There are a total of 13 universities in Florda offering an MSW program. To become a social worker in Florida, you must attend a social work program that has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Individuals looking to become a master’s-level social worker can choose among two license options: certified master social worker (CMSW), and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
Florida holds many benefits as a place to live and work due to its warm weather, beautiful beaches, amusement parks, and other attractions. The state has a population of about 22 million, and is the third largest state in the US. Additionally, Florida is the most popular state where individuals choose to live upon retirement.
The large population of the state as well as the high number of elderly individuals residing there may create the opportunity for social workers to find a career in several different areas. According to O*Net Online, the demand for social workers in Florida, along with their income, is as follows:
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Projected Growth: 15% (much higher than average)
- Median Annual Wages: $46,200
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Projected Growth: 18% (much higher than average)
- Median Annual Wages: $46,090
- Healthcare Social Workers
- Projected Growth: 18% (much higher than average)
- Median Annual Wages: $52,240
- Social Workers, All Other
- Projected Growth: 7% (higher than average)
- Median Annual Wages: $52,520
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Projected Growth: 9% (much higher than average)
- Median Annual Wages: $66,790
Below is an overview of various social work programs offered in Florida. Many of the schools offer a variety of options, including online formats or accelerated/advanced study formats. These universities have been accredited, and as such, should adequately prepare you for your future career in the social work field.
Florida Online Masters in Social Work
There are seven universities in Florida that offer an online format for their MSW program. Students can appreciate the online option because it offers several benefits, such as flexibility and location freedom. This is important because someone who is already employed full-time in the social services field can earn their master’s degree at the same time. Rather than having to commute to the university and attend class in-person each week, students enrolled in an online program can choose to complete their coursework at home or another preferred location. Additionally, these online programs are equal in quality to their in-person counterparts, and may include additional options such as part-time, accelerated, and/or advanced standing options.
Below is an overview of the universities in Florida that offer an online option.
- Program: Social Work – MSW
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units:
- Standard Program: 63
- Advanced Standing Program: 32
- Length:
- Standard Full-Time Program: 16 months
- Standart Part-Time Program: 28 months
- Advanced Standing Program: Seven months
- Advanced Standing Part-Time Program: 16 months
- Format: Online and in-person
- Practicum Requirement:
- Standard Program: 1000 hours
- Advanced Standing Program: 580 hours
- Tuition: $649 per credit
- GRE Required? No
- Program: MSW Social Work
- Accreditation: CSWE candidate
- Number of Units: 54 units
- Length: Two to four years
- Format: Online and in-person options available
- Practicum Requirement: 900 hours
- Tuition: $495 per credit.
- GRE Required? No
- Program: Master of Social Work
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units:
- Standard Program: 61
- Advanced Standing Program: 39
- Length:
- Standard Full-Time Program: Two years
- Standard Part-Time Program: Four years
- Advanced Standing Program: Three semesters
- Format: Online and in-person options available
- Practicum Requirement:
- Standard Full-Time Program: 945
- Advanced Standing Program: 512
- Tuition: $444 per unit
- GRE Required? No
- Program: Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 62
- Length: One to three years
- Format: Online only
- Practicum Requirement: Not found
- Tuition: $575 per credit hour
- GRE Required? No
- Program: Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 62
- Length: Two years
- Format: Online and in-person options available
- Practicum Requirement: Not found
- Tuition: $369.95 per credit hour
- GRE Required? No
- Program: MSW Program
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units:
- Standard Full-Time Program: 60
- Advanced Standing Program: 35
- Length:
- Standard Full-Time Program: Four semesters
- Standart Part-Time Program: Eight semesters
- Advanced Standing Program: Three semesters
- Advanced Standing Part-Time Program: Five semesters
- Format: Online and in-person options available
- Practicum Requirement:
- Standard Program: 900 hours
- Advanced Program: 600 hours
- Tuition: $347.91 per credit hour plus fees
- GRE Required? No
- Program: Social Work, MSW
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units:
- Standard Program: 60
- Advanced Standing Program: 30
- Length:
- Standard Program: Two years
- Advanced Standing Program: One year
- Format: Online and in-person options available
- Practicum Requirement: 600 hours
- Tuition: $416 per credit hour
- GRE Required? Yes
CSWE Accredited MSW Programs in Florida
There are 12 MSW programs in Florida that have been accredited by the CSWE, which includes the universities that were reviewed in the previous section that offer an online option. Ana G. Mendez University is the exception, as it is currently a candidate for CSWE accreditation. This section will go over more CSWE-accredited MSW programs in Florida, but are offered solely on campus.
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the sole agency in the United States responsible for accrediting universities that offer social work programs. The goal of the CSWE is to advance innovative social work programs and ensure their excellence. Attending an accredited MSW program should adequately prepare you for your post-degree licensing exam. These programs may also make you more appealing to employers, or let you transfer your license to another state more easily, if needed.
Below is an overview of the universities in Florida that have been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education that were not reviewed in the previous section.
- Program: Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units: 67
- Length: Two years (part time options available that might take more time)
- Format: In person
- Practicum Requirement: Not found
- Tuition: $25,228
- GRE Required? Yes
- Program: Master of Social Work
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units:
- Standard Full-Time Program: 60
- Advanced Standing Program: 30
- Length:
- Standard Full-Time Program: Two years
- Standart Part-Time Program: Three or four years
- Advanced Standing Program: One year
- Advanced Standing Part-Time Program: Two years
- Format: In person
- Practicum Requirement: 1,000 hours
- Tuition: $23,359 per year
- GRE Required? No
- Program: Master of Social Work
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units:
- Standard Full-Time Program: 60-63 units
- Advanced Standing Program: 30 units
- Length:
- Standard Full-Time Program: Two years
- Standart Part-Time Program: Four years
- Advanced Standing Program: One year
- Format: In person
- Practicum Requirement: 1,000 hours
- Tuition: $373,38 per credit hour
- GRE Required? No
- Program: Masters in Social Work
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units:
- Standard Program: 60
- Advanced Standing Program: 33
- Length:
- Standard Program: Two years
- Advanced Standing Program: One year
- Format: In person
- Practicum Requirement:
- Standard Program: 920 hours
- Advanced Program: 576 hours
- Tuition: $27,954 per year
- GRE Required? No
- Program: Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units:
- Standard Full-Time Program: 65
- Advanced Standing Program: 32-33
- Length:
- Standard Program: 21 months
- Advanced Standing Program: 9 months
- Format: In person
- Practicum Requirement:
- Standard Program: 900 hours
- Advanced Program: 500 hours
- Tuition: $42,752 plus additional cost
- GRE Required? No
- Program:
- Accreditation: CSWE
- Number of Units:
- Standard Full-Time Program: 72
- Advanced Standing Program: 51
- Length:
- Standard Full-Time Program: Two years
- Standart Part-Time Program: Four years
- Advanced Standing Program: One year
- Format: In person
- Practicum Requirement:
- Standard Program: 900 hours
- Advanced Program: 500 hours
- Tuition: $493.53 per credit hour
- GRE Required? No
No GRE Required MSW Programs in Florida
There are ten MSW programs in Florida that do not require the GRE to apply. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is a standardized exam that some universities require students to take after receiving their undergraduate degree to ensure that they are ready for graduate level coursework. According to the Educcational Testing Services website, the GRE is intended for admissions committees to understand an applicant’s strengths in analytical writing skills, critical thinking, and reasoning. However, many universities are choosing to opt out of requiring the GRE for admissions, choosing to instead implement a more holistic method of determining who to admit to their program. MSW programs that do not require the GRE to enroll typically require things like undergraduate transcripts and GPA, letters of recommendation, a resume, and possibly more depending on the school and program.
The programs that do NOT require a GRE in Florida have been reviewed in previous sections. They include:
- Ana G. Mendez University
- Barry University
- Florida State University
- Saint Leo University
- University of Central Florida
- University of South Florida
- Florida Atlantic University
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida International University
- Southeastern University
- University of North Florida
The programs that DO require the GRE in their applications include:
- University of West Florida
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida CSWE Accredited MSW Programs
| University Name | City | State | Program Title | Program URL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry University | Miami Shores | FL | Master of Social Work | https://www.barry.edu/social-work/ | |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee | FL | Online MSW | https://csw.fsu.edu/academics/master-social-work-msw/msw-overview | |
| Saint Leo University | Saint Leo | FL | Online MSW Program | https://www.saintleo.edu/social-work-programs-online | |
| University of Central Florida | Orlando | FL | Master of Social Work | https://healthprofessions.ucf.edu/socialwork/ | |
| University of South Florida | Tampa | FL | Master of Social Work | https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/social-work/ | |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola | FL | Master of Social Work | https://uwf.edu/ceps/departments/social-work/ |
Florida MSW programs with Accelerated Advanced Standing Options
There are 12 universities in Florida that offer an advanced-standing option within their MSW program. This can be a good option to pursue as it can allow you to complete your social work program faster, often in half the time of the regular program, or even less. However, you have to qualify to enroll in this version of the program. While you can apply to an MSW program with many different bachelor’s degrees, if you want to enroll in the advanced-standing program, universities typically require applicants to have earned their bachelor’s degree in social work. You should also maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above (depending on the university) in your undergraduate program. This is in addition to the regular application requirements of the MSW program.
The universities in Florida that offer and advanced-standing MSW program include:
- Ana G. Mendez University
- Barry University
- Florida State University
- Saint Leo University
- University of South Florida
- University of West Florida
- University of Central Florida
- Florida Atlantic University
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida International University
- Southeastern University
- University of North Florida
Affordable MSW Programs in Florida
If you are considering attending an MSW program, cost may be a part of your decision-making process. There are five universities with MSW programs that have a more affordable tuition. These are each a CSWE-accredited state university, which are cheaper because they receive funding via taxes. This allows enrollees who reside in the state to pay less in tuition because they are considered to have already contributed.
Below are universities in Florida that are more affordable:
- University of South Florida
- Cost: $347.91 per credit
- University of Central Florida
- Cost: $369.95 per credit hour
- University of West Florida
- Cost: $416 per credit hour
- Florida State University
- Cost: $444 per unit
- University of North Florida
- Cost: $493.53 per credit
Conclusion
If you want to become a social worker and live in Florida, there may be many career options available and in demand in the state. Social work is a challenging, but rewarding, career. Becoming a master’s level social worker can open up many career options, even in management, and potentially a higher pay than bachelor’s level social workers. An accredited MSW program in Florida can prepare you for taking your social work licensing exam. The many options within the FL MSW programs allow you to choose what program suits your needs and preferences the best, whether it’s online, the standard, on-campus program, or an advanced standing, accelerated program.
