MSW Programs in New York

Jessica White

Written by Jessica White

Community Mental Health Worker & Case Manager

Updated & Fact Checked: 10/21/23

There are a total of 24 MSW programs in New York. This includes programs that have been accredited by the CSWE, programs that offer online options, and programs that do not require the GRE when applying. 

The social work career gives you the opportunity to help others in many ways. This job is in demand in most states due to the role they play for non-profits, county organizations, hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, retirement facilities, mental health clinics, and more. New York social workers have the opportunity to provide services to a diverse population of individuals and families in need. The state has a large population of approximately 20 million, which creates a high need for people in the helping field to address the various issues of the citizens. Enrolling in a master of social work program in New York can give you more career opportunities within the field. A high-quality MSW program prepares you to sit for your licensing exam and career, including the option to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who is able to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions. An MSW degree may also lead you to becoming a supervisor or manager. 

According to O*Net Online, the career of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Healthcare Social Workers are projected to grow 9% or more in New York, which is higher than the average career. Child, Family, and School Social Workers and all other social work careers are also projected to grow at a faster rate than average, at 5-8%. The income for social workers in New York is about $57,506 on average.

New York Online Masters in Social Work

There are 16 universities that offer an online MSW program in New York. Enrolling in an online program can be beneficial to students for many reasons. Many enrollees in a social work master’s degree program already have a career in social work, and attending classes online allows them to continue gaining experience in the field while receiving an education. The flexibility of online programs is helpful to students who have other responsibilities as well, such as a family or a varying schedule. Online MSW programs are typically of equal quality to the on-campus experience with the same opportunities, such as accelerated, part-time, or advanced standing formats. 

Below is an overview of the universities in New York that offer an online option.

  • Program: Online MSW Program 
  • Accreditation: CSWE
  • Number of Units: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 33 units 
    • Standard Program: 64 units 
  • Length: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 15 months 
    • Standard Program: 3 years 
  • Format: Online and on-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 900 hours on-site and 25 hours each year through practicum workshops. 
  • Tuition: $59,840 total 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Online MSW Program 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Full-time Program: 64 
    • Part-time Program: 64 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 32 
  • Length: 
    • Full-time Program: Two years 
    • Part-time Program: 3.5 years 
    • Advanced Standing Program: Two years 
  • Format: Online and on-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 1,020 hours. 
  • Tuition: $11,310 per year 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Online MS in Social Work 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 33 
    • Standard Program: 60 
  • Length: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: One year 
    • Standard Full-Time Program: 2-4 years. 
    • Standard Part-Time Program: 3-4 years. 
  • Format: Online and on-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 600-1200 hours depending on if a student is enrolled in the full-time or advanced standing program. 
  • Tuition: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: $66,738
    • Standard Full-Time Program: $55,644 
    • Standard Part-Time Program: $22,248 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Master of Social Work (MSW) 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 60 
    • Standard Full-Time Program: 30-33 
  • Length: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: Two years 
    • Standard Full-Time Program: One year 
  • Format: Online and on-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 950 hours 
  • Tuition: $1,072 per credit hour plus fees. 
  • GRE Required? Yes
  • Program: Online Master of Social Work Program 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 31 
    • Standard Program: 62 
  • Length: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 8-16 months (depending on if a student is enrolled full-time or part-time). 
    • Standard Program: 16-32 months (depending on if a student is enrolled full-time or part-time). 
  • Format: Online and on-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 950 hours 
  • Tuition: $1,045 per credit hour, plus fees. 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Online Master of Social Work (MSW) 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 60 
    • Standard Full-Time Program: 33 
  • Length:
    • Advanced Standing Program: 1.7 years 
    • Standard Full-Time Program: 3 years 
  • Format: Online and on-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 500 hours 
    • Standard Full-Time Program: 900 hours 
  • Tuition: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: $27,192 
    • Standard Full-Time Program: $49,440 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Master of Social Work Program 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 60 
    • Standard Full-Time Program: 36 
  • Length: 
    • Advanced Standing Full-Time Program: One year ○ Advanced Standing Part-Time Program: Two years ○ Standard Full-Time Program: Two years 
    • Standard Part-Time Program: Four years 
  • Format: Online or partially online and partially in person.
  • Practicum Requirement: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 500 hours 
    • Standard Full-Time Program: 900 hours 
  • Tuition: $790 per credit hour plus fees. 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Master of Social Work (MSW) 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 38 
    • Standard Program: 60 
  • Length: 
    • Advanced Standing Full-Time Program: 11 months
    • Advanced Standing Part-Time Program: 22 months ○ Standard Full-Time Program: 24 months 
    • Standard Part-Time Program: 48 months 
  • Format: Online and on-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 900 hours 
  • Tuition: $45,540 total.
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Masters in Social Work Online
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 60 
  • Length: 36 months 
  • Format: Format: Online and on-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 1,000 hours 
  • Tuition: $68,340 total. 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Master of Social Work (MSW) Program
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 33 
  • Length: 1200 hours 
  • Format: Online and on-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 21 hours/week over four semesters
  • Tuition: $820 per credit plus fees 
  • GRE Required? Yes
  • Program: Master of Social Work 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 60 
  • Length: 
    • Online full-time program: Three years 
    • On-campus full-time program: Two years 
    • Part-time program: Four years 
  • Format: Online and on-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 500 hours 
  • Tuition: $15,233 per year 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Master of Social Work (MSW) 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 60 
  • Length: 
    • Full-time program: Two years 
    • Part-time program: Three years
  • Format: Online and on-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 900 hours 
  • Tuition: $8,079 per semester 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Online Masters of Social Work 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 60 
  • Length: Two years 
  • Format: Online 
  • Practicum Requirement: 900 hours 
  • Tuition: $775 per credit 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Master of Social Work, MSW Degree 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 30 
    • Standard Program: 60 
  • Length: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 1.5 years 
    • Standard Program: 2.5 years 
  • Format: Online and on-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 1,200 hours 
  • Tuition: $1,138 per unit 
  • GRE Required? No

CSWE Accredited MSW Programs in New York

There are a total of 24 social work programs in New York that are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This includes all of the programs listed in the previous section as well as the programs below. The schools reviewed in the next section take place on-campus without the option of an online program. 

The CSWE is the sole accrediting agency for social work programs in the United States. The organization creates quality standards that these programs must meet, which include up-to-date education and experience that adequately prepares students for their licensing exam and future career. Attending a CSWE-accredited program can also be helpful because it makes it easier to transfer your social work license to another state if you choose to move. Additionally, many employers prefer to hire social workers who have earned their degree from a CSWE-accredited program. 

Below is an overview of the universities in New York that have been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education that were not reviewed in the previous section.

  • Program: Master’s Degree in Social Work 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Number of Units: 
      • Advanced Standing Program: 31 
      • Standard Program: 62 
  • Length: 
    • Advanced Standing Full-Time Program: One year 
    • Advanced Standing Part-Time Program: Two years 
    • Standard Full-Time Program: Two years 
    • Standard Part-Time Program: Three or four years 
  • Format: On-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 500 hours 
    • Standard Program: 900 hours 
  • Tuition: $863 per credit 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Master of Social Work 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 30 
    • Standard Program: 60 
  • Length: 
    • Advanced Standing Program: One year 
    • Standard Program: Two years 
  • Format: On-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 1,200 hours 
  • Tuition: $7,315 per semester 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Master of Social Work
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Full-Time Program: 60 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 36 
    • Accelerated Full-Time Program: 60 
  • Length: 
    • Full-Time Program: Two years 
    • Advanced Standing Program: Three semesters 
    • Accelerated Full-Time Program: 18 months 
  • Format: On-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 21 hours per week 
  • Tuition: $14,630 per year 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Social Work (MSW) Program 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 65 
  • Length: Two years 
  • Format: On-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 600 hours per year 
  • Tuition: $7,315 per year 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Master of Social Work 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Full-Time and Part-Time Program: 60 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 33 
  • Length: 
    • Full-Time Program: Two years 
    • Advanced Standing Program: One year 
    • Part-Time Program: Three or four years 
  • Format: On-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 1,000 hours 
  • Tuition: $1,352 per credit 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Master of Social Work 
  • Accreditation:
  • Number of Units: 
    • Full-Time Program: 65 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 32 
  • Length: 
    • Full-Time Program: Two years 
    • Accelerated Program: 16 months 
    • Extended Program: Three years 
  • Format: On-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 1,200 hours 
  • Tuition: $1,588 per unit 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Master of Social Work 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Standard Program: 60 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 36 
  • Length: 
    • Full-Time Standard Program: Two years 
    • Part-Time Standard Program: Three or four years
    • Advanced Standing Program: One year 
  • Format: On-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 924 hours 
  • Tuition: $654 per credit 
  • GRE Required? No
  • Program: Social Work (MSW) 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Standard Program: 60 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 36 
  • Length: 
    • Standard Program: Two years 
    • Advanced Standing Program: Three to five semesters
  • Format: On-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 440 hours 
  • Tuition: $353 per credit hour 
  • GRE Required? Unknown
  • Program: MSW 
  • Accreditation: CSWE 
  • Number of Units: 
    • Standard Program: Two years 
    • Advanced Standing Program: One year 
  • Length: 
    • Standard Program: 62 
    • Advanced Standing Program: 32 
  • Format: On-campus 
  • Practicum Requirement: 450 hours 
  • Tuition: $7,315 per semester 
  • GRE Required? No

No GRE Required MSW Programs in New York

In New York, there are 22 universities that do not require students to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for admission to the social work program. This includes most of the universities in the previous sections. However, three universities do require GRE scores to be submitted in the application. These are Daemen University and Touro University. 

The Graduate Record Examination is a standardized test that is intended to measure a student’s ability to do well with graduate level courses. However, many universities are opting out of requiring this on their application, as it does not necessarily give a well-rounded view of what a student is capable of. Instead, universities often require other materials, such as a resume, letters of recommendation, GPA for undergraduate programs, and more depending on the university. 

Below is an additional university in New York that does not require the GRE for admission and was not reviewed in the previous section.

  • Program: 
  • Accreditation: CSWE candidate 
  • Number of Units 
  • Length: Two years 
  • Format: 52 credits 
  • Practicum Requirement: Unknown 
  • Tuition: $815 per credit 
  • GRE Required? No

New York CSWE Accredited MSW Programs

University NameCityStateProgram TitleProgram URL
Adelphi UniversityGarden CityNYMaster of Social Workhttps://www.adelphi.edu/social-work/
Columbia UniversityNew YorkNYMaster of Science in Social Workhttps://socialwork.columbia.edu/
Daemen CollegeAmherstNYMSW Programhttps://www.daemen.edu/academics/areas-study/social-work/master-social-work-msw
Fordham UniversityNew YorkNYMaster of Social Workhttps://www.fordham.edu/info/20348/graduate_school_of_social_service
Roberts Wesleyan CollegeRochesterNYMaster of Social Workhttps://www.roberts.edu/
Touro CollegeNew YorkNYMaster of Social Workhttps://gssw.touro.edu/
University at Albany, State University of New YorkAlbanyNYMaster of Social Workhttp://www.albany.edu/ssw
University at Buffalo, State University of New YorkBuffaloNYMaster of Social Workhttp://www.socialwork.buffalo.edu/
Yeshiva UniversityNew YorkNYMaster of Social Workhttps://www.yu.edu/wurzweiler

New York MSW programs with Accelerated Advanced Standing Options

There are 17 MSW programs in New York that offer an advanced-standing option. This can be a good option for qualified students who want to complete their social work program faster, and it usually takes about half the time of the regular program. The requirements to qualify for advanced standing are typically that an applicant should have earned their bachelor’s degree in social work within the last 5-10 years (depending on the university), have a GPA of 3.0 or above (also dependent on the university). This is in addition to the regular application requirements of the MSW program. 

The programs that offer an advanced standing program in the previous sections include:

  • Adelphi University 
  • Binghamton University 
  • Columbia University 
  • Daemen University 
  • Fordham University 
  • Keuka College 
  • Nazareth University 
  • Roberts Wesleyan College 
  • University at Albany 
  • Yeshiva University 
  • The College of Saint Rose 
  • College of Staten Island 
  • Hunter College 
  • Long Island University, Post, and Brooklyn Collaborative 
  • New York University 
  • Stony Brook University 
  • SUNY Brockport 
  • York College

Affordable MSW Programs in New York

There are eight universities with an MSW program in NY that offer a more affordable tuition. Not all universities are the same. This includes the cost of the program. If you are looking for the right MSW program in New York, you may also be curious or worried about how much you will need to pay. Several universities have been reviewed in this article that offer a more affordable tuition than others. This is because they are state universities where some of the cost is supplemented through state taxes. These affordable programs are also accredited by the CSWE and offer an equally excellent education to more expensive programs. These universities offering an affordable MSW program include:

  • Binghamton University 
    • Tuition: $11,310 per year 
  • Hunter College
    • Tuition: $14,630 per year 
  • Lehman College 
    • Tuition: $7,315 per year 
  • St. Joseph’s University 
    • Tuition: $815 per credit 
  • Stony Brook University 
    • Tuition: $654 per credit 
  • University at Albany 
    • Tuition: $15,233 per year 
  • University at Buffalo 
    • Tuition: $8,097 per semester 
  • York College 
    • Tuition: $7,315 per semester

Conclusion

Earning a master’s degree in social work can open up many opportunities for individuals in the social work field. There are many programs in New York that can allow you to pursue this goal, with flexible options online, accelerated programs, affordable programs, and more. These programs are high quality, as most are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The diverse and large population of New York needs highly-qualified social work leaders, and by enrolling in a MSW program, you can further help your community.