9 Best Advanced Standing MSW Programs
Advanced standing MSW programs can accelerate your social work career path and reduce your graduation timeline significantly. Students can earn their degree within 12 months through online programs.
These accelerated MSW advanced standing programs give remarkable flexibility to working professionals and recent BSW graduates. The programs let you choose between a 12-month full-time track or a 24-month part-time option. Some universities like Simmons take it further by offering direct practitioner programs that students can finish in just 9 months.
Our experts have selected the 9 best advanced standing MSW programs through a detailed evaluation process. The selection criteria include curriculum strength, faculty expertise, learning format options, and overall program value to help you choose the right educational path.
What is an Advanced Standing MSW?
The Advanced Standing MSW is a special track created for graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program. This faster option enhances your existing social work knowledge without repeating the basics you learned in your undergraduate studies.
Eligibility for these programs typically requires:
- A BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program
- Completion of your BSW within the past 5-7 years (requirements vary by institution)
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 in your undergraduate social work courses
- Some programs may consider professional experience for applicants with older degrees
Advanced standing programs offer excellent time efficiency. Students need only 39-45 credits instead of the standard 60-credit MSW. So, you can earn your MSW in as few as 9-12 months full-time, or 16-24 months part-time.
These faster programs emphasize specialized practice areas since students have completed foundational social work education. Your curriculum typically has:
- Advanced clinical assessment techniques
- Specialized coursework in your chosen concentration
- Advanced research methods
- Reduced fieldwork requirements (typically 450-600 hours compared to 900-1,200 in traditional programs)
The financial benefits make a compelling case. An advanced standing MSW can save you approximately $30,000 in tuition costs. On top of that, the Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows master’s degree holders earn approximately $244 more weekly than those with bachelor’s degrees, potentially adding up to nearly $500,000 over a lifetime.
Who needs an Advanced Standing MSW
BSW graduates who want to lift their careers make perfect candidates for advanced standing MSW programs. These programs are designed for students who have shown their understanding of basic social work principles during their undergraduate studies.
You’ll need to meet specific requirements to get into an advanced standing program. A Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program is essential. Most schools want this degree to be completed within the last five to seven years. Your grades play a big role too – you usually need at least a 3.0 GPA.
Advanced standing becomes really valuable if you want to:
- Get your graduate degree faster (in as little as nine months)
- Save money on education (over $30,000 in tuition savings)
- Move quickly into specialized clinical positions
- Get your social work license and advance your career
These programs give you credit for your BSW education and the hard work you’ve already done. You can skip the basic courses you took in your BSW and jump right into advanced clinical training.
The fast-track nature of these programs means you’ll only need about 30-39 graduate credits instead of the usual 60-64 credits in regular MSW programs. Your fieldwork requirements drop too – just 500-600 hours compared to 900-1,200 hours in traditional programs.
Some schools only offer advanced standing as a full-time option. Many now have part-time programs that work well if you have a job. Part-time programs usually take about two years to finish.
After graduating, you can take the LMSW license exam. This license opens up advanced clinical positions in specializations of all types – from aging services to mental health, substance abuse treatment, child welfare, and school social work.
Remember, you can’t get into advanced standing programs without a BSW degree. Your work experience or other degrees won’t qualify you, and you’ll need to complete a traditional MSW program instead.
Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University combines Western and global Indigenous healing approaches in its advanced standing MSW program. This unique blend rarely appears in social work education. Students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries create a rich multicultural learning environment at this global crossroads.
Program Overview
The HPU MSW uses an advanced generalist model with specialized focus options. You’ll learn multicultural social work practice and how to support social and economic justice. The program helps heal communities affected by intergenerational consequences of historical and cultural trauma. Students learn culturally competent practice to boost social well-being and lead services at micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
Advanced Standing Track Details
The advanced standing track needs a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. You must have earned it in the last five years with a minimum 3.25 GPA in social work courses. The track requires 30 credits instead of the traditional 57-credit path. Students don’t need GRE or GMAT scores to apply.
Key Features
Small class sizes of no more than 15 students ensure personal attention and mentorship. The program offers three focus areas:
- Advanced Generalist Practice: Blends micro, mezzo, and macro views
- Global Indigenous: Promotes decolonial Indigenous approaches
- Military and Veterans Affairs: Serves military personnel, veterans, and families
Students must complete a cultural immersion experience in their home community or on Oʻahu as part of their foundation learning.
Program Duration
Advanced standing students finish the program in 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time. Traditional track students complete it in 18 months full-time or 36 months part-time.
Accreditation
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) fully accredits the MSW program. This accreditation means your MSW degree meets national quality standards.
Tuition and Fees
Program tuition costs $1235.00 per credit. Advanced standing students pay approximately $37,050.00 (30 credits), while traditional track students pay $70,395.00 (57 credits). Financial aid includes federal loans, merit-based scholarships from $1,000.00 to $7,000.00, and graduate assistantships with stipends and reduced tuition.
Simmons University
Founded in 1904, Simmons University stands as the nation’s first clinical school of social work. The university’s distinguished advanced standing MSW program emphasizes clinical expertise and social justice values. This 119-year-old institution now offers both on-campus and online advanced standing options with similar academic standards and faculty.
Program Overview
The Simmons MSW program features a clinically focused curriculum that prepares students to practice in different settings. Students learn to combine social justice values with multicultural views and become clinician-activists who drive positive change. The program teaches evidence-informed approaches to intervention and treatment while building skills to work with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
Advanced Standing Track Details
Students need a BSW from a CSWE-accredited institution earned in the last seven years to join the advanced standing track. The academic requirements include a minimum 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.3 GPA in social work courses. Applicants must submit two recommendation letters—one from their BSW internship supervisor—and write an advanced standing essay about their BSW internship experience.
Key Features
Students have the chance to earn specialized certificates with their MSW. The program offers three certificate options:
- Mental Health Practice
- Trauma Practice
- Clinical Practice with Active Service Members, Veterans, and Families
Each certificate needs two additional courses (six credits) beyond the standard MSW curriculum. The program uses simulation education with trained actors to create realistic clinical scenarios that help students practice interventions before fieldwork.
Program Duration
Advanced standing students need 34 credits instead of the 65 credits required for traditional students. This leads to quick completion times:
- Two-term option: Complete in as few as 9 months
- Three-term option: Finish in about 12 months
Accreditation
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) fully accredits the program. This ensures graduates can qualify for social work licensure anywhere in the United States.
Tuition and Fees
The 2025-2026 tuition for the advanced standing MSW program costs $1,185 per credit hour. With 34 required credits, students pay approximately $40,290 plus a $75 student fee each semester. Qualified students can receive financial help through the Simmons Future Leaders Scholarship or Dean’s Scholarship.
Howard University
Howard University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), sets itself apart through its MSW program. The program features the unique Black Perspective—a framework that celebrates the strengths of all populations while recognizing the challenges marginalized communities face.
Program Overview
Howard’s Master of Social Work program gives students the ability to excel in advanced social work practice and leadership. Students learn to shape policy, advocate for social justice, and revolutionize communities worldwide. The program offers two specializations: Direct Practice (working with individuals, families, and small groups) or Community, Administration, and Policy (CAP) Practice. Students focus on serving diverse and underserved populations with a steadfast dedication to social and economic justice.
Advanced Standing Track Details
Students qualify for advanced standing when they have:
- A CSWE-accredited BSW degree earned within four years of applying
- A cumulative 3.0 GPA in undergraduate coursework
- ‘B’ or better grades in core foundation courses (practice methods, field education, social research, human behavior, and social welfare policy)
The program requires 30 credit hours instead of the traditional 60 credits. Students don’t need GRE scores for admission. The application package should include official transcripts, three recommendation letters, an application essay, resume, and a $100 application fee.
Key Features
The program’s Black Perspective forms its philosophical foundation and shows how oppression, self-determination, and culture shape service to individuals and communities. The curriculum extends beyond core courses with dynamic dual degree options like MSW/MBA, MSW/Master of Divinity, and MSW/MPH combinations. Students complete 520 hours of field education through two field courses.
Program Duration
Advanced standing students can choose between two paths:
- Full-time: Complete the program in 8 months (2 semesters)
- Part-time: Graduate in about 16 months (6 semesters)
Accreditation
The Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation (CSWE) fully accredits the program. This accreditation ensures the program meets national professional social work education standards.
Tuition and Fees
The 2025-2026 academic year advanced standing tuition costs $38,640 ($1,288 per credit hour). Students must pay a $300 enrollment deposit, $100 application fee, yearly grad fee of $464, and a professional development fee of $185 each semester. U.S. citizens and permanent residents can access various funding options including scholarships, federal financial aid, and loans using Howard’s FAFSA code: 001448.
Syracuse University
Syracuse University stands out with its innovative approach to social work education. The university shapes its graduates into “active agents of change” rather than passive participants in existing systems. Their program helps students develop inclusive, socially just, and culturally competent methods that help underserved populations.
Program Overview
Students can earn their Master of Social Work online through both traditional and advanced standing tracks. Technology blends naturally with future social work practice in the curriculum. Students can choose between integrated practice or clinical practice specializations that match their career goals. Working professionals will find the application process more available since no GRE scores are needed.
Advanced Standing Track Details
Students need a CSWE-accredited BSW degree earned within the last 10 years with a minimum 3.0 GPA in all social work courses to qualify for the advanced standing track. The program needs 36 credits and 500 field placement hours. This is nowhere near the traditional track’s requirements of 60 credits and 1,000 field hours.
Key Features
The program’s emphasis on technology in social work practice makes it unique. Students pick one of two concentrations:
- Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP): Prepares students for clinical mental health settings
- Advanced Integrated Practice (AIP): Focuses on interdisciplinary organizations and human service administration
Students complete their field education through two terms of concentration fieldwork at one placement site.
Program Duration
Part-time students can finish the advanced standing program in 24 months. Each course runs for 15 weeks, and new cohorts start in January, May, and August.
Accreditation
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) fully accredits the program. This accreditation ensures graduates can take licensure examinations anywhere in the country.
Tuition and Fees
The 2025-2026 academic year’s tuition costs $1,196 per credit hour. Students must complete 36 credits, bringing the total program cost to about $43,056. This places it in the middle range for advanced standing MSW programs.
Fordham University
Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service (GSS) has an advanced standing MSW program that helps BSW graduates save over $30,000 in tuition through a faster path to graduation. This makes it a great choice for social work professionals who want to advance their careers while keeping costs down.
Program Overview
U.S. News & World Report ranks this program among the top 10 percent of social work programs in the country. The MSW curriculum takes a modern approach to integrated practice that works with people and organizations of all types. Students learn advanced integrated practice methods they can use at individual, group, and system-wide levels.
FAdvanced Standing Track Details
Students need a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program to qualify for advanced standing. The program lets them skip foundation courses and jump right into specialist-level studies. Students must take Advanced Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis plus seven “selective” courses that match their career goals.
Fordham Key Features
Students can specialize in four different areas:
- Individuals and Families
- Organizations and Community
- Evaluation
- Policy Practice and Advocacy
The program puts a strong emphasis on field education. Advanced standing students complete 500 hours of supervised fieldwork through partnerships with thousands of agencies across the country.
Program Duration
Students who study full-time can finish the program in as few as nine months. Working professionals can choose a part-time option that takes two academic years to complete.
Accreditation
The Council on Social Work Education has fully accredited this program. Students must show they’ve mastered nine CSWE competencies. This is a big deal as it means that Fordham students consistently score above the 80% achievement target in all competency areas.
Tuition and Fees
The 2025-2026 tuition rate is $1,098 per credit. Advanced standing students take 31 credits, bringing total tuition to $34,038. Extra costs include a $260 general fee, $712 technology access fee, $70 field placement insurance fee, and a $220 Tevera fee. The total comes to $35,300.
Boston University
The Boston University School of Social Work, 60 years old, offers a detailed advanced standing MSW program. Students can choose from on-campus, online, and hybrid options that fit their unique needs.
Program Overview
Boston University’s MSW program weaves diversity, ethics, populations-at-risk, and social and economic justice throughout its curriculum. Students select between two major concentrations: Clinical Practice leads to therapeutic roles while Macro Practice prepares them for policy and administration. The program lets students learn in three different ways: the traditional on-campus experience in Boston, a fully online format available nationwide, or a Worcester-based hybrid program that blends classroom and online learning.
Advanced Standing Track Details
Students need a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program earned within six years of enrollment and a minimum 3.0 GPA to qualify for advanced standing. Advanced standing students get 22 academic unit hours and need only 40-43 additional credits to graduate (40 if they pass the Research I Waiver Exam). The application needs a personal statement, current resume, three references, and transcripts.
Key Features
The program stands out with its multi-method curriculum led by expert faculty who emphasize evidence-based practice. Online students get both self-paced learning and weekly live classroom sessions on Sunday or Monday evenings. The field education team sets up internships near students through a network of 2000+ field agencies across the country.
Program Duration
Part-time online students with advanced standing typically finish in 6 consecutive semesters. Full-time on-campus students start in September and graduate the following August. Part-time students follow a structured program plan and begin their field placement in their second year.
Accreditation
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) fully accredit the program. This means graduates can take social work licensure examinations anywhere in the country.
Tuition and Fees
The 2025-2026 academic year has different tuition rates for advanced standing: on-campus costs $1,261 per credit, online is $998 per credit, and off-campus programs run $800 per credit. Students also pay a $75 part-time student services fee each semester.
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences offers a unique advanced standing MSW program. The program uses an innovative Ability-Based Learning Environment that builds eight core social work competencies.
Program Overview
The curriculum builds professional social work skills through a competency-based approach. Students get hands-on experience by applying their classroom knowledge during field education. They can choose from more than 1,000 partner agencies across Greater Cleveland and beyond.
Advanced Standing Track Details
Students with BSW degrees from CSWE-accredited programs receive 21 advanced standing credits. The optimized curriculum needs 39 total credits and 500 practicum hours. This is nowhere near the 900 hours traditional students must complete.
Key Features
The program stands out with its Ability-Based Learning Environment that focuses on eight core competencies:
- Identifying as a reflective professional
- Communicating effectively
- Upholding social work values and ethics
- Applying social work methods
- Integrating cultural diversity
- Advocating for justice
- Critical thinking about theory
- Developing leadership skills
Program Duration
Students can finish the on-campus advanced standing program in just one year, spread across three semesters.
Accreditation
The program’s CSWE accreditation dates back to 1919, making it one of the first accredited graduate social work programs in the country.
Tuition and Fees
The program costs $1,650 per credit hour for 2025-2026. The total comes to about $64,350 for advanced standing students. The good news is that the school gave out over $5 million in scholarships last year.
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida offers a flexible advanced standing MSW program. Students can choose between campus-based and online options to prepare for clinical social work practice in a variety of settings.
Program Overview
UCF’s MSW program specializes in Clinical Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, and Communities. Students can focus on Behavioral Health and Child Welfare Services. The program stands among the top 30 percent of social work programs in the nation.
Advanced Standing Track Details
Students need a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program to qualify for admission. The degree should be earned within the past six years with a minimum 3.3 GPA in the last 60 credit hours. The program accepts new students once a year in fall semester.
Key Features
Students in the online format take one asynchronous course at a time during 7-week terms. The NASW Code of Ethics is woven into every aspect of the curriculum.
Program Duration
Students can complete the 32-credit advanced standing track in four semesters or 16 months part-time. This is much shorter than the 62-credit traditional track.
Accreditation
The program holds full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Tuition and Fees
The online MSW program costs $487.45 per credit hour. Students in the advanced standing program can expect to pay around $15,598 in total.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville has a unique Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) program. This degree is the same as an MSW but gives students more flexibility with options to study at the Knoxville campus, Nashville campus, or completely online.
Program Overview
Students can choose between two specialized concentrations. The Evidence-Based Interpersonal Practice prepares students for clinical roles, while the Organizational Leadership focuses on macro practice—making it Tennessee’s only macro program. Students have the option to earn certificates in Forensic Social Work, Gerontology, School Social Work, Trauma, or Veterinary Social Work while completing their degree.
Advanced Standing Track Details
Students with a BSW from CSWE-accredited programs can apply to the advanced standing track. Their degree should be less than seven years old with a 3.0 GPA. The program needs 36 semester hours instead of the traditional 60 hours. Students don’t need to take the GRE to apply.
Key Features
Students get the same curriculum whether they study online or on-campus, with classes taught by the same professors. The program requires 600 hours of supervised field practice.
Program Duration
Students in the advanced standing track can finish their degree in 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time.
Accreditation
The program has full CSWE accreditation.
Tuition and Fees
Annual graduate tuition costs $13,784 for in-state students and $32,288 for out-of-state students. Online students pay an additional $100 per credit hour for online support.
Pick Your Advanced Standing MSW Today
BSW graduates can fast-track their careers through advanced standing MSW programs. These specialized programs recognize your previous academic work and let you skip foundational courses you completed in your undergraduate studies.
The time savings are impressive. Students can complete these programs in just 9-12 months full-time or 16-24 months part-time, instead of the usual two-year timeline. The financial benefits are substantial too – you can save around $30,000 in tuition while setting yourself up for higher earnings.
Each program has its own strengths to think over. Hawaii Pacific University blends Western and Indigenous healing approaches. Simmons University combines clinical expertise with social justice values. Howard University’s program features their unique Black Perspective framework. Syracuse University integrates technology into social work practice.
Fordham University helps students save money through accelerated education. Boston University gives you choices between campus-based, online, and hybrid learning. Case Western Reserve University uses an innovative Ability-Based Learning Environment. The University of Central Florida focuses on clinical practice through flexible online delivery. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville offers special certificates with its MSSW program.
Your choice of an advanced standing program depends on several key factors. Career goals, specialization preferences, location, learning format, and budget all shape this decision. Most programs need a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program earned within 5-7 years and a GPA between 3.0-3.3.
These accelerated paths are definitely worth considering for BSW graduates who want to advance their careers. Time savings, lower costs, and specialized education create a strong foundation for your social work career. Advanced standing MSW programs offer a clear path to becoming a highly qualified social work professional who can make real changes in communities, no matter which program matches your professional goals