2 Top MSW Programs in Oklahoma
If you’re looking for MSW programs in Oklahoma, you’ll find two Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited options. This might seem like a limited choice, but both programs provide reliable educational paths that lead to rewarding careers.
Social work careers in Oklahoma look promising. The average annual salaries range from $37,610 to $54,390. Healthcare social workers should see the highest employment growth in the state by 2028. Students who think about MSW programs in Oklahoma will appreciate features like the University of Oklahoma’s flexible online format. The detailed 60-credit program takes about 2.5 years to complete and lets you balance your personal commitments.
Let’s get into both the University of Oklahoma and Northeastern State University MSW programs. This piece helps you make an informed decision that best arranges with your career goals and personal situation.
University of Oklahoma MSW Program
The Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma runs one of the state’s best MSW programs. This CSWE-accredited program has a rich history and stands as Oklahoma’s longest-established accredited MSW program. Students get both classroom learning and hands-on field experience that prepares them to work with people from all backgrounds.
Curriculum and specializations
The University of Oklahoma’s MSW program builds skills step by step through a well-laid-out format. Students without a social work background need 60 credit hours split into two main phases:
- Foundation Curriculum (30 credit hours) – Builds basic social work practice skills at individual, group and community levels
- Concentration Curriculum (30 credit hours) – Develops advanced practice skills with specialized courses
The foundation year gives students core knowledge in several key areas. The coursework covers social work research methods, policy practice, social determinants of health, and theory-practice-evaluation at different levels (individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations). Students also learn about professional social work, human development, and get their first practicum experience.
Students can choose between two specialization tracks after finishing their foundation courses:
- Direct Practice – Focuses on clinical social work and prepares students to work directly with clients in mental health clinics, hospitals, and schools
- Administration and Community Practice – Builds skills for leadership, program development, and community-level work
The concentration phase requires courses like Client-Centered Direct Practice, Macro Systems in Practice, and Advanced Integrative Seminar. Students also pick nine credit hours of electives to focus on areas like behavioral health, children and family services, or health-related social work.
Students can graduate through either a thesis or non-thesis option. Both need 60 total credit hours, but thesis students use 2-6 hours of their electives for research.
Tuition
The University of Oklahoma’s online Master of Social Work program offers a comprehensive education with a clear tuition structure. The program costs $645 per credit hour, making the total tuition for the complete 60-credit hour program $38,700.
- Cost per credit hour: $645
- Total program cost: $38,700 (60 credits)
- Program length: Approximately 30+ months (2.5 years)
- Deposit: $350 nonrefundable deposit required upon acceptance (applied toward tuition)
- Application fee: None
- Additional costs: Books and course materials are not included in the tuition
The program is designed for flexibility, with start dates available in Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. Students can use OU Online’s tuition calculator to estimate costs and potential financial aid packages.
Financial Aid Options:
- Students can apply for financial aid through the Online Aid office
- Graduate tuition waivers cannot be applied to OU Online programs
- OU Faculty/Staff Tuition Waiver & Fee Exemption may be available for eligible employees
The MSW program prepares graduates for careers as Advanced Integrative Practitioners, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 16% growth rate for social work positions—significantly higher than the average across all industries.
For specific financial aid questions, prospective students can contact the Online Aid office.
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements for OU’s Online Master of Social Work Program
The University of Oklahoma’s online Master of Social Work program operates under a rolling admissions process. Applications are accepted year-round for fall, spring, and summer sessions, though the admissions committee recommends applying at least two weeks before the start of classes.
Required Application Materials
To apply to the online MSW program, you’ll need to submit:
- A completed online application
- Resume or CV
- Three letters of recommendation from professional contacts, supervisors, or faculty
- Official undergraduate transcripts from an accredited institution
- Note: For the Advanced Standing program, a bachelor’s in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution is required
- Responses to five essay questions
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (international applicants only)
Application Timeline
The program follows a rolling admissions process, and the admissions committee typically responds to completed applications within two weeks. While applications may be accepted until two weeks before classes begin, some program start dates may have earlier deadlines.
Program Start Options
The 60-credit hour MSW program offers multiple entry points throughout the year with start terms in:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
Financial Considerations
Once accepted into the program, students must submit a $350 nonrefundable deposit within two weeks to secure their place. This deposit is applied toward tuition expenses. The program costs $645 per credit hour, totaling $38,700 for the complete 60-credit hour program (excluding books and additional materials).
The program is designed for working professionals, with flexibility built into the online format, though field placements will require adjustment of work schedules for daytime hours.
Northeastern State University MSW Program
Northeastern State University runs Oklahoma’s second CSWE-accredited MSW program. The program takes a fresh approach to social work education and puts special focus on serving Native American populations. Based in Tahlequah, students learn advanced generalist practice skills they can use in many settings while staying connected to Oklahoma’s cultural heritage.
Curriculum and focus areas
NSU’s Master of Social Work program combines solid academic learning with hands-on skills development. Students learn to follow both the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) standards and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. This creates a strong base for ethical practice.
NSU’s program stands out from other MSW programs nationwide because it focuses on social work practice with Native American populations. The university helps meet indigenous communities’ needs in Oklahoma and beyond. Graduates learn culturally sensitive skills to work with Native American clients and communities.
Students can choose between two main paths:
- Advanced Standing Pathway – This path works best for students who already have a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program. Students can finish faster since the program recognizes their previous social work education. They need only 32 credit hours.
- Traditional Pathway – Students with undergraduate degrees in other fields take this path. They need 58 credit hours total and learn the basics usually taught in BSW programs.
Students can specialize in these main areas:
- Indigenous & Rural Communities – Students learn to handle unique challenges and build on strengths of Native American populations and rural areas
- Behavioral Health – Students become experts in mental health assessment and treatment
Advanced Standing students take core courses like:
- Clinical Practice with Indigenous Populations
- Advanced Clinical Practice
- Practice-Oriented Research
- Advanced Social Work Practice & Ethics
- Advanced Social Work Practice with Groups
- Advanced Practicum and Seminar courses
They can pick electives such as Assessment of Mental Health Disorders, Social Work Practice in Health/Behavioral Health Settings, and Advanced Social Work Practice with Children & Adolescents.
Traditional Pathway students start with foundation courses:
- Human Behavior in the Social Environment I & II
- Social Work Practice with Individuals
- Social Work Research
- Social Work Practice with Groups
- Social Policy
- Social Work Practicum I & II with seminars
After finishing these courses, they move on to the same advanced courses as Advanced Standing students.
Every student takes an Integrative Capstone Seminar at the end. This helps them show they’ve mastered all program skills.
The program prepares graduates to work in healthcare, schools, community organizations, and government agencies. Students also learn what they need to pass Oklahoma’s Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) exam.
Tuition
Graduate Tuition
Based on the information from NSU’s financial aid page, Northeastern State University in Oklahoma offers graduate programs with the following tuition and fees structure:
2025-2026 Academic Year
Graduate Resident Full-time (18 hours):
- Tuition/Fees: $6,564
- Total estimated costs:
- Off-Campus: $29,594
- On-Campus: $22,910
- Living with Parents: $13,906
Graduate Non-resident Full-time (18 hours):
- Tuition/Fees: $12,936
- Total estimated costs:
- Off-Campus: $35,966
- On-Campus: $29,282
- Living with Parents: $20,278
While the page doesn’t specifically break out MSW (Master of Social Work) program tuition separately, these figures represent the standard graduate tuition rates at NSU. The total cost of attendance includes additional expenses beyond tuition, such as books, housing, food, personal expenses, and transportation, which vary based on living arrangements.
Admission requirements
MSW Admissions
Northeastern State University (NSU) in Oklahoma offers a Master of Social Work (MSW) program with two distinct pathways designed to prepare competent and effective social work professionals. The program has a unique focus on social work practice with Native American populations and is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Admission Requirements
The MSW program at NSU has specific admission requirements based on which pathway you’re applying for:
Advanced Standing Pathway (32 credit hours)
- Must have earned a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
- Apply for Summer semester
Traditional Pathway (58 credit hours)
- Must have earned an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited or internationally listed college or university
- Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
- Apply for Fall semester
Application Process
- Applications are accepted from November 1st to March 1st each year
- Only completed applications will be reviewed
- Late applications may be considered upon approval from the MSW Program Director
- Applications can be submitted electronically through the university website
Program Focus
The NSU MSW program integrates knowledge, skills, and values from the CSWE competencies and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. Graduates are prepared to practice in various social work agencies and settings with diverse populations, with special emphasis on working with Indigenous communities.
Retention Requirements
Once admitted, students must:
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better
- Comply with the NASW Code of Ethics
- Demonstrate professional behavior
- Students falling below 3.00 GPA will be placed on academic probation
For more detailed information about the program curriculum, field education requirements, or to submit an application, prospective students should visit the NSU Graduate College website or contact the Social Work department directly.
Choose Your Oklahoma MSW Today
Oklahoma has just two CSWE-accredited MSW programs, but both can help you move up in your social work career. Each program comes with its own strengths that match different student needs and career goals.
The University of Oklahoma’s program gives you amazing flexibility with three options – traditional campus-based, hybrid, and fully online. You can focus on Direct Practice or Administration and Community Practice specializations to match your career goals. It also has connections with over 300 affiliated agencies that give you field experience in settings of all types.
Northeastern State University specializes in working with Native American populations and rural communities. The program offers five different formats that work with your schedule, making graduate education available whatever your situation. In-state students benefit from competitive tuition rates, making it an affordable way to get your MSW degree.
Both programs keep high academic standards while creating paths for students from different backgrounds. Students new to social work can take traditional routes, while BSW graduates can take Advanced Standing tracks to finish faster.
MSW graduates in Oklahoma have good job prospects, especially when you have healthcare settings where social workers will see the most growth through 2028. With yearly salaries between $37,610 and $54,390, your investment in either program could pay off well professionally.
Your choice between these programs will depend on what matters most to you – location, schedule flexibility, areas of focus, costs, and your personal situation. You’ll be set for a rewarding social work career in Oklahoma and beyond, whether you pick the University of Oklahoma’s 50-year old program with multiple specializations or Northeastern State’s focus on indigenous communities.