The 8 Best Fast Track Social Work Degree Online Programs Under $37K

Are you looking for a jump-start into a quickly growing field that plays a direct role in improving the lives of the people in your community? If so, then a fast track social work degree online might just be the right next step for you.

The U.S. Department of Labor named social work one of the fastest growing careers and expects 9% growth by 2031. But beyond the numbers, we’re guessing you’re here because you genuinely care about helping people and are interested in finding ways to quickly advance your skills and then get back into the community to serve those around you.

So, let’s dive in and see if a fast track social work degree online is the right fit for you!

Article Navigation: How Accelerated MSW Programs Work | The 8 Best Fast Track Social Work Degree Online Programs Under $37,000 | Qualifications for Advanced Standing Online Social Work Degree Programs | Accreditation for Online Schools for Social Work | Benefits of Accelerated Online MSW Programs | Find Your Masters Online with GetEducated

How Accelerated MSW Programs Work

Accelerated Social Work Degrees vs. Traditional Online MSW

Traditional online MSW degrees are for students who have an undergrad degree in something other than social work. The first half of a traditional MSW program focuses on getting these students “caught up” on social work basics and comprises foundational courses. The second half of a traditional online MSW program focuses on advanced practitioner courses, specialization courses, and internships.

MSW accelerated programs are for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in social work. As long as these students meet the admission requirements, they are able to skip the whole first half of the traditional MSW program and jump right to the advanced courses, specialization courses, and practicums.

Time and Cost of Accelerated Social Work Degrees

Most accelerated masters in social work programs are around 30 credits. They take around one to two years to complete—including all practicum hours.

The cost per credit of an accelerated social work degree online program will be the same as the cost per credit for that particular school’s traditional online program. However, since the traditional programs are around 60 credits and the accelerated MSW programs are only around 30 credits, the total tuition for an accelerated program will be about half that of a traditional online MSW.

While there are a wide-range of options out there, the following list will share some of the fastest online advanced track options that range from $455-$1,200 per credit.

The 8 Best Fast Track Social Work Degree Online Programs Under $37,000

1. Delaware State University

   Degree: MSW/Advanced Standing
   Accreditation: CSWE
   Time to Complete: 12 months
   Tuition (in-state and out-of-state): $455 per credit

   The Social Work program at Delaware State University has an emphasis on experiential learning and ensures graduates are “able to evaluate the efficacy of interventions and programs, integrate theories of personality and adult psychopathology, address health and mental health disparities, and understand and assimilate theories and practice principles.”

   Students who meet the following criteria can apply for Delaware State’s fast track social work program:

   – A BSW from a CSWE accredited undergraduate program earned within the past five years
   – A minimum overall GPA of 2.75 and a minimum 3.0 GPA in social work courses
   – A letter of recommendation
   – Successful completion of the Advanced Standing Summer Seminar

   The Advanced Standing program waives 30 credits of the normal MSW program. It begins with the Summer Seminar and then two semesters worth of advanced generalist practice courses. Students are also required to take one field practicum course each semester.

   Find Out More:
   MSW/Advanced Standing

    

2. Virginia Commonwealth University

   Degree: Master of Social Work; MSW/Advanced Standing
   Accreditation: CSWE
   Time to Complete: 12-16 months
   Tuition (in-state): $634 per credit
   Tuition (out-of-state): $750 per credit

   The goal of the accelerated MSW online program at Virginia Commonwealth University is to provide “generalist knowledge, skills, ethics, and values essential for work with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations.”

   While most of the program is asynchronous, each course has three live sessions per semester. This creates a wonderful balance of real-time interactions with faculty and peers while still being extremely flexible.

   Students who earned a BSW from a CSWE-accredited institution within the past five years and who have a minimum GPA of 3.0 are welcomed into the Advanced Standing program. This program is 42 credits and can be completed in as little as one year. Throughout the program, students will complete around 14-22 fieldwork hours per week.

   As of right now, this program only offers a clinical specialization. However, beginning in the summer of 2024, Advanced Standing students will also be able to specialize in Social Work Administration, Planning, and Policy.

   Find Out More:
   Master of Social Work
   MSW/Advanced Standing

    

3. University of Kentucky

   Degree: MSW/Advanced Standing
   Accreditation: CSWE
   Time to Complete: 12 months
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $737 per credit

   The Social Work program at the University of Kentucky empowers students to “fulfill [their] passion to ensure ethical, effective social work practice in any community or organization.” UK offers many specialization options to help students live out those passions and achieve their goals.

   Each student will follow and complete and individualized Plan of Study that is compatible with their future career goals. In addition to an individual Plan of Study, students can choose to specialize in:

   – Child Welfare Practice
   – Clinical Social Work
   – Military Behavioral Health
   – School Social Work
   – Substance Use Disorder
   – Trauma-Responsive Practice

   The fast track social work masters program at UK is 30 credits and is 100% online. The program includes five core courses, two advanced practicums, and three specialization courses. For the Advanced Standing track, students must have a BSW with a GPA of at least 3.0 overall and at least 3.5 in social work courses.

   Find Out More:
   MSW/Advanced Standing

    

4. Columbia University in the City of New York

   Degree: MSW/Advanced Standing
   Accreditation: CSWE
   Time to Complete: 12 months
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $843 per credit

   Columbia University has the distinction of being one of the oldest Social Work programs in existence. The program began as an intervention for urban industrial life and has continued to grow into its robust program offerings of today.

   Students with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program are eligible for their accelerated social work degree online program. This one-year program is 33 credits with 600 hours of practicum work. The courses come in a synchronous format, so students have ample interactions with professors and peers.

   CUSW offers several options for method specializations as well as fields of practice specializations. The method specializations teach students specific skill sets, while the fields of practice specializations are the particular domains in which students wish to practice those skills.

   Method Specializations:

   – Advanced Clinical Practice
   – Integrated Practice and Programming
   – Policy Practice
   – Leadership, Management, and Entrepreneurship for Social Justice

   Fields of Practice:

   – Aging
   – Contemporary Social Issues
   – Family, Youth, and Children’s Services
   – Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities
   – International Social Welfare and Services to Immigrants and Refugees
   – School-Based and School-Linked Services
   – World of Work

   Find Out More:
   MSW/Advanced Standing

    

5. Our Lady of the Lake University

   Degree: MSW/Advanced Standing
   Accreditation: CSWE
   Time to Complete: 11 months
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $981 per credit

   Founded in 1895, Our Lady of the Lake has a long history of “providing transformative educational experiences.” With a rich history rooted in faith and a deep respect for the Mexican-American culture, this University has always lived out its founding principles of caring for people.

   Social workers with a heart for serving the Hispanic population will find a special home at Our Lady of the Lake. The overall program outcome objective is for graduates to be able to “deliver specialized intervention” to this quickly growing demographic. In fact, Our Lady is one of only three schools in the nation with this specific focus. Because of this focus, they have one set curriculum track.

   Students who have a BSW from a CSWE-accredited college can enroll in the 30 credit Advanced Standing program. This program includes 3 core courses, 4 specialization courses, 3 seminars, and 3 field work practicums. The entire program is spread over three terms, with 167 hours of fieldwork each term.

   Find Out More:
   MSW/Advanced Standing

    

6. Fordham University

   Degree: Master of Social Work; MSW/Advanced Standing
   Accreditation: CSWE
   Time to Complete: 8-16 months
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $1,045 per credit

   Fordham University’s social work program is a top-ranked program that is “future-focused and offers an advanced integrated practice curriculum that spans populations and contexts.” Their social work program focuses on clinical practice, organizational leadership, and advocacy.

   The Advanced Standing program is open to BSW graduates or students who have already completed the first year of a CSWE-accredited master’s program within the past five years. This track is 31 credits and can take as little as 8 months. Students are able to create a custom program by choosing courses in a niche area, or they can also choose to take courses that span a broad range of topic areas.

   Fordham’s online program has lots of great touch-points to help students have an in-person kind of experience from the comfort of their homes. These touch-points include live classes, small group break- out sessions, and face-to-face study sessions to allow for an immersive experience, as well as a mobile app and 24/7 tech support to make sure the online experience flows smoothly.

   Find Out More:
   Master of Social Work
   MSW/Advanced Standing

    

7. Simmons University

   Degree: Master of Social Work; MSW/Advanced Standing
   Accreditation: CSWE
   Time to Complete: 9-12 months
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $1,148 per credit

   From its founding, Simmons University has celebrated diversity and equality. Initially founded as a college dedicated to educating women, they have always remained on the forefront of including those who are often left out. The Social Work department operates under those same values and seeks to prepare students to be leaders in serving the needy or overlooked in their own communities.

   Students with a Bachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program can apply to the Advanced Standing program. This is a 34 credit program that runs either 9 months or 12 months.

   Simmons offers three different certificate programs for students interested in pursuing specializations in Mental Health Practice, Trauma Practice, or Military Practice. Regardless of the specialization chosen, all Advanced Standing students will also participate in two practicum experiences.

   Find Out More:
   Master of Social Work / Child & Family
   Health & Aging
   Mental Health & Addictions
   Trauma & Interpersonal Violence
   MSW/Advanced Standing

    

8. The Catholic University of America

   Degree: MSW/Advanced Standing
   Accreditation: CSWE
   Time to Complete: 12 months
   Tuition (in-state & out-of-state): $1,200 per credit

   The Catholic University of America boasts one of the top Catholic social work programs in America. In fact, 95% of their graduates pass the Licensed Graduate Social Worker exam the first time. True to their faith-based roots, the program is dedicated to providing a “transformative experience to prepare [students] for a life of meaning and purpose.”

   For the Advanced Standing program, students must have a BSW from a CSWE- accredited school, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2, have a GPA of at least 3.5 in all undergrad social work classes, sufficient practicum hours, and reference letters.

   This program is 30 credit hours along with two internships. Each student will follow the same course curriculum through a series of five semesters that span the course of a year. The courses are 100% online and completely asynchronous.

   Find Out More:
   MSW/Advanced Standing

    

Qualifications for Advanced Standing Online Social Work Degree Programs

It’s useful to think of qualifications for advanced standing applications in two tiers:

1. The first tier involves admission requirements that are applicable for all graduate students. This includes things like a bachelor’s degree, a minimum GPA, a general application, a resume, letters or recommendation, etc.
2. The second tier is additional requirements specifically for students who want to enroll in the Advanced Standing program.

In order to apply for a fast track masters in social work, at the very least, you will need to have an earned Bachelor’s in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited institution. Additionally, many programs will require a certain minimum cumulative GPA as well as a minimum social work GPA. Some programs might also require letters of recommendation or a statement of purpose.

Some programs may accept one year’s worth of graduate social work courses earned at another university in lieu of a BSW.

Accreditation for Online Schools for Social Work

Since 1952, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has maintained, enforced, and supported the highest standards in social work. They currently accredit over 750 bachelor’s and master’s programs all across the country.

As you probably noted for all the above programs, CSWE is the most important accreditation to look for when researching social work online programs. In fact, if you want to continue on after your MSW to pursue full licensure, then having a degree from a CSWE accredited program is an absolute must.

Schools will likely have additional accreditations as well—such as regional or national—and those are good to be aware of as well. But as a social work professional, CSWE is what you want to look for first and foremost.

Benefits of Accelerated Online MSW Programs

There are several benefits to earning your fast track social work degree online. By qualifying for an advanced standing program, you can save an entire year’s worth of tuition. That’s usually a savings of around $15,000-$35,000 dollars! In addition the cost savings, you’ll also save a year’s worth of time and be able to get started in your career even faster.

Accelerated MSW programs online also offer some great flexibility. Being able to complete the courses from home opens so many doors for students who might not be able to attend on-campus classes. Some of the advanced standing programs do have a pretty rigidly structured curriculum. That being said, as you could see from our list, there are still a good number of programs that offer many specializations and even custom learning plans for students who crave even more flexibility.

For those of you who are more numbers-minded and want to know if an MSW online is worth it, let’s take a look at some average salaries. The average salary for a social worker with just a BSW is around $64,029. On the other hand, the average salary for a licensed social worker with an MSW is $78,493. This is a pretty substantial difference. So much so, that the MSW will usually pay for itself within 1-2 years of graduation!

All that to say: For those who qualify, Accelerated MSW degrees are an excellent choice with many long- lasting benefits.

Find Your Masters Online with GetEducated

We know the thought of going back to school can feel intimidating. But in one short year, you can be an officially licensed social worker with a masters degree who is armed and ready to take their career to new heights.

The skills you learn in a fast track social work degree online program will stay with you for the rest of your career. And, as you can see, there are plenty of truly unique program options available to meet all of your needs. Taking the plunge can be scary, but we know you can do it and are behind you 100%. Our communities are waiting for you!

If you want to learn more about this and other online degrees, check out GetEducated to read all about the amazing online options that are available for you!