Accredited MSW Programs in Connecticut: Complete Guide for 2025

Want to pursue an MSW program in Connecticut? You’ve picked a smart career path in one of the nation’s top-paying states for social workers. Social work stands at #13 among the most popular degree programs nationwide, and with good reason too—Connecticut ranks as the second highest-paying state for child, family, and school social workers. Social workers here earn median annual salaries of $67,550.

Connecticut might be the third smallest state, but it’s rich in social work education opportunities. The state’s educational climate is impressive—90.6% of its residents have high school diplomas, and more than a third hold college degrees. You’ll study alongside a well-educated population. The field’s future looks bright too, with social work positions projected to grow by 8%.

The state offers both quality education and excellent earning potential. University of Connecticut’s graduates earn $10,962 more than typical social work graduates. Southern Connecticut State University’s alumni take home $4,987 above the average. Social work programs across Connecticut awarded 782 degrees in the latest data year. This creates a strong professional network ready to welcome you.

This piece breaks down 8 accredited social work programs in CT. Whether University of Connecticut, Sacred Heart University, or online MSW programs catch your interest, you’ll find everything needed to pick the right path for your career ahead.

University of Connecticut

UConn stands as Connecticut’s top destination for MSW programs. U.S. News & World Report ranks it #28 among best graduate schools for social work. The School of Social Work (SSW) ranks in the top 9% nationwide and holds the #1 spot in Connecticut.

Program Highlights

UConn’s MSW program gives you amazing versatility through methods-based specializations. You can focus your education in specific areas like casework, community organization, group work, or policy administration. The program goes beyond standard concentrations by offering specialized tracks in:

• Urban social work
• International issues
• Work specific to Latino or African American populations

The school’s excellent reputation comes from its research success. It boasts $19.60M in research and sponsored programs expenditures for FY24, along with a $66.00M research and sponsored programs portfolio. Students get hands-on experience at more than 250 field education internship sites.

Key areas that make UConn unique include mental health, trauma and violence prevention, international social work and human rights, social and health disparities, diversity and cultural competence, political social work, and policy analysis.

Accreditation Details

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) fully accredits UConn’s Master of Social Work program. The School of Social Work analyzes student learning outcomes regularly. This thorough process will give a quality education that meets CSWE’s high standards.

Online MSW Availability

Working professionals can now earn their MSW through UConn’s flexible 100% online program. The part-time option follows the same curriculum as on-campus classes while fitting into busy schedules. Students take two courses each semester over three years and complete field education internships in the final two years.

Students need 60 credits – 42 in classroom courses and 18 in field education. The program combines both synchronous and asynchronous formats. UConn accepts students from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.

Tuition & Aid

The online MSW program costs $880 per credit, whatever your residency status. On-campus students in 2025-2026 pay these full-time annual tuition and fees:

UConn shows its steadfast dedication to education by providing $1.50M in student scholarship funding. The School of Social Work lets students apply for scholarships in fall and spring semesters. MSW students can also get stipend internship programs linked to specific Practicum Education placements.

A network of over 8,800 alumni worldwide awaits you at UConn’s MSW program. You’ll gain skills for advanced social work practice in a variety of settings while joining this thriving professional community.

Southern Connecticut State University

Southern Connecticut State University’s MSW program shapes skilled and compassionate agents of change. The program teaches culturally responsive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive social work practices that help graduates work with diverse populations.

Program Highlights

SCSU’s complete MSW program requires 60 credits that students can finish in two or three years of full-time study. The three-year plan works best if you have a job. Students get hands-on experience through 950 hours of supervised practicums throughout their studies.

SCSU offers specialized concentrations:

• Clinical Practice: Prepares you to work with individuals experiencing emotional distress, mental illness, substance use issues, and relationship challenges
• Community Practice: Focuses on community organization, policy development, and leadership skills

Students learn specialized knowledge in trauma-informed, community-based, empirically supported practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Graduates qualify for State of Connecticut Master-Level Social Worker License (LMSW) and can work in professional social work positions across the United States.

Accreditation Details

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) fully accredits SCSU’s MSW program. This accreditation will give a “well-educated social work profession equipped to promote health, well-being, and justice for all people in a diverse society”.

The program reviews student performance based on CSWE’s nine competencies:

• Ethical and professional behavior
• Human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice
• Anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Research-informed practice
• Policy practice
• Engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation with individuals through communities

Online MSW Availability

SCSU understands students need flexible learning options. The MSW program offers online, hybrid, and on-campus options. Students can choose the learning environment that matches their personal and professional needs.

Tuition & Aid

SCSU’s tuition represents a valuable investment in your social work career:

SCSU’s in-state tuition runs slightly higher than the national average of $12,201. Out-of-state tuition costs less than the national average of $29,084.

Financial aid includes federal assistance, scholarships, grants, and student loans. We award aid based on financial need. Students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) early since some funds are limited.

SCSU stands out among Connecticut’s social work programs. Their graduates earn $4,987 more than the average social work graduate. The university’s dedication to educational excellence and social justice principles helps create social workers who make lasting impacts in their communities.

Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University offers an MSW program that embraces Catholic intellectual tradition. The program emphasizes social justice, diversity, and helps vulnerable populations throughout Connecticut.

Program Highlights

The MSW program at Sacred Heart stands out among Connecticut’s social work programs with its anti-racist, integrated practice skills. Students learn both generalist and specialized social work practice skills to tackle various social problems. The program offers two specializations:

• Direct Clinical Practice: Students work with individuals, couples, families, and small groups using strengths-based approaches, psychosocial theories, and evidence-based therapeutic methods
• Direct Community Practice: Students focus on organizations, communities, and governments while learning leadership theories and community frameworks

Students can choose from multiple study paths. Full-time students complete the 60-credit program in two years with weekday classes. Part-time students can finish in three years through a hybrid format that meets on alternating Saturdays with online components. BSW holders from CSWE-accredited schools can complete the 30-credit Advanced Standing program in just one year.

Accreditation Details

Sacred Heart University’s MSW program earned CSWE accreditation in February 2019. The journey started with pre-candidacy status in May 2016, moved to candidacy in February 2017, and culminated in full accreditation. CSWE accreditation validates the program’s quality standards and covers students who enrolled during the candidacy academic year.

Online MSW Availability

Sacred Heart’s 100% online MSW program suits working professionals perfectly. The program carries the same CSWE accreditation as the campus version. Online students must complete 500-1,000 practicum hours based on their chosen track. The university’s practicum education liaisons support students a year before placement begins.

Tuition & Aid

The online MSW program costs $840 per credit hour. Here’s the total investment:

Sacred Heart provides several financial aid options for MSW students. The School of Social Work’s scholarship supports BIPOC students with up to $10,000 in tuition assistance through the Health Horizons CT grant initiative. Students can also access federal loans, veterans’ benefits through the Yellow Ribbon Program, and graduate assistantships.

The social work field looks promising. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7% growth from 2022 to 2032, outpacing the average for other occupations.

University of Saint Joseph

The Sisters of Mercy started University of Saint Joseph to create compassionate, community-focused clinical social workers. Their mission continues today through innovative social work education that serves people who need it most.

Program Highlights

The MSW program stands out with its community-based services and clinical social work practice. USJ takes a different approach from traditional models with three specializations that are in high demand:

• Health/Mental Health
• Veterans Services
• Children and Families

Students can choose from several program formats that fit their schedule. The 61-credit program takes two years full-time or three to four years part-time. BSW graduates can take the Advanced Standing program with just 31 credits, finishing in one year full-time or two years part-time.

USJ’s Student Unit model sets it apart from traditional field education. The university’s Clinical Preceptors (licensed social workers) provide supervision that really connects classroom learning with hands-on experience.

Accreditation Details

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) gave USJ’s MSW program its first full accreditation in November 2016. The program earned reaccreditation from CSWE in February 2020, which stays valid until 2028.

The New England Commission of Higher Education, previously the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, has also accredited USJ.

Online MSW Availability

Working students can take advantage of the hybrid learning format that blends online work with weekly classes. Classes mix online and in-person sessions during evenings and weekends. While not fully online, this flexible setup helps professionals balance their work and studies.

Tuition & Aid

USJ sees education as a lifelong investment and provides various financial aid options. Students can access federal aid and limited scholarship opportunities through academic departments.

Summer 2025 brings good news for alumni – a 20% discount on select graduate programs through USJ’s Alumni Excellence Program. Graduate assistantships give students a chance to gain valuable academic work experience while earning tuition waivers or hourly wages.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows social work as one of America’s fastest-growing professions, with jobs expected to grow 7% through 2033.

University of New Haven

The University of New Haven offers an Advanced Generalist MSW program that prepares graduates to work in various settings. UNH stands out among Connecticut’s MSW programs with its adaptable learning formats and specialized curriculum.

Program Highlights

UNH’s MSW program teaches professionals to work with individuals, families, and organizations through a detailed intervention approach. The Advanced Generalist curriculum helps students direct client systems of different sizes in multiple settings. Students can focus on several in-demand areas:

• Disabilities
• Health and mental health
• Addictions and substance abuse
• Children, youth, and families

Practical experience is a vital component of the program. Students complete two internships at agencies in their communities. These internships total 1,240 hours over two semesters and provide real-world experience. The degree requires 62 credit hours of 800- or 900-level courses.

Accreditation Details

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) fully accredits UNH’s Department of Social Work. Students earn their CSWE-accredited MSW degree from a prominent research university. The department maintains high academic standards through excellence in both undergraduate and graduate programs [85, 86].

Online MSW Availability

UNH’s 100% online MSW program fits the needs of working professionals. Students can complete their degree in 28 months without campus visits. The program offers:

• Three start dates yearly (fall, spring, summer)
• Weekly online classes for internship seminars and practice courses on Monday or Wednesday evenings
• Round-the-clock access to course materials
• Personal enrollment counselors and academic advisors

Students get quality education from experienced instructors who bring real-world knowledge to the classroom.

Tuition & Aid

Students can find online graduate tuition and fees on the UNH Business Services Website. Graduate students can apply for Unsubsidized Direct Loans through federal financial aid. Program costs and technology fees may change.

Campus-based programs offer graduate assistantships that combine academic work experience with tuition benefits. This setup helps students pursue advanced education while keeping costs manageable.

UNH graduates find careers in healthcare, education, substance abuse treatment, child welfare, employee assistance programs, policy advocacy, and other human services. The MSW degree from UNH opens the path to becoming a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).

Central Connecticut State University

Central Connecticut State University will launch its new MSW program in fall 2025. The program specializes in clinical social work practice with a focus on mental health and addiction treatment. Connecticut needs more MSW programs, and this addition helps meet the state’s workforce demands.

Program Highlights

CCSU’s MSW program prepares clinical social work practitioners to excel in mental health and addiction treatment. Students learn to serve clients in hospitals, community mental health centers, school clinics, criminal justice systems, and private practice.

CCSU offers two distinct program tracks:

• Advanced 32-credit program for students with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) earned within the last five years
• Entry-level 64-credit program for students starting their social work studies

Students need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to apply. Advanced standing applicants must have a BSW from an accredited program. Graduates can apply for state licensure right after completing their degree.

Accreditation Details

The Social Work Master’s Program has achieved candidacy for accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation. This status shows the program meets quality standards through peer review. Students who enroll during the candidacy year will graduate from a CSWE-accredited program once the program receives initial accreditation.

Online MSW Availability

CCSU doesn’t offer a fully online MSW program but provides flexible class options with evening courses on campus. Working professionals can advance their education without disrupting their careers.

Tuition & Aid

CCSU’s tuition and fees for graduate students starting Fall 2024 are:

Part-time students pay $809 per credit (in-state) or $825 (out-of-state) plus a $65 registration fee. CCSU makes education affordable through strong financial aid programs that exceed $100 million yearly. Students can use the Central Payment Plan to pay tuition in up to five installments. The university gives $1.40 million in scholarships to nearly 900 students each year.

Western Connecticut State University

Western Connecticut State University’s Department of Social Work runs one of the best Bachelor of Social Work programs that gets students ready for advanced standing in MSW programs across Connecticut. The university ranked 1st in Connecticut and 7th nationally for return on investment in 2015, making it an excellent choice for future social workers.

Program Highlights

WCSU has helped develop skilled generalist social workers since 1974 through a curriculum rooted in liberal arts education. The program teaches ten competency areas that the Council on Social Work Education specifies:

• Ethical and professional behavior
• Diversity engagement
• Human rights advancement
• Research-informed practice
• Policy practice
• Engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation with individuals through communities

WCSU’s program is a social-first undergraduate education that builds strong foundations for students who want advanced standing in MSW programs. Students can reduce their two-year MSW to just one year. The program includes two key internships. Students complete their junior year internship at 8 hours weekly for 13 weeks, followed by a more intensive senior placement where they work 16 hours weekly throughout the academic year.

Accreditation Details

The Department got its original national accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education in 1984. They managed to keep continuous accreditation with reaffirmations in 1989, 1997, 2005, and unconditional reaffirmation through 2022. This long-running accreditation means graduates receive education that meets strict national standards.

Online MSW Availability

WCSU uses Blackboard Learn as its e-learning management system. Faculty members can add online components to their courses. Students head over to the university’s Open/Close system to find fully online or hybrid courses, which helps them balance work and education better.

Tuition & Aid

Graduate students in 2025-2026 can expect these competitive tuition rates:

Commuter students pay substantially less at $22,516 (Tri-State) and $26,874 (National). The university takes part in federal financial aid programs. Students should complete their FAFSA to access available funding.

Eastern Connecticut State University

Eastern Connecticut State University has expanded its graduate education offerings with four accelerated online programs. These programs will begin in Spring 2024 and are tailored for working professionals. This expansion shows how ECSU meets the changing needs of adult learners in Connecticut, though it doesn’t include a social work program yet.

Program Highlights

ECSU’s main focus remains on undergraduate social work education through its BSW program. The Social Work Program creates generalist practitioners who promote human well-being and advance social justice competently. The program stands out as one of the “Best BSW Programs in Connecticut”. The program’s success is evident in its outcomes – 77% of graduates move directly to graduate school, and 96% receive advanced standing in their graduate programs.

The university’s social work program reaches out to diverse communities in urban, rural, and suburban areas of Eastern Connecticut, a region known as the “Last Green Valley”. Students get valuable hands-on experience with economic disparities since the program operates in Windham County, Connecticut’s poorest county.

Accreditation Details

ECSU maintains proper academic accreditation for its programs. The social work program runs with strict academic standards that match professional requirements in the field.

Tuition & Aid

Graduate courses cost $714.00 per credit hour with a $60.00 fee each semester. Students can access financial aid through student loans, veteran’s benefits, and employer tuition assistance programs. The university caps online classes at 25 students to maintain its student-centered approach.

Choosing the Right MSW Program in Connecticut

This piece shows that Connecticut has plenty of options to help you advance your social work education. The state ranks second highest in paying child, family, and school social workers, making it an ideal place to get your MSW degree.

You’ll find 8 accredited programs with different specializations. UConn offers methods-based concentrations while Sacred Heart focuses on anti-racist practice skills. Whatever your career goals might be, Connecticut schools have the right path through traditional, hybrid, or fully online programs.

Money is without doubt a big part of your decision. The good news is that Connecticut’s MSW programs offer financial help through scholarships, graduate assistantships, and federal aid. University of Connecticut gives $1.50M in student scholarships, and Sacred Heart provides up to $10,000 in tuition help through their Health Horizons CT grant initiative.

The job market looks good for graduates. Social work positions should grow by 7%, which beats the average for all occupations. University of Connecticut graduates earn $11,000 more than the average social work graduate. Southern Connecticut State University’s alumni make almost $5,000 above average.

Your choice of MSW program should go beyond just cost and prestige. Field education options, faculty expertise, specialization choices, and program flexibility shape your learning experience. Connecticut schools have built strong ties with community agencies to ensure quality internship placements that boost your professional growth.

Social work keeps changing, but Connecticut’s MSW programs stay dedicated to creating graduates who improve human well-being and push for social justice. Starting your MSW journey means more than getting a degree—it shows your commitment to making real changes in Connecticut’s communities and beyond.