Most Affordable Online Bachelor's Programs in Social Work

Social workers assist clients of all ages, including elementary school children struggling with behavioral issues and aging clients facing financial and medical challenges.

These selfless professionals also help people with mental health conditions or substance abuse disorders. Many career paths in social work, including school social work, social services management, and healthcare social work, require a bachelor's degree in social work for entry-level positions. Prospective social workers can earn an online social work degree to increase their salary potential and job opportunities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social workers earn an average salary of over $55,000 a year. The field also boasts faster-than-average growth, with a projected 7% increase in social work jobs by 2032. Online social work programs offer an accessible, flexible, and convenient route to a bachelor’s degree.

Online colleges let prospective social workers attend the top schools in the country without having to relocate. During online social work programs, social work students can complete coursework requirements, gain professional experience through local practicums, and meet state licensure.

The Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Social Work

The school and/or program descriptions below were drafted using natural language generation technology and have been edited for clarity and accuracy. The data is primarily sourced from government databases such as IPEDS – see sources section for more details.

Ranking Guidelines

We selected online social work programs based on the quality of the program, the types of available online classes for social work, faculty, rankings, awards, and prestige, including the school’s reputation for effectively providing quality online degree programs.

Advantages of a Social Work Education

Social workers with associate degrees can increase their earning potential and job opportunities by pursuing an online bachelor's in social work. An associate degree meets the qualifications for positions as an intake specialist or case manager assistant for a social services organization. However, applicants with bachelor’s degrees can qualify for positions with greater responsibility and higher salaries. A candidate with an online bachelor's degree in social work can also qualify for state licensing exams, which open additional career opportunities.

An online bachelor's degree in social work meets the entry-level requirements for many career paths, including work as a school social worker, healthcare social worker, or social work supervisor. PayScale reports that a professional with a bachelor's degree in social work should earn 30% more than an associate degree holder. Earning a bachelor’s degree translates to an average raise of $19,000 per year, as the following table shows.

Average Salary by Degree Level

Social Work Career and Salary Information

An online bachelor's degree in social work prepares graduates for several in-demand career paths. For example, social workers who specialize in working with children can pursue opportunities as school social workers or child and family social workers. A bachelor’s degree qualifies social workers for several supervisory positions with work experience, including positions like social work supervisors or social services managers. After earning a BSW, a social worker can also apply to MSW programs to earn their master's degree in social work and become a clinical social worker.

Social Worker

Social workers assist people facing problems in their everyday lives, teaching coping skills and behavior modification. Social workers with bachelor’s degrees may work in different fields, such as child and family social work, school social work, or healthcare social work. In these fields, social workers assist clients and contribute to programs to help the community.

Salary based on experience:

• Entry Level: $48,000
• Mid-Career: $57,000
• Experienced: $61,000
• Late Career: $63,000

Clinical Social Worker

Clinical social workers are licensed to diagnose and treat behavioral, mental, and emotional disorders. Also known as licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), they offer individual and group therapy, develop strategies to change their patients’ behaviors, and create treatment plans for their clients. A clinical social worker needs a master’s degree and a license to practice.

Salary based on experience:

• Entry Level: $52,000
• Mid-Career: $62,000
• Experienced: $68,000
• Late Career: $74,000

School Social Worker

School social workers assess students’ social, psychological, and academic abilities to identify ways to help children overcome challenges. These social workers also work with teachers to assess their students’ social or emotional needs, meet with students, and work with parents or guardians.

Salary based on experience:

• Entry Level: $47,000
• Mid-Career: $55,000
• Experienced: $57,000
• Late Career: $64,000

Social Work Supervisor

These supervisors oversee social workers within organizations. They direct programs, act as mentors, and review cases. Social work supervisors approve treatment plans, evaluate the performance of social workers, and educate clients. They must hold a state license, and some positions require master’s degrees.

Salary based on experience:

• Entry Level: $44,000
• Mid-Career: $62,000
• Experienced: $78,000
• Late Career: $76,000

Social Work Service Managers

This type of manager supervises social service programs, managing a team of social service providers, including social workers. Their organizations may focus on children, aging adults, or people with substance use disorders. Social service managers evaluate their programs to identify improvements. Entry-level positions require bachelor’s degrees.

Salary based on experience:

• Entry Level: $56,000
• Mid-Career: $58,000
• Experienced: $61,000
• Late Career: $68,000

Choosing an Online Social Work Program

Before applying to online social work bachelor's degree programs, prospective students need to carefully consider which degrees fit their career goals and interests. With so many options, applicants may feel overwhelmed. However, by researching each program, a student can determine which degree is the best fit.

Students can consider factors like program cost, transfer policies, and program length to narrow down their options. Prospective students considering a specific social work career path, such as school social work or clinical social work, may prefer programs that offer a concentration in that area. These factors help students decide where to apply.

Program Cost

The total cost of an online social work degree can vary widely. In general, in-state public schools offer the lowest tuition costs. However, many out-of-state public schools offer a flat rate for online students. Consider the total cost of the degree, including technology fees, online learning fees, and books.

Transfer Policies

A generous transfer policy can save students time and money when earning their social work degrees. For example, a program that accepts up to 90 transfer credits toward the degree means students can earn social work degrees in as little as one year. Some online schools offer a transcript evaluation to determine transfer credits before students apply.

School Size and Type

Both public and private colleges offer social work degrees, so students should also consider school type. Some prefer smaller schools, which offer a more intimate classroom experience, while others prefer a larger cohort of students in the program.

Program Length

While an online social work degree typically takes four years to complete, the program length will vary, depending on the program requirements, such as a practicum or internship. A student may prefer a program that offers a part-time or accelerated option.

On-Campus Requirements

Some online programs include on-campus requirements, such as an on-campus orientation or residency weekends to meet with other students and faculty members. When researching social work programs, a prospective student may prefer a local program with some on-campus requirements or a fully online program.

Social Work Concentrations

A student earning an online social work bachelor's degree can choose a concentration to specialize their education. Specializations like school social work, child and family social work, or healthcare social work prepare majors for career paths after graduation. Some concentrations, such as clinical social work, require an applicant to possess a master’s degree.

School Social Work

A concentration in school social work prepares graduates to work with teachers, parents, and administrators to help students’ social development. School social workers address bullying, poor academic performance, absences from school, and aggressive behavior. Some school social work positions require an applicant to possess a master’s degree.

Healthcare Social Work

Healthcare social workers assist patients in navigating the medical system. They help subjects understand a diagnosis, provide support to make lifestyle changes, and help patients to access services for medical conditions. They often work with doctors to address the mental and emotional health of patients.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse

The mental health and substance abuse concentration prepares social work majors to assist clients in coping with mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders. They may also provide group support services.

Child and Family Social Work

Child and family social workers help families access services such as housing, childcare, and healthcare benefits. They also protect vulnerable children and intervene if children face neglect or abuse. This concentration requires additional courses on children and families.

Clinincal Social Work

Clinical social workers diagnose mental, behavioral, and emotional problems. They also help clients treat these issues. A professional clinical social worker must hold a master’s degree in social work, but the undergraduate concentration prepares students for graduate-level work in the field.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Degree in Social Work?

Earning an online bachelor's degree in social work typically takes four years of full-time study. Most bachelor’s degrees require 120 credits of coursework, including general education credits, electives, and major requirements. Social work majors can take advanced courses within their field, including specialized courses in a concentration area. Several factors affect the length of a bachelor’s degree, including the student’s transfer credits, the program requirements, and enrollment status.

For example, a student with an associate degree can often earn a bachelor’s degree in two years by transferring credits from their associate program. Some program requirements, such as a practicum, can also lengthen a program. Learners who choose part-time schedules often require more than four years to earn their degrees, while an accelerated option lets students complete the requirements in less time. Prospective students can finish faster by researching program requirements and identifying programs with generous transfer credit policies.

Social Work Courses

Introduction to Social Work:

Introductory courses provide a survey of the social work profession, including different types of social services and social welfare organizations. Social work students study significant social problems, the methods of social workers, and at-risk populations. The course prepares students for advanced courses in social work.

Diversity in Society:

Social work students study social diversity, including identity, cultural issues, prejudice, and discrimination. This course may cover the social construction of race and the impact of racism and bigotry on society. Students study different types of diversity, including ethnicity, class, gender, and sexual orientation.

Social Work Methods:

Advanced social work majors often take courses on social work methods, which prepares graduates for careers in social work. Students learn about the best practices in social work, intervention techniques when working with individuals, groups, or communities, and how to develop professional relationships. The course also covers ethical principles in social work.

Family and Child Welfare:

Many social work programs incorporate a course on family and child welfare, which may be an elective. During the class, students can examine child welfare practices and the role that child welfare workers play in families. They also learn about intervention methods and assessment tools for working with children of all ages.

Practicum:

A bachelor’s social work program commonly includes a practicum, or supervised field experience, where undergraduates can gain hands-on experience. Students enrolled in online social work degree programs arrange the practicum at a local site approved by their program.

Accreditation for Online Social Work Degrees

A prospective social work student should always choose an accredited program. Accreditation plays an important role in social work licensure, so attending an unaccredited program can significantly limit a social worker’s professional opportunities after graduation. Accreditation acts as a marker of academic excellence. Regional and national accreditation agencies evaluate an entire college or university, examining student learning outcomes, faculty qualifications, and graduation requirements. Schools that earn regional accreditation meet the highest standards for liberal arts and research institutions.

In addition to regional and national accreditation, programmatic accreditation assesses specific programs, such as business schools, teacher preparation programs, or counseling programs. In social work, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredits programs. CSWE sets professional standards for social work education, which programs must meet to earn accreditation. Graduates from accredited online bachelor’s degrees in social work meet the requirements for state social work licenses and professional certifications.

Earning an accredited online social work degree benefits students in several ways. Accredited institutions qualify for federal financial aid programs, and credits earned at an accredited institution will more likely transfer to other schools. Finally, many MSW programs only accept applicants with bachelor’s degrees from accredited institutions.

Social Work Associations

Professional organizations help social workers transition from their online social work degree into the workforce. Many of these organizations offer educational resources, research on the profession, and career resources, including jobs boards. Membership associates host conferences and events with networking opportunities, and they also provide valuable guidance for social workers preparing for their licensing examinations.

The National Association of Social Workers:

The NASW, which dates back to 1955, represents over 120,000 social workers, making it the largest membership organization of social workers in the world. Members can receive access to specialty credentials, continuing education resources, and the NASW career center.

School Social Work Association of America:

As a professional organization for school social workers, SSWAA offers professional resources for social work students. Members can access professional advocacy services and receive discounts on publications and conferences.

Association of Social Work Boards:

ASWB administers social work licensing examinations, which professional social workers must pass to receive licenses in the field. The organization provides information on the exam, testing accommodations, and resources for exam candidates.

International Federation of Social Workers:

An organization recognized by UNICEF, the federation brings together social work organizations from around the world. Social workers who belong to these organizations can access the federation’s information hub, events, and opportunities.

Council on Social Work Education:

CSWE acts as the accrediting agency for degree-granting social work programs. The council also advocates for social workers and offers professional development resources, including research in the field, publications, and education resources.