Texas · BSW programs by city
Best BSW Programs near Fort Worth, TX (2026)
Published · Last updated
Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology
Fort Worth, Texas (population 978,468) has 2 CSWE-accredited BSW programs based in the city , with 5 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 Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth gives BSW students the resources of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with a distinct, more affordable community of its own. The city anchors the western metroplex with its own public hospital, children’s health system, and county mental-health authority, so students are not simply training in Dallas’s shadow.
For a baccalaureate student, that means field placements and entry-level jobs across healthcare, child welfare, behavioral health, and a strong nonprofit sector, with many more programs and agencies a short drive away in Arlington, Denton, and Dallas. Bilingual Spanish-speaking graduates are in steady demand.
Fort Worth hosts CSWE-accredited BSW programs at Texas Christian University and Tarleton State University, and the University of Texas at Arlington’s large program is just minutes east, giving students a deep regional network.
Best BSW programs in Fort Worth, TX
Accredited programs with a campus in Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX
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 near Fort Worth
Texas Christian University teaches the BSW in Fort Worth itself. 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. In the 2024-25 assessment year every one of the nine CSWE competencies cleared the department's 85 percent benchmark. Ethical and professional behavior, anti-racism and inclusion, policy practice and intervention each came in at 100 percent, and the lowest result was 93.34 percent on human rights and justice. Published tuition is $57,130 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the local median of $8,319.
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
- #2 In Fort Worth, TX
Tarleton State University
Bryan, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 1980 · On-Campus
7.9
On-campus Full or part-time Carnegie R2Why it ranks near Fort Worth
Tarleton State University teaches the BSW in Fort Worth itself. The child welfare concentration points students toward child protective services and carries a stipend for up to four semesters that helps cover tuition and living expenses during the internship. Two endowed scholarships, the Donald Cawley and the Herbert H. Jarrett, are restricted to social work majors, and students can join Advocacy Day in Austin or study abroad in Costa Rica. The bachelor's program has held full accreditation since 1980, reaffirmed most recently in 2020. That matters practically in Texas, where social worker is a restricted title and only graduates of an accredited social work program can sit for the licensing exam under the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. In-state tuition runs $4,416 a year against $14,496 for nonresidents, below the local median of $8,319. It carries the lowest published in-state tuition among the programs within reach of Fort Worth, TX.
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
Best BSW programs near Fort Worth, TX
Accredited programs whose nearest campus is within about 60 miles of Fort Worth, TX, ranked by our five-factor model. Each card shows the campus city and straight-line distance from the city center.
- #1 Arlington · ~14 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 near Fort Worth
University of Texas at Arlington teaches the BSW in Arlington, TX, about 14 miles from Fort Worth. Three tracks run in parallel. The Arlington campus schedules weekday morning, afternoon and evening sections with multiple sections each semester and summer term, an asynchronous online track serves Texas residents and military families, and an out-of-state online track lets many students save 40 to 50 percent on tuition and fees. The school runs undergraduate minors in diversity studies, social justice and social welfare, and substance use treatment, plus named awards including the Carolyn C. and Santos H. Hernandez Scholarship Endowment and the Coleen Shannon and Federico Souflee Jr. memorial scholarships. Many transfer students finish both the BSW and MSW inside three years. In-state tuition runs $12,208 a year against $27,494 for nonresidents, above the local median of $8,319.
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 Denton · ~32 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 near Fort Worth
Texas Woman's University teaches the BSW in Denton, TX, about 32 miles from Fort Worth. Practice courses are split explicitly by system level, starting with a micro Practice 1 course built around recorded video interviews and assessment writing, then separate mezzo and macro courses covering group work, families and community-level practice. Social Research, a Social Issues, Policies and Programs course and a course on grieving fill out the major. The senior block practicum, SOWK 4469, runs four days a week, usually Tuesday through Friday, with the SOWK 4463 integrative seminar on Monday mornings. It is offered in fall, spring and summer, and placements reach across the Dallas and Fort Worth metroplex as well as rural agencies. In-state tuition runs $5,712 a year against $15,792 for nonresidents, below the local median of $8,319. No other program among the programs within reach of Fort Worth, TX has held CSWE accreditation longer.
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
- #3 Denton · ~32 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 near Fort Worth
University of North Texas teaches the BSW in Denton, TX, about 32 miles from Fort Worth. An advisory council of working practitioners both recommends curriculum changes and instructs students during field placements. Its members come from Denton ISD, United Way of Denton, Communities in Schools of North Texas, the Denton County District Attorney's office and area hospice, probate court and psychotherapy practices. A Title IV-E grant from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services funds a final-semester stipend, paid for a field placement inside a Child Protective Services conservatorship unit and a signed contract to work for the agency after graduation. Participants take SOWK 4700, Child Welfare Theory, and clear Child Abuse Registry and driving record checks. In-state tuition runs $8,319 a year against $18,399 for nonresidents, in line with the local median of $8,319.
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
- #4 Dallas · ~34 mi
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 near Fort Worth
East Texas A&M University teaches the BSW in Commerce, TX, about 34 miles from Fort Worth. The program runs fully online and also as a hybrid mixing online work with face-to-face classes in Commerce, where students advance together as a cohort. Tuition and fees at a 12 credit hour load come to $4,212 for Texas residents and $9,108 for nonresidents. Admission happens while students are enrolled in SWK 2361, 2362 or 2389, and the committee reviewing applications is made up of the instructors teaching those courses. Requirements are a 2.5 overall GPA, a C or better in five named courses, three references and a narrative statement, with the 2026 window running March 1 to May 31. In-state tuition runs $4,790 a year against $17,390 for nonresidents, below the local median of $8,319.
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
- #5 Waxahachie · ~40 mi
Nelson University
Waxahachie, TX, TX · CSWE-accredited since 2018 · Online or On-Campus
5.1
Online option Full or part-timeWhy it ranks near Fort Worth
Nelson University teaches the BSW in Waxahachie, TX, about 40 miles from Fort Worth. Coursework covers research methods, policy analysis and human behavior theory alongside clinical skills assessment and diagnostic techniques, which is further toward the clinical end than most bachelor's sequences go. The program frames all of it around ethical integration of Christian faith with practice. Applicants need a 2.0 minimum GPA, standardized test scores and a personal statement, plus recommendations from a church or ministry leader, which is a requirement most social work programs do not carry. Published tuition is $17,650 a year at one rate for residents and nonresidents, above the local median of $8,319.
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 Fort Worth, TX
Texas-based CSWE-accredited programs with an online option, which Fort Worth, 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 | #407 |
| Nelson University | 2018 | Online or On-Campus | #460 |
What can you earn with a BSW in Fort Worth, TX in 2026?
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX in 2026?
Fort Worth anchors the western side of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with its own distinct set of employers. My Health My Resources of Tarrant County (MHMR) is the local mental-health authority, and JPS Health Network, the county public hospital, along with Cook Children’s Health Care System and Texas Health Resources, employs medical, pediatric, and behavioral-health social workers.
Tarrant County government, the Fort Worth Independent School District, and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services anchor child-welfare, school, and human-services roles. Nonprofits including Catholic Charities Fort Worth, ACH Child and Family Services, and The Parenting Center hire BSW graduates into case-management and family-support positions.
Fort Worth, Texas sits in Tarrant County. Representative organizations in and around the city that commonly employ social workers and BSW-level human-service staff include:
- My Health My Resources of Tarrant County (MHMR), the local mental-health authority
- Cook Children’s Health Care System and JPS Health Network
- Texas Health Resources
- Fort Worth Independent School District
- Catholic Charities Fort Worth and ACH Child and Family Services
- Tarrant County government and the 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 Fort Worth, TX?
Fort Worth social workers serve a fast-growing and diverse population, including substantial Latino and immigrant communities where bilingual skills are an asset. Growth across Tarrant County has increased need around housing, healthcare access, and family services.
Children and families are a central focus, anchored by Cook Children’s Health Care System and a strong child-welfare presence, and behavioral-health need is met by MHMR of Tarrant County and JPS Health Network. Homelessness and veterans services add further demand across the metro.
What are the social work field placements and experience in Fort Worth, TX?
CSWE’s 400-hour field requirement is readily met in Fort Worth, where Cook Children’s, JPS Health Network, MHMR of Tarrant County, school districts, and nonprofits all host BSW interns, with additional sites a short drive away across the metroplex.
Texas Christian University, Tarleton State University, and the nearby University of Texas at Arlington maintain field partnerships across Tarrant County, and placements frequently lead into first jobs and supervised LBSW experience.
Can I work in micro social work in Fort Worth, TX?
Micro social work, direct practice with individuals and families, is where most Fort Worth BSW graduates begin. Micro roles include pediatric and hospital case management, child-welfare casework, benefits and resource navigation, and behavioral-health support, and Cook Children’s, JPS Health Network, MHMR, and the state’s child-protection system hire heavily for this one-on-one work.
A BSW, and the Texas LBSW that follows it, is the standard qualification for non-clinical micro roles. Clinical micro practice, meaning therapy and diagnosis, requires a master’s and the LMSW or LCSW, so BSW-level work in Fort Worth focuses on support, coordination, and connecting families to care.
Can I work with children and families with a BSW in Fort Worth, TX?
Yes, and it is one of Fort Worth’s strongest fields for BSW graduates. Cook Children’s Health Care System, ACH Child and Family Services, and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services all hire bachelor’s-level staff for child- and family-focused roles, from hospital case management to child-welfare casework.
BSW graduates work as caseworkers, family-support specialists, and case managers, supporting children and families through health, safety, and stability needs. The work offers early responsibility and a direct route to LBSW licensure and, later, an MSW for clinical or supervisory positions.
How can I advance from a BSW in Fort Worth, TX?
Fort Worth offers clear ladders out of entry-level work. With a BSW and the Texas LBSW, graduates can move from frontline case management into program coordination and specialist roles, and the metroplex’s large healthcare and nonprofit employers create openings as people gain experience.
The biggest step up, into clinical practice or program leadership, runs through an MSW, since Texas reserves the LCSW for master’s-prepared social workers. Texas Christian University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and other metroplex schools offer Advanced Standing MSW options, and many local employers help staff pursue them while working.
Can I get a Social Work license with a BSW in Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth, TX?
How much do social workers earn in Fort Worth, TX?
Can I earn a BSW online from Fort Worth, 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 2026-08-05. "Near" means a program campus within 60 straight-line miles of the city center.