answer: gpa requirements vary by graduate school and range from a minimum gpa of 2.5 to 3.5

for traditional programs, the majority of graduate schools require a gpa of 3.0 or greater to apply. however, some of these schools will still allow students with a gpa lower than 3.0 to apply if they have taken the gre (see the gpa table below for more information).

[please note: the majority of universities have a selective admissions process for msw programs that are online, meaning that even if a student meets the minimum requirements for the program, they are not guaranteed admission.]

the council on social work education (cswe) is the main accrediting body for bsw and msw programs. for students who have already earned a bachelor of social work from a council on social work education (cswe) accredited undergraduate program, the majority of gpa table below for more information). advanced standing programs often have stricter admission criteria when compared to traditional programs.

bsw students who do not meet the minimum gpa requirements for an advanced standing program, may still be eligible to earn a msw degree through a traditional program.

for students who are not sure about their qualifications, we recommend contacting universities before applying to determine your chances for admission.

click on the school name for more information about their programs, admission requirements and eligibility restrictions.

¹all online msw programs require field education at a local health services agency. programs that are 100% online do not require students to visit the campus during the program.

last updated: march 2020

²all online msw programs require field education at a local health services agency. programs that are 100% online do not require students to visit the campus during the program.

program options include full-time (ft) and part-time (pt) programs. most full-time online msw programs designed for traditional students take two years to complete, whereas part-time programs typically take two and a half to four years to complete depending on the program.

last updated: april 2020