Texas · BSW programs by city
Best BSW Programs near Dallas, TX (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Dallas, Texas (population 1,302,868) has 1 CSWE-accredited BSW program based in the city , with 6 more accredited programs within about 60 miles. 6 Texas programs also offer an online option. Every program below is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the requirement for baccalaureate social work education and for Advanced Standing admission to an MSW.
Studying for a BSW in Dallas, TX
Dallas gives BSW students access to one of the largest and most varied social-service economies in the South. The city pairs a major corporate and healthcare sector with a deep public safety-net, anchored by Parkland Health and Metrocare Services, so almost every field of practice is represented within the metro.
For a baccalaureate student, that means field placements and entry-level jobs across hospitals, the county mental-health authority, child-welfare agencies, schools, and a large nonprofit sector, often with quick movement from placement into a paid role. Bilingual Spanish-speaking graduates are in steady demand.
Dallas and the surrounding metroplex host several CSWE-accredited BSW programs, and many more are a short drive away in Arlington, Denton, and Fort Worth, giving students a dense network of campuses and field sites.
Best BSW programs in Dallas, TX
Accredited programs with a campus in Dallas, TX, ranked by our five-factor model. National and online rank badges appear only for programs in the top 25 (nationally, or among online programs).
- #1 In Dallas, TX
East Texas A&M University
Commerce, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 1978 · On-Campus
7.4
On-campus Full-time 1 certificate Carnegie R2Why it ranks here
East Texas A&M University has held CSWE accreditation since 1978, 48 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 2 approved campuses (Commerce, TX; Dallas, TX). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 1 embedded certificate (Management). Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (40%) 9.7
- Delivery flexibility (22%) 5.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (15%) 7.5
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 6.0
- Program breadth (11%) 5.0
Best BSW programs near Dallas, TX
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of Dallas, TX, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 Arlington · ~22 mi
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 1982 · Online or On-Campus
8.4
Online option Full or part-time 1 certificate Carnegie R1Why it ranks here
University of Texas at Arlington has held CSWE accreditation since 1982, 44 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Arlington, TX). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Diversity Studies). Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (40%) 9.0
- Delivery flexibility (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (15%) 10.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- Program breadth (11%) 5.0
- #2 Fort Worth · ~34 mi
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 1977 · On-Campus
8.1
On-campus Full or part-time 2 certificates Carnegie R2Why it ranks here
Texas Christian University has held CSWE accreditation since 1977, 49 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Fort Worth, TX). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 2 embedded certificates (Gender Studies, Other) and 1 dual-degree option. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (40%) 9.8
- Delivery flexibility (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (15%) 7.5
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- Program breadth (11%) 8.5
- #3 Fort Worth · ~34 mi
Tarleton State University
Bryan, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 1980 · On-Campus
7.9
On-campus Full or part-time Carnegie R2Why it ranks here
Tarleton State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1980, 46 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 4 approved campuses (Bryan, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Stephenville, TX; and more). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (40%) 9.4
- Delivery flexibility (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (15%) 7.5
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- Program breadth (11%) 3.0
- #4 Denton · ~36 mi
Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.8
On-campus Full or part-time 1 certificate Carnegie R2Why it ranks here
Texas Woman's University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Denton, TX). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Administration or Management). Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery flexibility (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (15%) 7.5
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- Program breadth (11%) 5.0
- #5 Denton · ~36 mi
University of North Texas
Denton, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 1975 · On-Campus
7.7
On-campus Full-time 1 certificate Carnegie R1Why it ranks here
University of North Texas has held CSWE accreditation since 1975, 51 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Denton, TX). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 1 embedded certificate (Trauma). Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery flexibility (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (15%) 10.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 6.0
- Program breadth (11%) 5.0
- #6 Waxahachie · ~29 mi
Nelson University
Waxahachie, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 2018 · Online or On-Campus
5.1
Online option Full or part-timeWhy it ranks here
Nelson University has held CSWE accreditation since 2018, 8 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelors of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Waxahachie, TX). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Five-factor score breakdown
- Accreditation longevity (40%) 3.3
- Delivery flexibility (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (Carnegie research tier) (15%) 5.0
- Schedule flexibility (12%) 10.0
- Program breadth (11%) 3.0
Online BSW programs available in Dallas, TX
Texas-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Dallas, TX residents can complete from home. See the full online BSW ranking for national options.
| Institution | Accredited | Format | Natl. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Lady of the Lake University | 1974 | Online or On-Campus | #10 |
| University of Texas at Arlington | 1982 | Online or On-Campus | #30 |
| Texas State University | 1978 | Online or On-Campus | #38 |
| Abilene Christian University | 1982 | Online or On-Campus | #65 |
| Angelo State University | 2010 | Online or On-Campus | #409 |
| Nelson University | 2018 | Online or On-Campus | #462 |
What can you earn with a BSW in Dallas, TX in 2026?
Dallas, Texas sits within the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area, the labor market that sets pay and demand for its social-service workforce. Across the social-work specialties, the area employs roughly 10,460 social workers , and child, family, and school social workers, the most common BSW-level specialty, earn a $57,080 median. Figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program (May 2025).
| Occupation | Employed | Median wage | Typical range (10th–90th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, family & school social workers | 4,480 | $57,080 | $40,650 – $75,970 |
| Social & human service assistants (entry-level) | 4,140 | $46,850 | $31,530 – $61,310 |
| Healthcare social workers | 2,630 | $75,930 | $45,440 – $100,110 |
| Mental health & substance abuse social workers | 2,720 | $47,390 | $37,440 – $72,500 |
| Social workers, all other | 630 | $98,670 | $47,790 – $149,240 |
| Social & community service managers (macro) | 3,390 | $80,480 | $51,710 – $128,690 |
How local pay compares
Child, family & school social workers around Dallas, TX earn a median of $57,080 versus $55,680 statewide in Texas and $59,550 nationally. That is at or above the Texas median.
Where do social workers work in Dallas, TX in 2026?
Dallas combines a major corporate and healthcare economy with a deep public safety-net. Parkland Health, one of the largest public hospital systems in the country, along with Children’s Health, UT Southwestern, and Baylor Scott & White, employs medical and pediatric social workers, while Metrocare Services operates as Dallas County’s mental-health authority and the largest provider of behavioral-health services in North Texas.
Dallas County Health and Human Services, the Dallas Independent School District, and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services anchor child-welfare, school, and human-services roles. A strong nonprofit sector, including Family Gateway, The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, and Jonathan’s Place, hires BSW graduates into case-management and shelter roles across the city.
Dallas, Texas sits in Dallas County. Representative organizations in and around the city that commonly employ social workers and BSW-level human-service staff include:
- Metrocare Services, Dallas County’s mental-health authority
- Parkland Health and Children’s Health (Children’s Medical Center Dallas)
- UT Southwestern Medical Center and Baylor Scott & White
- Dallas Independent School District
- Family Gateway, The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, and Jonathan’s Place
- Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Representative local employers known to operate in the area; illustrative, not an exhaustive or BLS-sourced list.
Nationally, BLS projects social worker employment to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, driven by demand in healthcare and mental-health settings. Social and human service assistant roles, a common BSW entry point, are projected to grow alongside them. See pay by role in our salary guides.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) for Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX; employment projections from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are annual medians for all workers in each occupation; BLS does not break pay out by degree, and BSW-level roles typically fall toward the lower end of each range.
Who do social workers serve in Dallas, TX?
Dallas social workers serve a large, diverse, and growing population, including substantial Latino and immigrant communities where bilingual skills are valuable. Rapid growth and uneven prosperity drive significant need around housing, healthcare access, and family stability.
Child welfare is among the largest fields, given the size of the state’s child-protection system and the county’s safety-net hospitals, and homelessness response has grown with the metro. Medical and behavioral-health social work are well represented thanks to Parkland, Children’s Health, and Metrocare Services.
What are the social work field placements and experience in Dallas, TX?
CSWE’s 400-hour field requirement is easy to meet in Dallas, where Parkland Health, Metrocare Services, Dallas County agencies, school districts, and a large nonprofit sector all host BSW interns. The metroplex’s many campuses keep field-placement networks deep.
Programs in and around Dallas, including the East Texas A&M campus in the city and universities in nearby Arlington, Denton, and Fort Worth, maintain field partnerships across the region. Placements often lead into first jobs and supervised LBSW experience.
Can I work in macro social work in Dallas, TX?
Macro social work, the level focused on organizations, communities, policy, and systems, is well developed in Dallas. The scale of Parkland Health, Metrocare Services, and the metroplex’s large nonprofits creates roles in program coordination, community organizing, grants and development, and administration, often supported by significant corporate philanthropy.
A BSW, and the Texas LBSW, is a realistic entry point into macro work through program-assistant, outreach-coordination, and community-organizing roles at nonprofits and public agencies. Senior macro positions, such as program director or policy analyst, generally expect an MSW with a macro concentration, so many Dallas social workers begin macro at the BSW level and advance after a graduate degree.
Can I work in child welfare or CPS with a BSW in Dallas, TX?
Yes, and child welfare is one of the largest employers of BSW graduates in Dallas. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services hires bachelor’s-level caseworkers for Child Protective Services across Dallas County, and nonprofits such as Jonathan’s Place and the county’s family-services programs add child- and family-focused roles.
BSW graduates work as investigators, conservatorship and family-based-safety-services caseworkers, and case managers, supporting children and families through assessment, placement, and reunification. The work is demanding and turnover is real, but it offers early responsibility and a direct path to LBSW licensure and later an MSW.
Can I go from a BSW to an MSW in Dallas, TX?
Yes, and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is one of the best places in Texas to do it. Several universities in and around Dallas offer MSW programs, and a CSWE-accredited BSW positions you for Advanced Standing admission, which lets recent BSW graduates skip the first year of the master’s.
Because clinical practice and the LCSW require a master’s in Texas, many Dallas social workers earn their LBSW, work in a county, hospital, or nonprofit role, and complete an MSW part-time. Local employers often support this path, since it strengthens their own workforce.
Can I get a Social Work license with a BSW in Dallas, Texas?
Licensing data from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the body that develops the social work licensing exams, captured 2026.
Texas 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 Baccalaureate Social Worker | ASWB Bachelors exam | Yes |
The license ladder continues to the master's level (LMSW, LMSW-AP), and the clinical, independent-practice level (LCSW). A CSWE-accredited BSW also qualifies graduates for Advanced Standing admission to a master's program.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CSWE-accredited BSW programs are in Dallas, TX?
How much do social workers earn in Dallas, TX?
Can I earn a BSW online from Dallas, TX?
Do I need a license to work with a BSW in Texas?
BSW programs in other Texas cities
Sources
- CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs for program accreditation, campuses, and structure.
- U.S. Census Bureau 2023 Gazetteer (city coordinates) and Population Estimates Program (population).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (May 2025) for metro wages; ASWB regulatory database for Texas license requirements.
Published 2026-06-29; last updated 2026-07-24. "Near" means a program campus within 60 straight-line miles of the city center.