MSW Programs in Maryland

Maryland’s MSW programs offer excellent career opportunities right now. Social worker positions in the state will grow by 9-14% between 2022 and 2032. Healthcare and mental health sectors show even stronger potential with 19% and 17% growth respectively.

The state faces significant social challenges that highlight the need for qualified professionals. Baltimore’s statistics paint a concerning picture – 56% of residents lived below the ALICE threshold in 2022, struggling with simple living costs. A Johns Hopkins survey highlighted more challenges: 43% of Black residents faced transportation insecurity, while 54% couldn’t access adequate food. Maryland’s three CSWE-accredited MSW programs help address these vital community needs. The University of Maryland-Baltimore, Morgan State University, and Salisbury University provide accredited programs with diverse specializations. Students who need scheduling flexibility can also choose from online MSW options.

Your career prospects look promising. Mental health and substance abuse social workers in Maryland earned $65,030 on average in 2023, matching the national average of $65,470. Let’s get into each program’s details to find your best match.

University of Maryland-Baltimore MSW Program

The University of Maryland School of Social Work ranks among the nation’s largest and most respected institutions for social work education. This 62-year-old program shapes future practitioners and leaders through a well-laid-out curriculum that puts justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion first.

Specializations

UMB requires students to pick a concentration in the Advanced Curriculum. Students can choose between two main concentrations:

1. Clinical Concentration – Students get detailed training for direct clinical services. This path needs two required courses: Advanced Clinical Interventions and Psychopathology. Clinical students must also complete one of these six Core Methods Courses:
   • Family Therapy
   • Clinical Social Work with Children and Adolescents
   • Mindfulness, Stress Reduction, and Self Care
   • Cognitive Behavioral Therapies
   • Motivational Interviewing
   • Adult Trauma and Clinical Social Work Practice
2. Leadership, Policy, & Social Change Concentration – This path prepares social workers to create systemic change through leadership, policy advocacy, and community organizing. Students learn Advocacy and Public Policy for Social Justice courses with specialized methods courses.

Students can choose a secondary concentration with their primary focus to create a unique learning experience. This needs careful planning since students must meet all primary concentration requirements and complete two courses from their secondary choice.

Program format

Students can choose from several program paths:

60-Credit MSW Programs come in three formats:

• Baltimore Campus (Hybrid): Open for Clinical or Leadership, Policy, and Social Change concentrations
• Shady Grove Campus (Hybrid): Available just for Clinical concentration
• Online Program: Maryland residents can pursue Clinical concentration

36-Credit Advanced Standing Programs serve students with a BSW earned in the past 5 years:

• Baltimore Campus (Hybrid): Both concentrations available
• Shady Grove Campus (Hybrid): Clinical concentration only

Program length changes based on your format:

• Students finish their MSW in 2 to 4 years with most classes in-person or hybrid
• Online courses take 3 years to complete (with in-person field practicum)
• Advanced Standing students graduate in 11 months to 2 years

Part-time students in the 60-credit program start with 6 credits and finish in 3 or 4 years. Full-time students take 15 credits each semester and graduate in two years. Advanced Standing students complete their degree in two years part-time or 1.5 years full-time.

Students can start at different times. Fall admits choose from 2-year, 3-year, or 4-year plans. Spring admits pick between 2.5-year or 3.5-year options.

Tuition and fees

UMB School of Social Work charges tuition per credit. Here are the 2025 rates:

Washington, D.C. residents pay in-state tuition rates for the MSW program, making it more affordable.

Tuition payments are due:

• Fall 2025: August 25, 2025
• Spring 2026: January 26, 2026

Students should plan for extra fees beyond tuition. Full-time social work students saw a mid-semester tuition increase of more than $2,000 in 2023, so financial flexibility helps.

Fieldwork requirements

Field education is a large part of graduate social work education at UMB. The school sees this part as “the heart of social work education” rather than just an internship or career training.

Students work at two different field sites. These placements help them apply classroom theory while building professional skills.

Field placements work like this:

• Foundation placements: Two full days weekly (usually Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays) within 50 miles of student’s home
• Advanced placements: Three full days weekly (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) matching student’s chosen concentration

Students must finish two back-to-back semesters of advanced field practicum totaling twelve credits. They also take Methods courses specific to their concentration alongside field education.

Field coordinators help students find the right placements before the academic year starts. They match placements based on concentration/specialization for advanced students and location for foundation students.

Field practicum placements run during regular workday hours from fall through spring semester. The Office of Field Education can’t offer evening or weekend-only placements.

Dual degree options

The School offers two Social Work/Public Health dual-degree programs:

1. MSW/MPH with University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
2. MSW/MPH with Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health

These programs create leaders for health-related agencies, advance health disparities research, and deliver multi-level interventions for at-risk populations.

MSW/MPH dual degree follows this three-year path:

• Year 1: Foundation year in MSW program
• Year 2 (including summers): MPH program
• Year 3: Final MSW program year

The School of Social Work accepts 6 to 9 MPH program credits toward MSW requirements. This includes 3 credits of research requirements and 6 credits of advanced policy or electives. Students complete both degrees faster than taking each program separately.

UMB offers more dual degree options than any other program in Maryland, giving students many career paths to choose from.

Morgan State University MSW Program

Morgan State University started its MSW program in 2007. The program builds on its long history of social work education by adding advanced degrees that focus on urban communities. Their main focus is serving African American populations who face many social and economic challenges in urban settings.

Specializations

Students can choose from five Areas of Specialized Practice (ASP) to become experts in specific social work fields:

1. Urban Children, Youth, and Families – This specialization helps social workers tackle challenges that families face in urban environments. The coursework has Urban Child Welfare, Child Abuse & Neglect, and Juvenile Justice.
2. Gerontology – This track looks at aging populations and offers courses on Urban Social Work Practice with the Aged & Their Families and Social Forces Affecting Older Adults.
3. School Social Work – Students learn to work in educational settings through courses like Social Work in Urban Schools and Urban Social Work & Special Education.
4. Public Health – The focus here is on health promotion, epidemiology, and maternal/child health issues.
5. Addictions – Students study substance abuse assessment and intervention strategies.

Online MSW students can now access two specializations: Urban Children, Youth, and Families and Addictions. The online program’s Urban Children, Youth, and Families track puts special emphasis on ethics when working with younger populations and cultural competency tools for clients from all backgrounds.

Program format

Students can choose from several formats that fit their needs:

• Traditional On-Campus Program – Available in 2-year, 3-year, and summer model formats
• Blended Program – Mixes online and in-person learning
• Fully Online Program – Eight-week courses with mostly self-paced learning

The online program uses a cohort model where students move through their courses together. Each online session lasts seven days. Students must finish all assignments, coursework, and quizzes by set deadlines. Most work can be done at any time, but some sessions need students to attend live online meetings.

Students must finish their MSW at Morgan State within five years. Here’s how the curriculum works:

2-Year MSW Program (60 credits)

• Year 1: Foundation courses and field practicum (30 credits)
• Year 2: Advanced courses, specialization courses, and field practicum (30 credits)

3-Year MSW Program (60 credits)

• Year 1: Core foundation courses (12 credits)
• Year 2: Remaining foundation courses and field practicum (18 credits)
• Year 3: Advanced courses, specialization courses, and field practicum (30 credits)

Advanced Standing MSW Program (30 credits)

• Made for students with a BSW
• Takes two semesters (Fall and Spring)

Online students get complete orientation to prepare for distance learning. This includes training on the online classroom, field practicum preparation, and using library resources remotely.

Tuition and fees

Tuition costs differ based on the program format. The online MSW has different fees than face-to-face and blended programs. The exact tuition rates aren’t mentioned in the source material.

The program needs 60 credit hours: 48 in academic studies and 12 in field practicum. Students with a BSW degree can take the Advanced Standing track, which needs 30 credit hours.

Fieldwork requirements

Field education is crucial to Morgan State’s MSW program. Students get hands-on experience in social service settings to:

• Learn about social welfare policies and programs in urban settings firsthand
• Put social work theory into practice
• Balance professional values with different client systems
• Build generalist practice skills for urban settings

Here’s how the fieldwork is structured:

MSW Generalist (First Year)

• 16 hours weekly
• 400 total hours across the academic year

MSW Second Year/Advanced Standing

• 24 hours weekly
• 500 total hours across the academic year

The second-year field work splits into two semesters:

• Concentration Field Practicum III: 364 hours (three full days weekly)
• Concentration Field Practicum IV: 336 hours (three full days weekly)

Even online students must do their field placements in person. First-year internships teach basic urban social work skills, while second-year internships focus on specialized work in the student’s chosen field. Students also take a Field Seminar Course where they work in agencies and community organizations.

Students can intern at places like A Step Forward, Addiction Connections Resource, St. Frances Academy, the Arrow Center for Education, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Baltimore. The field education builds nine core skills set by the Council on Social Work Education, including ethical behavior, working with diversity, advancing human rights, and using evidence-based practice.

Morgan State University’s MSW program stands out among Maryland’s accredited MSW programs. Its focus on urban communities and African American populations makes it unique. Students can choose flexible formats and different specialization tracks to prepare for tackling social challenges in Baltimore and beyond.

Salisbury University MSW Program

Salisbury University’s MSW program offers a complete program that works around your professional schedule. This makes it one of the most attractive accredited MSW programs in Maryland. The program builds on social work values and ethics. Students learn to make meaningful contributions through socially just, culturally-responsive interventions in their communities.

Specializations

Students can choose between two distinct specializations that line up with their career goals:

1. Clinical Social Work and Advocacy Specialization – This track prepares students to work directly with people, families, and small groups from different backgrounds. Students learn interventions that boost the person-in-environment fit while addressing biopsychosocial and behavioral functioning.
2. Social Change and Leadership Specialization – This path gives you the tools for mezzo and macro level interventions. You’ll learn about organizational leadership and systemic change.

Both specializations share core classes that promote anti-discriminatory practice with diverse populations. Students develop a strong understanding of trauma, resiliency, and justice in their clients’ lives whatever path they choose.

Program format

The program’s flexibility stands out with several paths to graduation:

• Traditional MSW Program (62 credits) – Has 30 generalist credits plus 32 specialized curriculum credits
• Advanced Standing Program (32 credits) – Available if you have a recent BSW degree (within three years) or two years of human service experience with graduation within five years

Students can choose from these delivery formats:

• Hybrid Model – Blends face-to-face presentations with interactive live video and online instruction. This reduces actual classroom time
• Fully Online Option – One of Maryland’s most affordable online MSW options

Full-time students in the traditional program graduate in two years, while part-time students finish in four years. Advanced standing students can complete their degree in one year full-time or two years part-time.

Working professionals will find evening courses that start at 5 p.m. Students only need to visit campus once or twice weekly. The online option delivers courses in 7-week blocks year-round. Traditional students can finish in 3 years while advanced standing students graduate in 17 months.

Tuition and fees

The program’s tuition rates vary based on how you take classes and where you live:

On-Campus/Hybrid Program (2025-2026 Academic Year) The university releases a Schedule of Tuition and Mandatory Fees yearly for undergraduate and graduate programs.

Online MSW Option

• $775.00 per credit (same rate for all students)
• First-year international student costs: about $23,700

The university’s Good Neighbors Graduate Scholarship program might reduce tuition if you live in counties next to Maryland.

Fieldwork requirements

Field education plays a vital role in the social work curriculum. Students get supervised practice opportunities and apply classroom learning. The program focuses on several goals:

• Developing intervention knowledge, values, and skills
• Building a professional identity that matches social work values
• Boosting practice evaluation skills
• Working with diverse client populations
• Creating your own practice style
• Building agency work skills

Students complete field education at community human service agencies. They take an active role in planning and implementing their learning experiences. Field placements need:

• 16 weekly hours during fall and spring semesters for undergraduates
• Traditional MSW students work at two different field placements
• Advanced standing students complete one year-long placement

Students get supervision from an agency supervisor and a faculty Field Liaison. The program lets students complete their practicum at their current workplace through an employment-based field education option. This needs a written proposal to the Field Office.

Satellite campuses

The program reaches students through five campus locations across Maryland:

• Salisbury University (main campus)
• Cecil College (Northeast Campus)
• Eastern Shore Higher Education Center at Chesapeake College (Wye Mills)
• University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland (California)
• University System of Maryland at Hagerstown

These locations use innovative technology in a hybrid format. Students experience face-to-face instruction mixed with interactive live video and online learning. This makes quality instruction from SU’s faculty available to students across Maryland.

Each location provides field instruction through local social service agencies. Students get hands-on supervised experience needed for skill development. You can earn your degree in your community without moving.

The university partners with University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) Europe. This brings MSW programs to active-duty military, veterans, spouses, dependents, and Department of Defense employees in military communities. This partnership shows the program’s dedication to serving diverse student populations.

Career Outlook for Social Workers in Maryland

MSW graduates in Maryland can look forward to excellent career prospects. The social work job market in Maryland gives you plenty of chances to specialize, with better growth predictions and higher pay than national averages.

Job growth projections

Social work careers in Maryland are growing faster than many other fields. The state expects a 12% increase in social worker jobs by 2030, which beats the national growth rate of 8%. This growth shows Maryland needs more qualified professionals to help with complex social issues.

Maryland’s location near Washington, D.C. creates extra job chances through federal programs and grants that fund new social services. Baltimore and other areas with social challenges keep building their social service networks.

Some specialized roles look even more promising:

• Healthcare social workers are in high demand
• Mental health and addiction specialists are desperately needed
• Child welfare positions keep growing to help communities

Recent data from 2022 shows Maryland had about 1,510 social workers. This number should grow to 1,670 by 2032 – an 11% jump with roughly 140 new jobs opening each year. The national growth rate is only 6% for the same period.

Salary expectations

MSW graduates in Maryland earn more than the national average. Maryland social workers make about $61,000 per year, which is 15% higher than the national median.

Here’s what you can expect to earn:

• Starting salary: $45,000-$50,000 per year
• Mid-career: $64,360 average yearly wage
• Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs): Around $85,000
• Experienced specialists with advanced credentials: $80,000-$90,000

Your location in Maryland affects how much you’ll earn. The Baltimore-Columbia-Towson area pays some of the highest salaries. Mental health and addiction social workers there make about $54,780. Social workers in Salisbury earn around $59,660 yearly.

Your specialty can make a big difference in pay. Community Organizers make about $79,310 per year, much more than Child Welfare Specialists who earn $56,680. Healthcare Social Workers in Baltimore earn around $65,880.

By mid-2025, social workers in Maryland earned $74,019 yearly on average, or about $35.59 per hour. Top performers make over $103,362 yearly, showing how much you can grow in this field.

Top employers for MSW graduates in Maryland

After graduating from an accredited MSW program in Maryland, you’ll find many places ready to hire you:

1. Healthcare Settings – Hospitals, clinics, and medical practices need social workers to help coordinate patient care and support people during health crises. Johns Hopkins Health System and University of Maryland Medical System are major employers.
2. Government Agencies – State and local government jobs offer stable work and great benefits. The Maryland Department of Human Services hires more social workers than almost anyone else in the state.
3. Educational Institutions – Schools throughout Maryland need social workers to help students facing challenges. County public school systems regularly hire MSW graduates.
4. Community Organizations – Nonprofits working on homelessness, domestic violence, and food insecurity need qualified social workers. A Step Forward and Addiction Connections Resource often have job openings [document from Morgan State University field placements].
5. Mental Health Facilities – Clinical settings that focus on mental health and addiction treatment need social workers, especially those with special training.

Many students get jobs through their field placement connections. Places like Howard County Office on Aging & Independence, International Rescue Committee, Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition, and Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital often hire graduates.

High-demand social work specializations in Maryland

Maryland’s changing social needs create strong demand for social workers who can tackle complex health, education, and community challenges. These specializations show the most promise:

Clinical Social Work – Therapy services are needed everywhere. Clinical social workers can work as psychotherapists, clinical service directors, case managers, or school counselors.

Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder – Maryland’s fight against the opioid crisis means more funding for addiction specialists. This field offers job security and a chance to tackle serious public health issues.

Healthcare Social Work – Medical care now includes more social services, creating lots of opportunities in hospitals, clinics, and community health.

Child, Family, and School Social Work – This traditional field stays strong, especially in cities like Baltimore where families need more support services.

Gerontological Social Work – Maryland’s aging population needs more specialists, particularly in community settings and long-term care facilities.

Community and Social Policy – If you’re interested in bigger picture work, you can find roles in community organizing, policy analysis, nonprofit management, and advocacy.

Salisbury University graduates say their MSW prepares them for many settings including social justice organizations, policy work, mental health facilities, community organizing, government organizations, and non-profits.

Licensure and Financial Aid for Maryland MSW Students

Getting your MSW in Maryland requires understanding licensure and financial aid options. This knowledge will help you plan your educational trip and career path better.

Maryland social work licensure types

The Maryland Department of Health’s Board of Social Work Examiners provides four licensure levels:

• Licensed Bachelor Social Worker (LBSW): You need a CSWE-accredited bachelor’s degree in social work.
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW): A CSWE-accredited master’s degree is required. Students can apply during their final MSW semester.
• Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW): You need an MSW and 3,000 supervised hours over 104 weeks plus 100 hours of face-to-face supervision.
• Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C): Requirements include an MSW, 3,000 supervised hours with 1,500 hours of direct client contact, 100 hours of face-to-face supervision, and 12 academic credit hours in clinical coursework.

LCSW and LCSW-C candidates must set up supervision with a board-approved supervisor through a contract before starting their supervision hours.

Loan forgiveness programs for Maryland MSW graduates

Maryland offers several programs to help manage student loan debt after graduation:

• Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP): This program helps graduates who work in public service and support low-income residents. You must graduate from a Maryland institution and earn less than $75,000 (single) or $150,000 (married).
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): The program forgives remaining federal loan balances after you make 120 qualifying payments while working at government or non-profit organizations.
• National Health Service Corps: Licensed clinical social workers can receive up to $50,000 by serving two years in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Scholarships and grants for MSW students in Maryland

Students can access these financial support options:

• Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant: Full-time students at four-year institutions receive $4,000 yearly, while part-time students get $2,000. You must work as a social worker in public or nonprofit sectors after graduating.
• Fellowship for School-Based Mental Health: Students receive a $15,000 yearly tuition scholarship and $8,000 living expense stipend. The program helps with LMSW license preparation and requires two years of service in school settings after graduation.
• SAVE Plan: This income-driven repayment plan sets monthly payments based on your income and family size. The plan stops balance increases from unpaid interest.

Pick the Right MSW in Maryland

Picking the right MSW program in Maryland needs you to think over your career goals, priorities, and money situation. This piece looks at three CSWE-accredited programs. Each one comes with its own special focus and teaching style that matches different career paths. You can pick from University of Maryland-Baltimore’s prestigious name, Morgan State’s city-centered approach, or Salisbury University’s easy-to-reach campus. Maryland gives you great ways to move up in your social work career.

MSW graduates find plenty of jobs in Maryland. Numbers show job growth will hit 9-14% by 2032, which is a big deal as it means that other careers aren’t growing as fast. Healthcare social work jobs will grow even more at 19%, and mental health social work follows close at 17%. These are great chances to build your career. Maryland social workers earn more than the national average. Most make around $61,000, and specialists with experience can earn $80,000-$90,000 each year.

You get real hands-on experience and build connections that often lead straight to jobs. So many graduates end up working at places where they did their internships.

After graduation, Maryland lets you choose from four different licenses, from LBSW to LCSW-C. These line up with whatever career path you want to take. You can also cut down your school costs by a lot through loan forgiveness programs and scholarships, especially if you work with people who need help the most.

Social problems in Maryland keep getting more complex. Baltimore sees 56% of its people living below the ALICE threshold, and many can’t get enough food or transportation. Your MSW gives you the special skills to tackle these urgent needs while building a career you’ll love. Without doubt, getting an MSW in Maryland is both smart for your career and a chance to make real change in communities that really need your help.