Tennessee has 17 CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work programs, the authoritative count from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. The longest-accredited is University of Memphis, which has held CSWE accreditation since 1974. 5 of the 17 record an online option; the rest are campus-based. 1 is hosted at a Carnegie R1 (very high research) university and 2 at a Carnegie R2 (high research) university.
Each program below is scored on the same five-factor model used in our national ranking, so the order reflects accreditation longevity, delivery and schedule flexibility, program breadth, and the institution's Carnegie research tier, all applied identically nationwide. A program marked National # ranks among the top 20 of all 537 accredited BSW programs in the country, per our five-factor scoring method.
All 17 CSWE-Accredited BSW Programs in Tennessee
Accreditation status, dates, locations, online option, and program details are sourced directly from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs. Tuition is shown for reference only and is not factored into the score.
- #1 National #9
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · Online or On-Campus
9.0
Online or On-Campus Carnegie R1 Full & part-time 1 campus + online 2 certificates Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
University of Memphis has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Memphis, TN). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 2 embedded certificates (Child Welfare, School Social Work). Its home institution holds a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $11,256 · Out-of-state $15,960 / year
2025-26 tuition & fees · memphis.edu
Locations
Memphis, TN (1974-present); Online (2020-present); Lambuth/Jackson, TN (1974-2025)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
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 National #17
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · Online or On-Campus
8.7
Online or On-Campus Carnegie R2 Full & part-time 1 campus + online 1 certificate Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
East Tennessee State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Johnson City, TN). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare) and 2 dual-degree options. Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $10,994 · Out-of-state $15,194 / year
2025-26 tuition & fees · etsu.edu
Locations
Johnson City, TN (1974-present); Online (2023-present); Abingdon, VA (1974-2020); Sevierville, TN (1974-2025)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 7.5
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 8.0
- #3
University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
8.3
On-Campus Full & part-time 5 campuses 2 certificates Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
University of Tennessee at Martin has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 5 approved campuses (Martin, TN; Jackson, TN; Parsons, TN; and more). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 2 embedded certificates (Child Welfare, School Social Work).
Annual tuition (not factored)
In-state $10,824 · Out-of-state $16,878 / year
2025-26 tuition & fees · utm.edu
Locations
Martin, TN (1974-present); Jackson, TN (1974-present); Parsons, TN (1974-present); Selmer, TN (1974-present); Ripley, TN (1974-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 7.0
- #4
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1974 · On-Campus
7.8
On-Campus Carnegie R2 Full & part-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1974Why it ranks here
Tennessee State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1974, 52 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Nashville, TN). Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare). Its home institution holds a Carnegie R2 classification for high research activity.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Nashville, TN (1974-Present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 7.5
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #5
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1976 · On-Campus
7.2
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1976Why it ranks here
Middle Tennessee State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1976, 50 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Murfreesboro, TN). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Murfreesboro, TN (1976-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #6
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1976 · On-Campus
7.2
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1976Why it ranks here
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has held CSWE accreditation since 1976, 50 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Chattanooga, TN). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Chattanooga, TN (2006-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 10.0
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #7
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1983 · Online or On-Campus
6.9
Online or On-Campus Full-time 1 campus + online Accred. since 1983Why it ranks here
University of Tennessee at Knoxville has held CSWE accreditation since 1983, 43 years of standing as of 2026. The Bachelor of Science in Social Work is offered both online and on campus (Knoxville, TN). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Knoxville, TN (1983-present); Online (2018-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 8.9
- Delivery (22%) 7.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #8
Union University
Jackson, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1998 · Online or On-Campus
6.6
Online or On-Campus Full & part-time 2 campuses + online Accred. since 1998Why it ranks here
Union University has held CSWE accreditation since 1998, 28 years of standing as of 2026. The Baccalaureate is offered both online and on campus (Jackson, TN; Germantown, TN). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Jackson, TN (1998-present); Germantown, TN (2010-present); Online (2023-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.5
- Delivery (22%) 8.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #9
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1981 · On-Campus
6.6
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1981Why it ranks here
Freed-Hardeman University has held CSWE accreditation since 1981, 45 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Henderson, TN). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Henderson, TN (1981-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 9.2
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #10
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1989 · On-Campus
6.5
On-Campus Full & part-time 2 campuses Accred. since 1989Why it ranks here
Austin Peay State University has held CSWE accreditation since 1989, 37 years of standing as of 2026. The program is offered on 2 approved campuses (Clarksville, TN; Springfield, TN). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Clarksville, TN (1989-present); Springfield, TN (1989-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.9
- Delivery (22%) 5.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #11
Southern Adventist University
Collegedale, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1998 · On-Campus
5.8
On-Campus Full & part-time 1 campus Accred. since 1998Why it ranks here
Southern Adventist University has held CSWE accreditation since 1998, 28 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Collegedale, TN). Students can enroll full-time or part-time.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Collegedale, TN (1998-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.5
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #12
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1992 · On-Campus
5.7
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1992Why it ranks here
Lipscomb University has held CSWE accreditation since 1992, 34 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Nashville, TN). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Nashville, TN (1992-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 7.4
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #13
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1999 · On-Campus
5.4
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus 1 certificate Accred. since 1999Why it ranks here
Belmont University has held CSWE accreditation since 1999, 27 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Nashville, TN). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 1 embedded certificate (School Social Work).
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Nashville, TN (1999-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.3
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #14
King University
Online · CSWE-Accredited since 2014 · Online
5.4
Online Full & part-time 0 campuses + online 1 certificate Accred. since 2014Why it ranks here
King University has held CSWE accreditation since 2014, 12 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered fully online. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. It records 1 embedded certificate (Child Welfare).
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Online (2018 - Present); Abingdon, VA (2017 - 2022); Bristol, TN (2014-2020)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 3.9
- Delivery (22%) 6.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 10.0
- Breadth (11%) 5.0
- #15
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 1999 · On-Campus
5.2
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 1999Why it ranks here
Lincoln Memorial University has held CSWE accreditation since 1999, 27 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Harrogate, TN). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Harrogate, TN (1999-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 6.3
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
- #16
Tennessee Wesleyan University
Athens, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 2016 · On-Campus
4.8
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus 3 certificates Accred. since 2016Why it ranks here
Tennessee Wesleyan University has held CSWE accreditation since 2016, 10 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Athens, TN). The program runs on a full-time plan of study. It records 3 embedded certificates (Addictions, Child Welfare, School Social Work).
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Athens, TN (2016-Present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 3.6
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 9.0
- #17
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN · CSWE-Accredited since 2011 · On-Campus
4.4
On-Campus Full-time 1 campus Accred. since 2011Why it ranks here
Trevecca Nazarene University has held CSWE accreditation since 2011, 15 years of standing as of 2026. The program is delivered on campus (Nashville, TN). The program runs on a full-time plan of study.
Annual tuition (not factored)
Not available. See the program website for current tuition.
Locations
Nashville, TN (2011-present)
Program data sourced from the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs
Five-factor score breakdown
- Longevity (40%) 4.4
- Delivery (22%) 4.0
- Prestige (15%) 5.0
- Schedule (12%) 6.0
- Breadth (11%) 3.0
The Social Work Industry in Tennessee
A Bachelor of Social Work is the entry credential for Tennessee'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, Tennessee's 17 accredited programs are based across 18 cities, including Memphis, Johnson City, Martin, Jackson, Parsons, Selmer, and others, 5 offering an online option. 3 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 Tennessee 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.
In Tennessee, social workers held about 17,970 jobs across the four social work occupations as of May 2025, per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. State median annual wages by specialty:
| Occupation | Employed in TN | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Child, family, and school social workers | 7,870 | $56,310 |
| Healthcare social workers | 5,970 | $61,240 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers | 2,220 | $46,500 |
| Social workers, all other | 1,910 | $51,460 |
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. O*NET reports tasks, skills, and local outlook by occupation.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Social Workers; BLS state wage data for Tennessee; O*NET: Child, Family, and School Social Workers; CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs; HRSA health workforce shortage areas.
Social Work Licensure in Tennessee
Licensing data from the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the body that develops the social work licensing exams, captured 2026.
Tennessee 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 (LAPSW, LMSW), 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.