coursework runs four semesters starting in the fall of junior year. Faith is deliberately woven into the coursework, with students asked to work out where Christian service and the profession's ethical standards meet. CUW is one of only two schools in the Concordia University system with an accredited social work program, and students join interprofessional sessions with other health and human services majors. Published tuition is $33,750 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the Wisconsin median of $9,644.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$33,750 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Mequon, WI (1997-present); Online (2022-present); Milwaukee, WI (2016-2022); Green Bay, WI (2016-2022); Ann Arbor, MI (2017-2025)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.6
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 6.0
- #6
Marian University
Fond du Lac, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1986 · Online or On-Campus
6.7
Online or On-Campus Full-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 1986Why it ranks in Wisconsin
Marian University teaches the BSW in Fond du Lac, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in Wisconsin. Bridge courses give people who already hold a four-year degree in psychology, sociology, criminal justice or human services an online route into social work training, with 15-week fall and spring sections and an accelerated seven-week summer cohort. Enrolling requires a current state training certificate. The program reports that 92 percent of graduates move immediately into social work jobs or graduate school, with careers concentrated in child and youth services, corrections, mental health agencies and hospitals. Its accreditation dates to 1987. Published tuition is $39,100 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the Wisconsin median of $9,644.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$39,100 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Fond du Lac, WI (1986-present); Online (2021-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 8.4
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #7
Mount Mary University
Milwaukee, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
6.7
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1974Why it ranks in Wisconsin
Mount Mary University teaches the BSW in Milwaukee, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in Wisconsin. The major requires a minimum of 67 social work credits built on ten core courses plus three semesters of supervised internship, and classes lean on discussion, role-playing, group projects and agency visits rather than lecture alone. Mount Mary awards credit for life experience in other parts of the curriculum but never for SWK-prefixed courses. Majors log 450 hours of supervised internship across three semesters, selecting sites with faculty, and placements sit mainly in the Milwaukee metro area. Several students have recently been offered jobs by their internship organization before they graduated. Published tuition is $33,680 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the Wisconsin median of $9,644.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$33,680 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Milwaukee, WI (1974-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #8
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
6.7
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1974Why it ranks in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh teaches the BSW in Oshkosh, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in Wisconsin. The first two years are a Social Work Gateway covering introduction to social work, human development, interpersonal skills, statistics, political science, history and a writing course, after which students formally apply to the major. The application window opens February 9 and closes March 19 at 3pm, and late applications are not accepted. In-state tuition runs $6,806 a year against $14,719 for nonresidents, below the Wisconsin median of $9,644.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $6,806 · Out-of-state $14,719 / year
Locations
Oshkosh, WI (1974-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #9
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Green Bay, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1987 · On-Campus
6.7
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1987Why it ranks in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay teaches the BSW in Green Bay, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in Wisconsin. Fieldwork arrives in two stages. A service-learning placement in the spring of junior year concentrates on teamwork and professionalism in a human services setting, and the senior agency practicum adds direct practice with individuals, families and small groups alongside policy, research and advocacy. Both placements are lined up a full year ahead with the practicum coordinator. Admission is reviewed once a year against a single February deadline, identifying information is stripped from applications before faculty read them, and seats are capped at 40 per cohort. Applicants need 48 credits, a 2.50 cumulative GPA across post high school work from the last five years, and four support courses at a C average. In-state tuition runs $6,767 a year against $15,354 for nonresidents, below the Wisconsin median of $9,644. It carries the lowest published in-state tuition among the BSW programs in Wisconsin.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $6,767 · Out-of-state $15,354 / year
Locations
Green Bay, WI (1987-present)
Visit the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay BSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 8.2
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #10
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Superior, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1978 · On-Campus
6.6
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1978Why it ranks in Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Superior teaches the BS in Superior, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in Wisconsin. Students submit an application packet to the program coordinator, usually in spring of sophomore year, needing a C or better in Introduction to Social Work and in either introductory psychology or sociology, plus a 2.3 overall GPA. A 30 minute interview with a faculty review committee assesses readiness for the profession. This is the only CSWE-accredited public undergraduate social work program within a 150 mile radius of Superior. The Social Work Student Association takes students to conferences and seminars and creates leadership roles inside the department. In-state tuition runs $6,826 a year against $14,739 for nonresidents, below the Wisconsin median of $9,644.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $6,826 · Out-of-state $14,739 / year
Locations
Superior, WI (1978-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.7
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #11
Carthage College
Kenosha, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1982 · On-Campus
6.3
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1982Why it ranks in Wisconsin
Carthage College teaches the BSW in Kenosha, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in Wisconsin. Seniors complete a community based internship across both semesters, totaling more than 450 hours, with many placements in Racine County agencies. The two placement courses carry four credits each and run alongside the integrative seminar. Supporting coursework is prescribed rather than open, requiring a race and gender studies course, American government, sociology and a fourth course focused on poverty, such as Economics of Poverty and Income Inequality or Global Poverty. All four must be finished by the end of sophomore year, and no minor is required alongside the major. Published tuition is $36,500 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the Wisconsin median of $9,644.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$36,500 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Kenosha, WI (1982-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #12
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 2010 · Online or On-Campus
6.1
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online 2 certificates Accred. since 2010Why it ranks in Wisconsin
Based in Stevens Point, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is a public university offering a BSW in Wisconsin. Practicum runs at least 400 hours during the final two semesters of the senior year. The practicum director reviews each student's preferences and contacts agencies on their behalf rather than leaving placement to the student, and every candidate clears a national and Wisconsin caregiver background check required by the state Department of Justice. Formal admission usually comes in the sophomore year and needs at least 45 credits, a 2.5 GPA overall and in SOC 101 and SW 261, and a C- or better in SW 261. The application adds two recommendation letters from professional sources, family and friends excluded, and a 600 to 800 word personal statement. CSWE accreditation dates to 2010, 16 years of unbroken standing, below the Wisconsin median of 44 years.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $7,112 · Out-of-state $16,132 / year
Locations
Stevens Point, WI (2010-present); Online (2023-present); Marshfield, WI (2020-2021); Wausau, WI (2020-2023)
Visit the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point BSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 4.6
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #13
Alverno College
Milwaukee, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 2018 · Online or On-Campus
5.8
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online 3 certificates Accred. since 2018Why it ranks in Wisconsin
Alverno College teaches the BSW in Milwaukee, one of the CSWE-accredited BSW programs in Wisconsin. Alverno awards no letter grades, assessing social work majors instead against the college's 8 Abilities framework. Majors can add a substance abuse counseling specialty, which is also offered as a minor to students outside the major and as a professional certificate to alumnae. Wisconsin licensure requires passing both the national ASWB exam and the state exam written by the Department of Safety and Professional Services. Graduates can open that process as early as six months before their graduation date. Published tuition is $31,944 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the Wisconsin median of $9,644.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$31,944 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Milwaukee, WI (2018-present); Online (Beginning 2026)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 3.3
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 9.0
- #14
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1991 · On-Campus
5.7
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1991Why it ranks in Wisconsin
Based in River Falls, University of Wisconsin-River Falls is a public university offering a BSW in Wisconsin. Field instruction carries 12 credits across two registrations of SOWK 472, the largest single piece of the major. It is paired with a senior integrative seminar and a separate course on integrating practice and research. Admission runs in three stages, declaring the major, applying to the program, then applying again for field placement. Program admission takes 36 credits, a 2.25 cumulative GPA, a 2.5 GPA across social work courses with a C or better in each, a writing sample, and 30 hours of certified post high school volunteer service. In-state tuition runs $6,837 a year against $15,118 for nonresidents, below the Wisconsin median of $9,644.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $6,837 · Out-of-state $15,118 / year
Locations
River Falls, WI (1991-Present)
Visit the University of Wisconsin-River Falls BSW program site
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.6
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #15
Viterbo University
La Crosse, WI · CSWE-Accredited since 1999 · On-Campus
5.7
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1999Why it ranks in Wisconsin
Based in La Crosse, Viterbo University is a private university offering a BSW in Wisconsin. Seniors complete one 450-hour internship at 30 hours a week in a certified social service setting, working alongside an agency field instructor. Certified sites include Gundersen Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System Franciscan Healthcare, La Crosse and Vernon county human services, and the Coulee Council on Addictions. Entry to the professional phase is a separate application due Feb. 1 of the sophomore year, requiring a sample of academic writing and, at the committee's discretion, an interview. Decisions are emailed by March 1, and a second application to field education follows in the senior year. Published tuition is $31,600 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the Wisconsin median of $9,644.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$31,600 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
La Crosse, WI (1999-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.3
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
The Social Work Industry in Wisconsin
A Bachelor of Social Work is the entry credential for Wisconsin'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, Wisconsin's 15 accredited programs are based across 13 cities, including Milwaukee, Whitewater, Eau Claire, Madison, Mequon, Fond du Lac, and others, 6 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 Wisconsin 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 0.77 in Wisconsin, meaning the occupation is 23% less concentrated than the national average. The state supports roughly 1.9 of these jobs per 1,000 jobs statewide.
In Wisconsin, social workers held about 13,220 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 WI | Median | Mean | 10th to 90th pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child, family, and school social workers | 5,710 | $59,280 | $61,310 | $44,400 to $80,900 |
| Healthcare social workers | 3,770 | $66,910 | $69,510 | $50,280 to $91,040 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers | 1,880 | $61,860 | $64,960 | $45,430 to $87,690 |
| Social workers, all other | 1,860 | $62,830 | $68,600 | $45,720 to $98,840 |
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 Wisconsin; O*NET: Child, Family, and School Social Workers; CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs; HRSA health workforce shortage areas.
Social Work Licensure in Wisconsin
Licensing data from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the body that develops the social work licensing exams, captured 2026.
Wisconsin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSW | Certified Social Worker | ASWB Bachelors exam | Yes |
The license ladder continues to the master's level (APSW, CISW), 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.