Faith-Based Rankings
Best Faith-Based BSW Programs, Top 20 (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
The 20 highest-scoring CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work programs at religiously affiliated institutions. We identify faith affiliation from IPEDS, the federal education dataset, rather than from a school's name, then rank the eligible programs on the same five-factor model used in our national ranking.
The top 20 faith-based BSW programs
- #1 Roman Catholic National #10
Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · Online or On-Campus
8.8
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 2 campuses + online 2 certificates Accred. since 1974Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Our Lady of the Lake University, a private university that is a Roman Catholic institution, teaches the BSW in San Antonio, TX. Coursework moves from an introduction and social welfare policy sequence into two semesters of practice principles across micro, mezzo and macro systems, then three human behavior courses covering individuals and families, groups and organizations, and diverse populations, plus research methods. A capstone in direct service practice runs concurrently with the field placement. Four certificates stack onto the major: Dismantling Oppression, Violence Prevention and Intervention, Administration and Leadership, and a Biliterate Certificate under which Spanish speakers take specialized Spanish courses and satisfy part of the major in Spanish. Service learning has placed students with RAICES, Communities in Schools and Grace Place Alzheimer's Activity Center. CSWE accreditation dates to 1974, 52 years of unbroken standing, above the faith-based median of 39 years.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$32,356 / year (private, one rate for all students)
2026-27 tuition · ollusa.edu
Locations
San Antonio, TX (1974-present); La Feria, TX/Rio Grande Valley (1974-present); Online (2021-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 8.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 10.0
- #2 Roman Catholic
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
8.1
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1974Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Saint Louis University, a private university that is a Roman Catholic institution, teaches the BSW in St. Louis, MO. Forty-two credits of social work coursework move from human behavior in the social environment into a practice sequence covering individuals, groups, families, and organizations and communities. Required courses include Dismantling Oppression and Financial Capability and Asset Building Practice, and every SWRK course must be passed with a C or better. Practicum options run through community mental health, criminal justice, gerontology, global social work, veteran services and school social work. High achievers can enter an accelerated pathway during the junior year and add the MSW in as little as one more year, and Honors Program students may take social work courses for honors credit. Published tuition is $52,260 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the faith-based median of $35,025.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$52,260 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
St. Louis, MO (1974-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 9.5
- #3 Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX · CSWE-Accredited since 1977 · On-Campus
8.1
On-Campus Carnegie R2 Full & part-time 1 campus 2 certificates Accred. since 1977Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Texas Christian University, a private university that is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), teaches the BSW in Fort Worth, TX. Practicum runs across the senior year as a paired sequence, Practicum Seminar 1 in the fall and Practicum Seminar 2 alongside Practicum Education 2 in the spring. Students are judged on an integrative paper scored by the Director of Practicum Education and seminar instructors, plus a skills evaluation completed by the practicum instructor on a four-point scale. Social work sits inside the Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences rather than a liberal arts unit, and the department frames its teaching around trauma-informed practice and the analysis of structural inequities. Faculty carry active research agendas, including a 2026-27 Fulbright award for work in India. Published tuition is $57,130 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the faith-based median of $35,025.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$57,130 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Fort Worth, TX (1977-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.8
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 7.5
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 8.5
- #4 Roman Catholic
College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth, MN · CSWE-Accredited since 1976 · Online or On-Campus
8.0
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online 1 certificate Accred. since 1976Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
College of Saint Scholastica, a private university that is a Roman Catholic institution, teaches the BSW in Duluth, MN. The major requires a single comprehensive practicum of at least 450 hours in one primary agency setting rather than a series of shorter placements. Students carry concurrent practice-focused coursework and a seminar during the placement, and write a learning plan with its own evaluation criteria in the first weeks. Entry to the college takes a high school diploma or GED and a 2.0 cumulative GPA, but staying in the major is stricter, since every social work course must be passed with at least a C. Fall applications are accepted through the end of August, the application is free, and deposits stay refundable until May 1. CSWE accreditation dates to 1976, 50 years of unbroken standing, above the faith-based median of 39 years.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$39,530 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Duluth, MN (1976-present); Online (2020-present); Fond du Lac/Cloquet, MN (1976-2022); Inver Hills, MN (1976-2022); Austin, MN (1976-2022); Brainerd, MN (1976-2021)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #5 Churches of Christ
Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX · CSWE-Accredited since 1982 · Online or On-Campus
8.0
Online or On-Campus Carnegie R2 Full & part-time 1 campus + online 1 certificate Accred. since 1982Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Abilene Christian University, a private university that is affiliated with the Churches of Christ, teaches the BSSW in Abilene, TX. The on-campus degree totals 128 credit hours, 48 of them in the major, with required work in Micro/Mezzo Human Behavior Theory, Diversity, Power and Oppression, and Social Welfare Policy and Services. A related minor in Peace and Social Justice is available alongside the major. An Accelerated Master of Science in Social Work option lets qualified undergraduates finish both the bachelor's and the master's in five years. Bachelor's graduates are prepared to apply for the bachelor-level social work license, the LBSW, and enter case work and direct care roles. Published tuition is $42,100 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the faith-based median of $35,025.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$42,100 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Abilene, TX (1982-present); Online (2025-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 7.5
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #6 Roman Catholic
St. Catherine University
St. Paul, MN · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · Online or On-Campus
8.0
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 1974Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
St. Catherine University, a private university that is a Roman Catholic institution, teaches the BSW in St. Paul, MN. Field placement runs through the junior and senior years for 400 hours alongside a licensed social worker, in settings spanning case management, crisis intervention, community education and organizing, group counseling, and policy and planning. Graduates finish ready to sit for the licensure exam required to practice in Minnesota. The bachelor's program was first accredited in 1975 within a School of Social Work operated jointly with the University of St. Thomas. That partnership ended in 2019, after which the program was accredited on its own under the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health, with assessment results posted by academic year. Published tuition is $36,694 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, in line with the faith-based median of $35,025.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$36,694 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
St. Paul, MN (1974-present); Online (2024-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 4.5
- #7 Roman Catholic
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ · CSWE-Accredited since 1976 · On-Campus
8.0
On-Campus Carnegie R2 Full & part-time 1 campus 2 certificates Accred. since 1976Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Seton Hall University, a private university that is a Roman Catholic institution, teaches the BASW in South Orange, NJ. The major runs 66 hours: 48 in social work, six in electives and 12 in required cognates covering biology, statistics for social science, introductory psychology and sociology. The core moves from Social Problems and Programs and Social Policy Analysis through two Behavior and Environments courses, three Theory and Practice courses, ethics, research methods and a senior seminar. Internship begins with a three-credit junior practicum and continues into two six-credit senior practicums, giving graduates a year and a half in agencies. Before starting, students must carry malpractice insurance, clear a background check with fingerprinting and hold NASW membership. No credit is granted for prior work or life experience. Published tuition is $48,670 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the faith-based median of $35,025.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$48,670 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
South Orange, NJ (1976-Present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 7.5
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #8 Roman Catholic
Catholic University of America
Washington, DC · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.9
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1974Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Catholic University of America, a private university that is a Roman Catholic institution, teaches the BSW in Washington, DC. Electives push students well off campus. SSS 208 studies eco-social justice in Appalachia and requires a spring break immersion trip to West Virginia, while a set of Rome based courses covers ethnography, comparative US and Italian responses to crime, and how Italy promotes mental health through community programs instead of mental hospitals. The university's senior comprehensive requirement is met here as a senior thesis, written under the guidance of a coordinating seminar that pulls together the social work and liberal arts coursework. The paper and the class are graded independently of each other. Published tuition is $54,630 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the faith-based median of $35,025.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$54,630 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Washington, DC (1974-Present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #9 Roman Catholic
Anna Maria College
Paxton, MA · 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 among faith-based BSW programs
Anna Maria College, a private university that is a Roman Catholic institution, teaches the BSW in Paxton, MA. Alongside the major sits an 18-credit social welfare minor built on SWK 145, SWK 242, SWK 307 and SWK 342 plus six upper-level elective credits, aimed at students in psychology, criminal justice, education and pre-law. The 400-level courses stay closed to anyone outside the major. Graduates can sit for the Massachusetts Licensed Social Worker exam immediately after finishing the degree. The program has been accredited since 1974 and was last reaffirmed in June 2019, and it grants no course credit or exemptions for prior life or employment experience. CSWE approved the online option in 2026, the most recent online approval among the 42 online programs on this list.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$40,332 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Paxton, MA (1974-present); Online (2026-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #10 Roman Catholic
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 among faith-based BSW programs
Misericordia University, a private university that is a Roman Catholic institution, teaches the BSW in Dallas, PA. Field instruction spans two years and at least 600 hours. Juniors log 200 hours at two days a week for one semester while taking the practice courses, and seniors add 400 more across the full academic year, with a four-and-a-half-day block placement available to those who qualify. A weekly 60-minute integrating seminar runs alongside both. Entering the university is not the same as entering the major. Students apply formally to the Social Work Program during the second year or the start of the third, reviewing the application with an advisor before it reaches the program chair. Transfers typically need 15 college credits and a 2.0 GPA, and the university stays test-blind through the 2027-28 entering class. CSWE accreditation dates to 1975, 51 years of unbroken standing, above the faith-based median of 39 years.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$36,400 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Dallas, PA (1975-present); Nanticoke,PA (1975-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 5.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #11 Roman Catholic
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA · CSWE-Accredited since 1977 · On-Campus
7.8
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1977Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Mount Mercy University, a private university that is a Roman Catholic institution, teaches the BSW in Cedar Rapids, IA. Both foundation and advanced field instruction fall in the senior year, running across the fall and spring semesters. Students have placed at the Juvenile Court Office, the Abbe Center for Community Mental Health, Four Oaks, Families First Counseling Services, the Department of Human Services, Goodwill, nursing homes and domestic violence programs. Ninety-six percent of surveyed alumni were employed within nine months of graduating. The program prepares students for licensure in Iowa, and the university states plainly that it has not determined whether the curriculum meets licensure requirements in any other state. CSWE accreditation dates to 1977, 49 years of unbroken standing, above the faith-based median of 39 years.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$38,070 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Cedar Rapids, IA (1977-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.8
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 9.0
- #12 Church of the Nazarene
Northwest Nazarene University
Nampa, ID · CSWE-Accredited since 1977 · Online or On-Campus
7.8
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 1977Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Northwest Nazarene University, a private university that is affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, teaches the BA in Nampa, ID. The major carries 38 social work credits inside a 56 to 57 credit program, opening with Social Justice: Changing the World through Film and two Human Behavior courses, one on lifespan theory and one on issues of diversity. Students then choose one specialty course from substance abuse prevention, child welfare services or social work in health care. Students log more than 500 internship hours in local social service settings under professional supervision. The sequence is staged, starting with two one-credit Field Practice courses and moving into three-credit Practicum I and II, each paired with a Seminar in Social Work, the second of which doubles as the capstone. CSWE approved the online option in 2026, the most recent online approval among the 42 online programs on this list.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$40,095 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Nampa, ID (1977-present); Online (2026-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.8
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #13 Baptist
Baylor University
Waco, TX · CSWE-Accredited since 1976 · On-Campus
7.7
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1976Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Baylor University, a private university that is a Baptist institution, teaches the BSW in Waco, TX. The degree totals 124 credit hours, more than 40 of them core social work courses. Students need a 2.0 university GPA to remain enrolled and a 2.7 once accepted into the major, and the school maintains two active degree plans, one for students who entered in fall 2020 and one for fall 2024. Undergraduates intern 215 hours a term across two terms, 430 hours in total. The settings reach past hospitals and schools into congregations, veteran services, homeless outreach, adoption and foster care agencies, grief and hospice work and skilled nursing care. Published tuition is $54,844 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the faith-based median of $35,025.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$54,844 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Waco, TX (1976-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 10.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #14 Free Methodist
Roberts Wesleyan University
Rochester, NY · CSWE-Accredited since 1979 · Online or On-Campus
7.6
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 1979Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Roberts Wesleyan University, a private university that is a Free Methodist institution, teaches the BS in Rochester, NY. Coursework covers human behavior across two sequenced courses, practice with individuals, families and groups, social welfare policy, community practice, diversity and oppression, and research methods. Rooted in historical Christianity, the department also teaches spiritual integration and spiritually sensitive practice as a named subject area rather than an add-on. Field Instruction runs as a two-course sequence in the senior year, and the same faculty member directs both field education and the undergraduate program. Placements have included the Rochester City School District, Rochester Regional Health behavioral health, Mary's Place Refugee Outreach, the Willow Center for Domestic Violence and Open Door Mission. CSWE accreditation dates to 1979, 47 years of unbroken standing, above the faith-based median of 39 years.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$36,004 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Rochester, NY (1979-Present); Online (2021-Present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.5
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #15 Roman Catholic
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, IA · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · Online or On-Campus
7.6
Online or On-Campus Full-time 1 campus + online 1 certificate Accred. since 1974Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Briar Cliff University, a private university that is a Roman Catholic institution, teaches the BSW in Sioux City, IA. The degree runs in person in Sioux City and online, with a transfer completion route for students holding an associate degree or 62 transferable credits. Online students recruit volunteers for video-recorded practice sessions and meet faculty weekly, and the program is built for Iowa licensure, with no determination made for other states. One of the four transcript-recognized concentrations is Latino Cultural Competence, aimed at the fast-growing Hispanic population in the Siouxland region and combining Spanish for Careers with Trauma Informed Practice. Students in it can add a two-week immersion at the University of Cadiz in Spain or the University of the Andes in Santiago. CSWE accreditation dates to 1974, 52 years of unbroken standing, above the faith-based median of 39 years.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$33,369 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Sioux City, IA (1974-present); Online (2018-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #16 Baptist
Bethel University
St. Paul, MN · CSWE-Accredited since 1981 · Online or On-Campus
7.5
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 1981Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Bethel University, a private university that is a Baptist institution, teaches the BASW in St. Paul, MN. A second version of the major, the Justice-Informed Graduate Studies Pathway, lets undergraduates take graduate-level social work courses before finishing the bachelor's and shortens the route to the MSW. Study abroad runs a full semester, January session or summer in Guatemala, Mexico, Uganda or London. The Bethel Career Commitment promises added support to any graduate without a job offer or graduate school acceptance six months out. The department publishes an annual assessment of student learning outcomes, with reports posted every year back to 2014-2015. Published tuition is $42,760 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the faith-based median of $35,025.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$42,760 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
St. Paul, MN (1981-Present); Online (2021-Present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.2
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #17 American Baptist
University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.5
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1974Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
University of Sioux Falls, a private university that is a American Baptist institution, teaches the BASW in Sioux Falls, SD. Field instruction is blocked into one semester of at least 400 hours and serves as the capstone. Because it is not spread across the year, students can place at a distance, and past placements have reached Cameroon, South Africa, Mexico, Denver, Minneapolis and Rochester, alongside local probation offices, hospices and domestic violence shelters. This is a private Christian university, and the program asks students to practice spiritual inquiry and service rooted in Christian faith alongside the NASW Code of Ethics. Faculty are presented as servant leaders working across a range of social work fields. Published tuition is $20,340 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, below the faith-based median of $35,025.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$20,340 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Sioux Falls, SD (1974-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 6.0
- #18 Evangelical Lutheran Church
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA · CSWE-Accredited since 1975 · On-Campus
7.5
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1975Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Pacific Lutheran University, a private university that is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, teaches the BSW in Tacoma, WA. Course content covers cultures both in the United States and abroad, and students can complete field learning in other countries as well as study away. The department leans on Tacoma's diversity and the university's Pacific Rim position, and the bachelor's program has held its accreditation since 1975. Graduates of the bachelor's program are admitted directly to PLU's own master's degree and automatically receive a 10 percent tuition discount on it. The department points to alumni working in hospitals, schools, community health centers, nursing homes, shelters and rehabilitation programs for people leaving prison. Published tuition is $49,472 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the faith-based median of $35,025.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$49,472 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Tacoma, WA (1975-Present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 6.0
- #19 Friends (Quaker)
Malone University
Canton, OH · CSWE-Accredited since 1982 · Online or On-Campus
7.4
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 1982Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Malone University, a private university that is affiliated with the Friends (Quaker), teaches the BSW in Canton, OH. The degree runs in person or online, and an accelerated BA to Master of Arts in Education track lets students take up to 12 graduate counseling credits during the bachelor's, counted toward both degrees and ending in eligibility for licensure as a professional counselor in clinical mental health. Two-thirds of students continue to graduate school, and the program reports a licensure exam pass rate above average for the LSW. The social work faculty are themselves licensed social workers with practice experience across several fields. CSWE accreditation dates to 1982, 44 years of unbroken standing, above the faith-based median of 39 years.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$34,800 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Canton, OH (1982-present); Online (2018-present)
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #20 Roman Catholic
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL · CSWE-Accredited since 1976 · On-Campus
7.4
On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1976Why it ranks among faith-based BSW programs
Loyola University Chicago, a private university that is a Roman Catholic institution, teaches the BSW in Chicago, IL. Entry is competitive and weighs the transcript, class rank, ACT or SAT score and a short essay. Once enrolled, each BSW student works with two advisors, starting with an undergraduate advisor at the Sullivan Center through the first three semesters. The bachelor's program has been accredited since 1976. Placements are not assigned. Students search the SONIA platform, apply to three to five sites with a resume and cover letter, and interview against candidates from other universities. The school lists more than 1,500 partner agencies across Chicago and the wider metro area, though commutes of an hour or more are possible and go unreimbursed. Published tuition is $50,270 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the faith-based median of $35,025.
Annual tuition (not factored)
$50,270 / year (private, one rate for all students)
Locations
Chicago, IL (1976-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
What jobs can I get with a faith-based BSW degree?
A faith-based BSW is the same CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work as every other program on this site, so it opens the same careers. In the 41 states that license at the bachelor level, it qualifies you for an entry-level license (usually the LBSW) and the same front-line, direct-service roles as any BSW graduate, with the added option of working in faith-aligned organizations. The most common BSW-level careers are:
- Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW)
- School Social Worker
- Medical or Hospital Social Worker
- Child, Family, and Child-Welfare Caseworker
- Case Manager and Care Coordinator
- Community and Social-Service Worker
- Behavioral-Health and Substance-Use Support Specialist
- Aging, Disability, and Veterans' Services Worker
- Social and Human-Service Assistant
Because it is fully accredited, a faith-based BSW also qualifies graduates for Advanced Standing admission to an MSW. See pay and outlook in our salary guides and the full career profiles.
Where do people with faith-based BSW degrees work?
Graduates work across the full range of social-service settings, the same as any BSW: public human-services and child-welfare agencies, hospitals and clinics, schools, community nonprofits, and aging and disability services. What a faith-based program often adds is a strong connection to faith-aligned organizations, where many students also complete their field placements:
- Denominational and church-based social-service agencies (for example, Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, and Jewish Family Services)
- Faith-based nonprofits and community ministries
- Religiously affiliated hospitals, schools, and universities
- Refugee resettlement and humanitarian-aid organizations
- Rescue missions, recovery, and homeless-services programs
- Foster care and adoption agencies with a faith mission
Licensure and scope of practice are identical no matter where you work. Check your state's rules on the credentials page.
How we identify faith-based programs
We do not guess affiliation from an institution's name. Each CSWE-accredited BSW institution is matched to its record in the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, and a program is treated as faith-based only when IPEDS records a religious affiliation for that institution. The denomination shown on each card is the one IPEDS reports. Programs at public universities and at private institutions with no reported religious affiliation are not eligible for this list.
Once eligibility is set, programs are scored exactly as in our five-factor methodology: accreditation longevity, delivery flexibility, prestige, schedule flexibility, and program breadth. Affiliation is never part of the score. See the full national ranking for how these programs compare with every accredited program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a BSW program faith-based?
Does religious affiliation affect the ranking?
How many CSWE-accredited BSW programs are faith-based?
Are all faith-based BSW programs Christian?
Sources
- Religious affiliation: IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2022 (religious affiliation), via the Urban Institute Education Data API (educationdata.urban.org), mirroring IPEDS Institutional Characteristics.
- CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs for accreditation status and program structure.
- Scoring follows our published five-factor methodology.
Last updated 2026-08-05. Affiliation reflects the latest available IPEDS Institutional Characteristics release.