University of Michigan MSW Program
The University of Michigan School of Social Work has been essential to social work education since 1921. That year, the university approved its first Social Work Curriculum through the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. The school’s path to excellence started in 1936 when it launched its first master’s of social work degree (MSW) through the Institute of Public and Social Administration. The program awarded 265 MSW degrees between 1936 and 1951 before taking its current shape.
The year 1951 marked a turning point as the School of Social Work became an official professional educational entity offering advanced graduate degrees. The school welcomed 91 full-time and 96 part-time students in its first year. Student numbers have grown steadily. Today, the school serves about 650 MSW students and 80 doctoral candidates.
The school sits at 1080 South University Avenue in Ann Arbor, right where South and East University meet. A dedicated building, constructed in 1998, serves as its home. The school started in a small house on Washington and Thayer before moving to the Frieze Building, where it stayed for many years.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked it as the #1 school of social work in the nation since 2012. The school has stayed among the top three social work programs for 30 years. This excellence shows no signs of slowing – the 2025 rankings still place it at the top spot.
The school’s reputation goes beyond rankings. Faculty members are known for their expertise and meaningful research. Students learn in a supportive environment that sets them up for professional success. The University of Michigan MSW online program now makes this prestigious education accessible to more people.
Ann Arbor adds to the learning experience. Students enjoy a classic college town with rich cultural life, great food, and plenty of things to do. The university offers complete support services for academics, financial aid, mental health, career guidance, and writing help.
The University of Michigan School of Social Work has earned its reputation through decades of excellence in teaching, research, breakthroughs, and service. The school shapes social work practice and policy across the nation and worldwide through its strong curriculum and dedication to social justice.
Programs offered
Michigan’s School of Social Work has a flexible Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program that meets different student needs and career goals. The program requires either 45 or 60 credit hours to complete.
Students can choose from eight specialized pathways after completing their generalist foundation courses to build advanced skills in specific practice areas. These pathways include Children, Youth, & Families; Community Change; Global Social Work Practice; Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse; Management & Leadership; Policy & Political Social Work; Program Evaluation & Applied Research; and Social Work Practice with Older Adults & Families from a Lifespan Perspective.
The program’s schedule is remarkably flexible. Students can pick between on-campus or online formats, with full-time or part-time enrollment options. Part-time programs work great for students who need to balance work, family, and studies. The online MSW program lets you keep your career while getting advanced education, and field placements are arranged close to your community within the United States.
Field education plays a vital role in the MSW experience. Students must complete 900 clock hours of fieldwork (672 hours for Advanced Standing students) in their chosen practice area and method concentrations. The Office of Field Education works with over 550 fieldwork sites, mostly in Southeast Michigan, but opportunities exist nationwide and globally. Students learn from about 750 licensed professional social workers who serve as mentors.
Regular admission students can earn dual degrees in other University of Michigan programs if they get into both programs. Students can combine Social Work with Business Administration, Public Health, Public Policy, Law, Information Science, or Urban and Regional Planning.
The university offers a 45-credit hour option for students who:
- Have completed a bachelor of social work degree (Advanced Standing)
- Have finished the MasterTrack™ certificate with three or more years of full-time human services experience
- Are University of Michigan-Dearborn human services undergraduates participating in the combined program
- Are University of Michigan-Ann Arbor sociology undergraduates in the combined program
Field faculty work closely with you to find placement sites that match curriculum objectives, learning goals, and your interests. This hands-on experience is a great way to get professional development alongside classroom instruction.
About the online program
The University of Michigan’s online MSW program lets you earn your degree without compromising educational quality while maintaining flexibility. Working professionals can balance their studies with work, family, and other personal commitments. The school’s prestigious education became accessible to more people through this online program, which now offers both full-time and part-time enrollment options to fit different schedules and priorities.
The online curriculum specializes in two distinct pathways. Students who want to become licensed clinical social workers can head over to the Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, & Substance Abuse pathway. The Children, Youth, and Families pathway (formerly Welfare of Children & Families) will launch Fall 2024. This pathway helps you support children, adolescents, and adults through evidence-based interventions.
The program’s well-laid-out structure gives you a major advantage. This 45-credit program helps you save time and money compared to other options. Students who can dedicate much time to their studies can complete the full-time option in just 12 months.
The program supports you throughout your educational trip with practical resources:
- Field placements near your community within the United States
- One-on-one connections with faculty during office hours
- Continuous guidance from admission counselors and academic advisors
The curriculum builds a generalist foundation while developing specialized practice areas. The School believes that faster changing policies, emerging evidence-based practices, and dramatic changes in service delivery patterns need graduates who understand methodologies of change and practice contexts well. Each student completes twelve credit hours in their specialized pathway.
Students must get a personal laptop computer since they’ll need it for some classes, group projects, and accessing the School’s virtual lab technology. The program offers Uwill, a virtual mental health and wellness tool that connects you directly with therapists. U-M students can get up to four free sessions with a Uwill counselor. You can choose therapists based on your needs including issue, gender, language, and ethnicity.
The University of Michigan’s online MSW program delivers educational excellence with the flexibility today’s diverse student population needs. You’ll get quality education that prepares you for professional success whatever your location within the United States.
Accreditation
CSWE accreditation serves as a key measure for any MSW program that ensures it meets strict educational standards. The University of Michigan’s MSW program has earned full accreditation from this prestigious body. This recognition applies to all approved locations and delivery methods, including both on-campus and online formats.
The accreditation confirms the program’s high-quality educational standards needed for professional practice. CSWE reviews all accredited programs to verify they meet established criteria. Their directory shows programs can have different statuses: Fully Accredited, Accredited (Conditional), Accredited (Withdrawal in Progress), Candidacy, or Pre-Candidacy. Michigan’s MSW program holds the highest “Fully Accredited” status, which shows its dedication to educational excellence.
The University’s School of Social Work went through its last reaccreditation process through CSWE for an eight-year period extending until October 2023. This review evaluates the program’s curriculum, faculty qualifications, student outcomes, and administrative processes to ensure they meet national standards.
Students benefit directly from CSWE accreditation beyond quality assurance. Graduates need this credential to qualify for licensure across the United States. Michigan requires 4,000 supervised hours for Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) credentials—either Clinical or Macro—through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Students cannot pursue these licensure paths without graduating from a CSWE-accredited program.
Employers value this accreditation as proof of quality education. Every Master of Social Work program in Michigan has CSWE accreditation, which ensures graduates meet national practice standards.
Advanced Standing applicants must also meet accreditation requirements for their undergraduate work. They need a bachelor’s degree with a social work major from a program accredited by CSWE, the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE), or from a program in candidacy status when the degree was awarded.
The University of Michigan’s MSW program has managed to keep its accreditation status throughout its history. This shows its steadfast dedication to preparing graduates for successful social work careers while exceeding national educational standards.
Admission Requirements
The University of Michigan’s MSW program looks at several qualifications when reviewing applications. The admissions team reviews your academic record, recommendations, experience in human services, and your written statement.
You need a U.S. bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution with competitive grades. The school makes exceptions for those who apply under the Provisions for Non-Baccalaureate Degree Applicants. Your bachelor’s degree should include a liberal arts background with at least 20 academic semester credits. These credits must span three or more subjects from psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, history, political science, government, and languages. You might get conditional admission if you don’t meet these requirements when you apply.
The admissions team values these qualities:
- Key traits needed for social work like relationship sensitivity, empathy, adaptability, critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills
- A strong alignment with the School’s mission
- Human services background through work, volunteering, research, or internships
Most admitted students have a 3.5 GPA, but the team reviews each application as a whole. You don’t need to take the GRE or other admission tests.
The school offers two application deadlines. Early applications are due December 1, and the Priority Deadline is March 1. International students should submit everything by February 1. If you complete your application by December 1, you’ll hear back by March 1. Some applications might get another review in May.
Your application needs three recommendation letters that combine professional and academic sources. The school prefers online applications and electronic recommendations.
After acceptance, you’ll need to pay a non-refundable $300 enrollment deposit by the given date. While applying, you can visit the school, join information sessions, and plan personal visits. These visits let you attend classes and meet current students.
Students interested in dual degrees need to apply and get accepted to both programs separately.
Tuition
Your education costs at the University of Michigan MSW program depend on where you live and how you take classes. The tuition changes by a lot based on these factors.
Michigan residents who study on campus pay approximately $18,000 per semester in tuition. Non-residents pay more at around $28,000 per semester. Michigan residents who choose the online MSW program pay less than their on-campus counterparts. This is a big deal as it means that you’re making a valuable investment in your career.
The University of Michigan’s yearly graduate tuition and fees amount to $49,548. This makes it one of the costlier schools in the state. Other Michigan schools charge different rates for their MSW programs. Michigan State University costs $37,056, Wayne State University charges $37,215, and Western Michigan University asks for $31,355.
The University’s Office of Financial Aid calculates standard student budgets. These budgets cover everything from tuition and fees to room, board, books, supplies, and personal expenses. The university’s research into typical student lifestyles shapes these “modest but adequate” expense patterns. Your personal choices and situation might lead to different actual costs.
Wolverine Access shows your tuition and fee charges under Campus Finances at the start of each term. The system applies your financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans, to these charges. You’ll get a refund if your aid exceeds the charges. If not, you need to pay the remaining balance by the due date.
The University of Michigan Payment Plan helps you manage these costs. Fall term payments run from June 30 through October 31. Winter term payments go from November 30 through March 31. The plan covers tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, and other specific charges. Each term has a $30 non-refundable enrollment fee.
Additional Information
The University of Michigan’s MSW program delivers much more than just academic excellence. Students become part of a thriving community that supports them well after graduation. Michigan Social Work graduates join a powerful network of over 17,000 alumni who work in a variety of occupations. This network creates professional connections and learning opportunities through regular alumni events and educational webinars.
Student life buzzes with activity. The School of Social Work hosts 18 student organizations, while the university offers more than 1,600 groups overall. These organizations help students develop leadership skills and build community connections that make a real difference in causes they’re passionate about. The School’s Student Government represents student interests effectively, working with groups like the Association of Black Social Work Students and specialized organizations such as the Child Welfare Student Association.
Students and graduates benefit from detailed career services. The school provides job search workshops, resume writing assistance, interview preparation, and licensure guidance. Regular alumni networking luncheons happen frequently, and a job bulletin reaches students every two weeks with fresh opportunities.
Field education adds another exciting dimension with more than 500 internship locations. MSW students complete 900 clock hours of fieldwork (672 for Advanced Standing) that align with their practice concentrations. They work with field educators to find placements that match their career goals and interests perfectly.