There are a lot of pros to earning a Masters in Social Work (MSW) in California. With an MSW, you can become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and provide the expert mental health services so many people need. Or maybe you want to get into administrative leadership and guide entire organizations on their quests to create equity. But no matter your ultimate goal, there’s likely one area that needs attention before anything else — tuition.
Fortunately, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) reports that California has 27 fully-accredited MSW programs as of 2023. That’s more than any other state in the country. To help you find one that fits your needs and budget, we have outlined the most affordable MSW programs in California and how they prepare students for long, rewarding careers.
How We Calculate Affordability
To decide which MSW programs are the most affordable, we first calculated the total average cost of tuition for full-time in-state students enrolled in traditional two-year MSW programs in California. For the 27 fully-accredited schools in the CSWE directory, we estimated the average to be about $29,000. Tuition for the programs on this list is estimated to be below that, sometimes by over $10,000.
We used tuition rates listed on each program’s website for this estimate. Importantly, tuition is subject to change. Our estimates don’t take other fees (technology, housing, books, transportation, etc.) into account because these costs can vary widely between students. Your total costs will likely be different from our estimates. Still, the tuition rates we include here are effective tools to help you begin considering your next step.
What Makes These Affordable MSW Programs Worth It
Just because something’s affordable doesn’t mean it’s necessarily worth it. This is especially true for education in a diverse field like social work.
However, the affordable MSW programs on our list have a few key traits that make them attractive to prospective social workers of all kinds. They:
- Have been CSWE-accredited. The CSWE ensures MSW programs across the country adhere to strict educational standards. Many employers favor applicants with degrees from accredited programs. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) requires all LCSWs to have an MSW from an accredited institution.
- Offer fieldwork experiences. In social work, theoretical approaches provide just one part of your education. All of the schools on this list require students to complete a minimum of 900 fieldwork hours (Advanced Standing students may be required to complete less). Many have partnerships with all types of agencies: correctional facilities, child welfare departments, senior centers, hospitals, and more.
- Deliver classes in a variety of formats. Many of these affordable MSW programs have on-campus, online, and hybrid options. Some even host evening and weekend classes for working students. Not every school has the same options, but California is home to programs for just about every kind of student.
- Have other licensing, credentialing, and educational opportunities. Social workers going into gerontology, school social work, child welfare, and healthcare often need to learn about topics outside of the traditional scope of social work. Some schools offer training and dual degree programs for specific industries.
- Offer specializations. While many of these affordable MSW programs offer an advanced generalist curriculum, some allow students to specialize in one particular area or take electives about highly-focused topics.
These traits add value to what are already some of the most affordable MSW programs in California. If you’re at the beginning of your educational journey, you may want to consider schools that have bachelor’s social work (BSW) programs, as well. Sometimes, students with BSWs can earn their MSWs in as little as a year through Advanced Standing programs.
California State Polytechnic University- Humboldt
Department of Social Work
Arcata, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus and Online)
Total Estimated Tuition for Full-time, In-state, and On-campus Students: $18,592
Total Estimated Tuition for One-year, Full-time, On-campus Advanced Standing Program: $12,185
Total Estimated Tuition for Three-and-a-half-year, Part-time, Online Program: $38,250
Total Estimated Tuition for Two-year, Part-time, Online Advanced Standing Program: $22,185
Specializations:
- Advanced Generalist
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Three-and-a-half-year part-time online program
- One-year full-time on-campus Advanced Standing program
- Two-year part-time online Advanced Standing program
- Features a focus on working with indigenous communities and in rural areas.
- Meets state coursework requirements for Licensed Clinical Social Work.
- Also offers BSW and Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Social Work (PPSC-SSW).
Even though Cal Poly Humboldt offers an advanced generalist curriculum, the program features an impressive variety of highly-focused classes. In addition to taking clinical courses that prepare students for state licensure, students can also enroll in classes like Community and Organization, Indigenous Peoples, and Wellness and Sustainability. The centerpiece of Cal Poly Humboldt’s MSW program is its stipend initiatives, though. Students preparing for careers in school-based mental health and public or Tribal child welfare social work can apply for programs that provide extra training, special fieldwork placement opportunities, and yearly stipends of up to $18,500. These financial resources and the school’s two flexible and affordable online MSW programs make Cal Poly Humboldt a truly innovative, accessible option.
California State University- Bakersfield
School of Social Sciences and Education
Bakersfield, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $18,268
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $42,028
Specializations:
- Advanced Generalist
Formats:
- Two-year full-time program
- Three-year part-time program
- One-year Advanced Standing program
- Prepares students for micro-, macro-, and mezzo-social work careers.
- Students take on new fieldwork placements each year to ensure a robust experience.
The MSW program at CSU- Bakersfield is a great option for students who want to develop an advanced yet flexible skillset. In their first two semesters, students take classes on the foundations of social work. This introductory curriculum also includes a rather unique class on mental health diagnostics, however, that teaches students how to take socio-economic factors into account, as well. As students move on to more advanced topics, they can also choose to specialize in a field like gerontology, child and family welfare, or mental health. But what sets this program apart from others is that students have the opportunity to complete their fieldwork requirements at multiple agencies. This not only gives students a comprehensive view of the field, but can help them decide what path to take after graduation.
California State University- Chico
School of Social Work
Chico, CA
Website
Master’s Degree in Social Work (On-campus and Hybrid)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $19,004
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $42,764
Specializations:
- Advanced Generalist
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- One-year Advanced Standing on-campus program
- Three-year Distributed Learning hybrid program
- One-year Advanced Standing Distributed Learning hybrid program
- Requires 1,200 fieldwork hours for full-time two-year students — a great opportunity for students who want more experience before graduation.
- The Distributed Learning program allows students to take live and asynchronous classes online. They only come to campus for face-to-face classes two or three times per semester.
- Also offers BSW.
Despite having almost 14,000 students, Chico State’s 24:1 student to faculty ratio makes for a close-knit community. When it comes to providing student resources, however, the school leverages its size. The School of Social Work partners with organizations in 18 counties to give students the opportunity to complete their fieldwork hours at a diverse range of institutions. While the curriculum focuses on Advanced Generalist practices, students can take concentration courses in areas like substance abuse treatment, grief counseling, and mental wellness. Many of these courses also include a research component that allows students to tackle real-world social service issues with a faculty supervisor.
California State University- Dominguez Hills
Department of Social Work
Carson, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $16,986
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $40,746
Specializations:
- Community Mental Health
- Community Capacity Building
- Children, Youth, and Families
Formats:
- Two-year on-campus full-time program
- Three-year on-campus part-time program
- Focused on teaching students how to provide service in diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts.
- Students who commit to work for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, or member agencies of the Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium can apply for stipends of up to $18,500.
CSUDH prepares students for careers in California’s biggest, most diverse cities. Like the other affordable MSW programs on this list, CSUDH packs its curriculum full of classes about leadership, human behavior, and social welfare policy. However, with courses like Social Justice in Social Work Practice and Grant Research and Proposal Writing, students can enter underserved communities and not only provide services directly, but empower local organizations to get the resources they so desperately need. With a flexible three-year part-time option, the MSW program at CSUDH might be a great option for working students.
California State University- East Bay
Department of Social Work
Hayward, CA
Website
Masters of Social Work (On-campus or Hybrid)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $17,078
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $40,838
Specializations:
- Children, Youth, and Families
- Community Mental Health
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Three-year part-time hybrid program
- Eligible child welfare and mental health students can apply for stipends.
- Students in the extended hybrid program take live Zoom classes every week but visit campus for skill development twice each month.
Located in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, Cal State East Bay’s MSW program emphasizes the social justice side of social work. Core classes such as Human Behavior and the Social Environment familiarize students with the field’s foundations while courses like Race, Gender, and Inequality give future professionals the context they need to provide informed, effective services. Electives like Family Violence Across the Lifespan and Legal Issues in Social Work are designed to help students tailor their education to their career goals. The school’s approach to fieldwork placements is equally student-focused. Students list their top five areas of interest and a faculty advisor works with each one to find a suitable agency. At just over $17,000 for in-state residents, this is one of the most affordable MSW programs in the Bay Area.
California State University-Fresno
College of Health and Human Services
Fresno, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $14,352
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $38,112
Specializations:
- Behavioral Health and Integrated Practice
- School Social Work
- Child Welfare
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Four-year part-time on-campus program
- Students can earn Cross-cultural Competency and Gerontological Specialist certificates.
- Fresno State is home to SERVE Central California — an alliance of seven universities that works with Tribal Entities to provide additional support to American Indian/Alaskan Native students.
- Also offers BSW and a bachelors-level gerontology program.
While Fresno State offers three highly-focused specialties, their MSW students get an education they can use at just about any kind of agency. In their first year, students learn direct service skills like individual, group, and family counseling and case management. The core curriculum also includes program evaluation and community advocacy courses so students can be prepared to enact systemic change and serve as organizational leaders. Though all students get to practice these skills during fieldwork assignments, child welfare specialists have the opportunity to apply for the Title IV-E stipend program and receive up to $18,500 per year in financial support. At just over $14,000, this is one of the most affordable MSW programs on our list.
California State University- Fullerton
College of Health and Human Development
Fullerton, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $17,024
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $40,784
Specializations:
- Child Welfare
- Community Mental Health
- Aging and Gerontology
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Three-year full-time on-campus MSW Flex Program
- Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to begin the Licensed Clinical Social Worker certification process in California.
- Features stipend programs for future behavioral and mental health, gerontology, and child and family welfare professionals
- Past MSW students have received funding through the Allied Health Academy, the Pa’lante Fellowship Program, and the Minority Fellowship Program.
With three stipend programs, multiple scholarship opportunities, and a three-year part-time program that includes evening classes, CSUF has perhaps one of the most accessible MSW programs in the state. In fact, it’s the only public MSW program in Orange County. The school’s advanced generalist curriculum prepares students for direct practice, but what sets this program apart is its unique focus on research. Along with taking an applied research course, students also complete a capstone project that lets them research an issue in their area of interest and develop practical, real-world solutions. This, combined with fieldwork experiences at one of CSUF’s over 130 partners, makes for a program that’s as dynamic as it is affordable.
California State University- Long Beach
College of Health and Human Services
Long Beach, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus and Online)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $16,884
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $14,256
Specializations:
- Child and Family Wellbeing
- Adulthood and Aging
- Integrated Health
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Three-year part-time on-campus program
- One-year on-campus Advanced Standing program
- Three-year online Distance Education program
- Students in their last year complete a Culminating Experience project. This can be a research-based or fieldwork project.
- Home to stipend programs for MSW students entering child welfare, mental health, and gerontology social work.
- Also offers Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) and PPSC.
In many ways, CSULB’s social work curriculum is similar to that of other schools in the CSU network. However, its selection of specialty classes is hard to compete with. For instance, students interested in child welfare can take courses focused on play therapy and social work practices used in educational environments. And with electives like Non-violent Conflict Resolution and Spirituality in Social Work Practice, students in any of the school’s three specialty tracks can graduate with practical, career-ready skills. But perhaps the most outstanding thing about the CSULB program is its faculty who are involved in everything from health equity research to helping the CSU community serve impoverished college students all over the state.
California State University- Los Angeles
School of Social Work
Los Angeles, CA
Website
Master's in Social Work (On-campus)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $16,496
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $40,256
Specializations:
- Advanced Generalist Practice
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Three-year part-time on-campus program
- 11-month full-time on-campus Advanced Standing program
- In addition to four stipend and fellowship opportunities, Cal State LA offers over 400 scholarships.
- Ranked number one in the nation for upward mobility by the New York Times. That means Cal State has a high percentage of students who move from the lowest-earning fifth of the population to the highest-earning fifth after graduation.
- Also offers BSW and certificates in child abuse and family violence and applied behavioral analysis.
With a streamlined curriculum that covers everything from social service agency administration to serving involuntary clients like inmates, Cal State LA’s MSW program is a great option for students who want a holistic understanding of social work. Outside of the classroom, though, the school offers a number of unique learning opportunities. For example Cal State LA is home to the Applied Gerontology Institute and the Child Abuse and Family Violence Institute. Both of these departments conduct research, host volunteer programs, and work with human service agencies in the LA area. So along with learning from social workers during their fieldwork experience, Cal State LA students have the opportunity to work with interdisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals, mental health service providers, and faculty researchers in the school’s other departments.
California State University-Monterey Bay
College of Health Sciences and Human Services
Seaside, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $14,352
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $38,112
Specializations:
- Advanced Generalist Practice
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Three-year part-time on-campus program
- Designed to help students prepare for LCSW licensure in California.
- While the school offers an advanced generalist curriculum, it focuses on serving the area’s Latino communities.
- Also offers PPSC for school social workers and a Child Welfare Attendance (CWA) Authorization program.
CSUMB offers one of the most flexible and affordable MSW programs in California. In their first year, students take foundational classes about social welfare policy, intervention practices, and evaluation techniques. But to round out their advanced studies, students can choose from almost 20 different electives. Some electives (like Gerontology and Veterans and Military Families) prepare students to work with specific populations. Others are more focused on building specific skills like crisis intervention, grant proposal writing, and administration. So while CSUMB is committed to preparing students to work in California’s Central Coast region, their graduates are often ready to work in just about any setting across the state.
California State University- Northridge
Tseng College
Northridge, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus and Online)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $17,048
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $40,808
Specializations:
- Advanced Generalist Practice
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Three-year part-time on-campus program
- Two- and three-year options available for online students
- One-year full-time Advanced Standing program
- CSUN reports that 91% of its MSW grads get a job or a promotion after graduation.
- The part-time online option is made up of asynchronous classes that can be viewed any time. Students typically attend one live evening session per week.
- The Advanced Standing program is tuition-free for qualifying students.
- Also offers BSW.
Located in San Fernando Valley in northern Los Angeles, CSUN teaches students how to provide social services in urban, multicultural environments. Their advanced generalist curriculum covers topics like psychosocial assessment, trauma and grief counseling, and policy analysis. However, community-based advocacy is a common thread through most of these courses making the program a great choice for future community organizers and direct service providers. And while CSUN already offers one of the most affordable MSW programs in California, its state-funded Advanced Standing program adds extra value for students with BSWs.
California State University- Sacramento
College of Health and Human Services
Sacramento, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $14,352
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $38,112
Specializations:
- Behavioral Health
- Children and Families
- Health and Aging
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Three-year part-time on-campus program (only offered once every three years)
- One-year on-campus Advanced Standing program
- Offers stipends to students preparing for careers in child welfare through California’s Title IV-E funding program.
- The 1,280-hour fieldwork requirement prioritizes the ever-important hands-on part of social work education.
- Also offers BSW and Pupil Personnel Services Credential.
As one of the largest schools in the CSU community, Sacramento State has one of the most robust MSW programs in the state. In addition to taking classes in one of three specialties, students can also take unique electives like Clinical Intervention in Sexual Abuse, DSM: New Developments in Psychodiagnosis, and other classes that apply advanced theories to working with specific populations. Because of this diverse curriculum and the school’s focus on fieldwork, Sacramento State graduates can be prepared for anything from social policy advocacy to clinical social work licensure.
California State University- San Bernardino
School of Social Work
San Bernardino, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $14,352
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $38,112
Specializations:
- Advanced Generalist Practice
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Three-year part-time on-campus program
- One-year full-time Advanced Standing program
- Three-year part-time online program
- Home to a unique MSW/Master of Public Administration program — a great option for students eyeing high-level administrative positions.
- Also offers BASW. Students can complete this in three years through a hybrid program.
CSUSB doesn’t have an official list of specialties — they allow students to design their own. After completing generalist studies during their first year, students take a number of more advanced classes about micro and macro social work. Students then apply this knowledge to research projects, cases analyses, and other hands-on assignments about topics related to their chosen specialties. And while the school has electives like Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Public Child Welfare, and Social Work Intervention with Older Adults and Their Families, students can take classes in other departments, as well. This uniquely student-driven program puts critical thinking in the spotlight while its estimated costs makes it one of the most affordable MSW programs in southern California.
California State University- San Marcos
College of Education, Health, and Human Services
San Marcos, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (Hybrid and Online)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $14,352
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $38,112
Specializations:
- Advanced Generalist Practice
Formats:
- Two-year full-time hybrid program
- One-year full-time Advanced Standing hybrid program
- Three-year part-time online program
- For the hybrid programs, students mostly take online classes but visit campus for in-person classes a few weeks each semester.
- In addition to completing fieldwork experiences, students can practice their direct service skills in the school’s simulation labs.
- Also offers Pupil Personnel Services Credential training.
With flexible hybrid programming, CSUSM’s MSW program might be a great option for students with busy schedules. Full-time students attend online classes two days a week and dedicate two to two and half days to fieldwork. Students in the part-time program attend class two evenings a week and don’t start fieldwork until their second year. But no matter what option students choose, they get the same skills-based education. While the program’s introductory classes teach students about broad topics like individual and group therapy, advanced courses about clinical assessment and program evaluation prepare them to enter the field with a skill set they can use in almost any type of agency.
California State University- Stanislaus
College of Education, Kinesiology, and Social Work
Turlock, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus and Hybrid)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $14,352
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $38,112
Specializations:
- Advanced Generalist Practice
- Integrated Practice
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Three-year part-time on-campus program
- Two-year full-time hybrid program
- Stanislaus’s MSW Student Association brings students together for advocacy events, volunteer opportunities, and serves as a bridge between students and faculty.
- Students in the Child Welfare Training program can receive up to $37,000 in stipends.
- Also offers a Gerontology/Geriatrics Graduate Certificate.
Stanislaus State’s MSW program prepares students to take a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to social work. While all students are required to take courses like Current Trends in Social Work Research and Advanced Integrative Practice (a course that focuses on approaching each client’s needs holistically), they have enough room in their schedules to take a number of electives. For instance, students preparing for LCSW licensure can take Psych-Social Assessment. Other electives cover topics like aging, addiction, and child welfare. With day, night, and hybrid classes available, this program makes an MSW accessible to students of all kinds.
San Diego State University
College of Health and Human Services
San Diego, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $19,448
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $43,208
Specializations:
- Administration
- Community Development
- Direct Practice/ Clinical Social Work
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Three- and four-year part-time on-campus programs
- One-year full-time on-campus Advanced Standing program
- Home to research centers focused on social policy, aging, substance abuse, and grass-roots community organization.
- Features an MSW/Master of Public Health dual degree program — an excellent choice for future healthcare social workers.
- Also offers BASW and multiple professional certification programs.
With degree options focused on both macro and micro social work, SDSU has one of the most dynamic MSW programs in California. On the Administrative specialty track, students learn how to lead diverse teams of social service professionals, design and evaluate programs, and guide their organizations through meaningful data analysis. Students in the Community Development track learn how to not just help marginalized communities but empower them to advocate for their own rights. Those interested in providing frontline services can follow the Direct Practice/Clinical path which emphasizes evidence-based skills like motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy. Through the school’s many research institutes, students have the unique opportunity to collaborate with their peers, instructors, and local organizations on real-world social issues.
San Francisco State University
College of Health and Social Sciences
San Francisco, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $17,444
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $41,204
Specializations:
- Advanced Generalist
- Individuals, Families, and Groups
- Clinical/Direct Practice
- School Social Work
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Features a BASW-MA in Gerontology program that allows students to earn both degrees in five years.
- Behavioral health and child welfare students can apply for stipends.
- Also offers BASW and Pupil Personnel Services Credential program.
Anyone interested in a career in social work learns one thing quickly — social service professionals have to be a lot of things. Sometimes, they’re counselors and advocates. At other times, they’re service coordinators, case managers, and researchers. SFSU’s MSW program aims to prepare students to be experts in it all. The core curriculum emphasizes an evidence-based approach to meeting clients’ physical, emotional, and social needs. However, with specialty tracks for child welfare, behavioral health, school, and individual, family, and group service providers, students can dive deeper into topics that prepare them to meet the needs of specific communities.
San Jose State University
School of Social Work
San Jose, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus, Online, Hybrid)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $18,852
Total Estimated Tuition for Out-of-state Students: $42,612
Specializations:
- Advanced Generalist Practice
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Three-year part-time on-campus program
- Two-year part-time online program (year-round schedule of two to three classes each semester)
- One-year full-time Advanced Standing program (online and on-campus options available)
- Has eight scholarships for MSW students and staff dedicated to helping veterans access their educational benefits.
- Home to research centers focused on improving services for child welfare, youth in foster care, and aging adults.
- Also offers BASW, Spanish Language Counseling, Gerontology, and Pupil Personnel Services Credential programs.
Founded in 1969, the MSW program at SJSU was originally created to train social workers to serve California’s large Latino community. Today, the school remains dedicated to that mission but has expanded their scope to all underserved populations. Like many other social work schools in California, SJSU offers an advanced generalist curriculum but within that framework, students still have the option to tailor their classes to their goals. For instance, instead of having one advanced practice class for all students, the school offers eight domain-specific courses like Social Work Practice with Children and Social Work in Educational Settings. And with three professional certificate options and multiple stipend programs to choose from, the SJSU MSW experience is extremely customizable.
University of California- Berkeley
School of Social Welfare
Berkeley, CA
Website
Master of Social Work (On-campus)
Total Estimated Tuition for In-state Students: $24,528
Specializations:
- Health and Well-being across the Adult Lifespan
- Children, Youth, and Families
- Organizations and Communities
Formats:
- Two-year full-time on-campus program
- Home to a number of unique research institutes like the Digital Health Equity and Access Lab and the Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity (SHARE) Program.
- Offers dual degree options that combine MSW education with law, public health, and public policy programs.
- Also offers BA in social welfare, PhD in Social Welfare, Pupil Personnel Services Credential, and graduate certificates in aging and social work with Latinos.
The Berkeley School of Social Welfare is often lauded as one of the best programs of its kind in the country. Considering the options its students have in and out of the classroom, it’s easy to see why. While students have three specialization options to choose from, they can also enroll in dual degree programs and earn certificates that prepare them for micro, macro, and mezzo roles with agencies across California. However, Berkeley students don’t have to stick to the typical classroom/fieldwork format. Campus leaders organize lobby days, conduct research with government and independent agencies, and help communities all over the San Francisco Bay area. Tuition at UC Berkeley may be on the higher end for affordable MSW programs, but its action-oriented learning environment adds unrivaled value.