Northern Kentucky University MSW Programs

Northern Kentucky University (NKU) sits beautifully between Highland Heights, Kentucky and downtown Cincinnati. The 55-year-old entrepreneurial state university has grown steadily. Today, it serves more than 15,000 students. US News & World Report ranks the university #392 in the National University category for 2025. NKU also earned recognition among the “Top Public Schools” and “Top Performers on Social Mobility”.

NKU excels at providing student-centered education and takes part in ground scholarly work. Students graduate ready to build meaningful careers and lives while boosting the region’s economic, civic, and social growth. The Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education named NKU an Age-Friendly University. This makes NKU the only university in Greater Cincinnati and Kentucky that joined this worldwide initiative.

The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) houses the School of Social Work. CHHS leads globally in student-centered learning and helps improve life quality for its target populations. The college values excellence, integrity, belonging, innovation, and working together.

The School of Social Work stands out as a hub of excellence in social work education. Dr. Caroline Macke leads the department as Director, while Dr. Katherina Terhune serves as Graduate Program Director for the Master of Social Work program. Faculty members bring expertise in trauma, interpersonal violence, food insecurity, aging and mental health, gerontology, international social work, direct practice, policy, research, clinical diagnoses, and forensic social work.

NKU’s social work program proves its worth through results. About 89% of MSW graduates find jobs within three months after graduation. This soaring win shows how well the program prepares students for their careers. Kentucky ranks NKU’s social work program as the third best in the state.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accredits NKU to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The Master of Social Work program also holds accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). These credentials ensure high-quality education standards.

International and non-native English speakers can prove their English skills through TOEFL (minimum score of 79) or IELTS (minimum score of 6.5).

Programs offered

The NKU MSW program helps advance your social work career through its CSWE accredited clinical program. Students learn clinical behavioral health and community practice that prepares them to work at multiple levels using evidence-informed interventions.

Standard MSW ProgramStudents without a BSW degree or those who don’t meet advanced standing requirements can choose the Standard MSW with its complete 60-credit curriculum in a fully online format. Students must complete 900 hours of supervised field education. The program takes two years (six semesters) with a full-time schedule. Students can start their journey in summer, fall, or spring semesters.

Advanced Standing MSW ProgramBSW degree holders who meet eligibility requirements can take the Advanced Standing MSW’s simplified 30-credit curriculum online or in hybrid format. This faster option needs 600 hours of supervised field education and takes just one year (three semesters) for full-time students. Hybrid programs start in summer semesters only, while online programs let students begin in summer, fall, or spring.

Online Accelerated OptionsBoth programs offer faster online options with 7-week class sessions. Students can finish the Online Accelerated Standard MSW in six semesters. The Online Accelerated Advanced Standing program takes only three semesters.

Specialized Learning OpportunitiesStudents can earn micro-credentials in specialized areas like trauma-informed care, forensic social work, and gerontology. These credentials are a great way to get specific expertise and stand out in chosen practice areas.

Career PathwaysGraduates find rewarding careers in clinical social work, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, forensic settings, medical facilities, community-based organizations, and policy development. The program equips you to work in community mental health centers, hospitals, residential facilities, child welfare agencies, and advocacy organizations.

The program builds resilient foundations for licensure. An impressive 89% of graduates find jobs within three months after finishing. NKU ranks as Kentucky’s third-best social work program, delivering excellent value and career success.

About the online program

NKU’s online Master of Social Work program puts flexibility first. Working professionals who balance multiple responsibilities will find this program ideal. You can study whenever it works best for you with 24/7 course access. Multiple start dates throughout the year let you build an academic plan that fits your busy life naturally.

Students learn through an innovative fast-track format. All courses run in compact 7-week sessions. This setup helps you focus better on each subject while meeting the same high standards as regular semester courses. The same distinguished faculty who teach on-campus lead these online classes, which ensures quality education across all formats.

The program balances theory and hands-on experience. Students in the Standard MSW track complete 900 hours of supervised clinical practice at field agencies. This preparation readies you for LCSW or LISW licensure in any state. Advanced Standing students need to complete 600 hours of supervised clinical practice. These hands-on experiences help you develop and test assessment models and treatments in ground settings.

The program stands out for its clinical focus on behavioral health and community practice. Your coursework will help you master multiple intervention approaches to work successfully with different populations. This training prepares you for careers in:

• Community mental health centers
• Psychiatric hospitals
• Residential and day treatment facilities
• Child welfare agencies
• Advocacy organizations

You can boost your expertise with micro-credentials in specialized areas like trauma-informed care, forensic social work, and gerontology. These extra credentials improve your job prospects by a lot.

Graduates can take licensure exams in any state. The program’s clinical focus provides excellent preparation for practice. This detailed approach to professional growth explains why 89% of graduates find jobs within three months after finishing.

The program holds full CSWE accreditation. You’ll get an education that meets professional standards and learn skills to diagnose and treat clients from psychological and therapeutic points of view.

Accreditation

The substance of NKU’s Master of Social Work program lies in its rigorous accreditation credentials. The MSW program at Northern Kentucky University holds full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Your degree will meet national standards of excellence in social work education.

CSWE accreditation is the gold standard for social work programs nationwide. It proves your education meets professional measures. The program delivers a detailed curriculum rooted in the profession’s history, purpose, and values. Employers who see your CSWE-accredited degree know you’ve received training that meets rigorous national standards.

Northern Kentucky University also has institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This allows the university to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The combination of institutional and program-specific accreditation guarantees the quality of your educational experience.

CSWE accreditation brings several career advantages. The curriculum includes all core competencies set by the accrediting body. Field education follows a systematic design with proper supervision and evaluation. Many states require CSWE-accredited program graduation before granting social work licenses.

The accreditation process reviews curriculum design, faculty qualifications, student outcomes, and administrative structures. Programs must show they prepare students effectively through classroom instruction and field education. CSWE calls field education the “signature pedagogy” of social work education.

NKU MSW program’s accreditation benefits you through:

• Curriculum that meets professional standards
• Faculty who apply best practices in social work education
• Field experiences that strengthen classroom learning

The detailed accreditation process means your NKU degree shows employers you’re ready for professional practice. The program’s success speaks for itself – 89% of graduates find jobs within three months. This makes the NKU MSW program one of the state’s most successful.

Admission Requirements

The NKU MSW program welcomes students who meet specific academic and procedural requirements. Students can enter through two paths – one for those new to social work and another for BSW degree holders.

For the Standard MSW Track, you’ll need:

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Undergraduate foundation courses in psychology, sociology, and statistics with a grade of C or better
• Official transcripts from all institutions previously attended[191]
• A professional resume listing three academic or professional references[191]

Students with slightly lower GPAs might qualify through an integrated review process. Provisional admission is possible with a GPA of 2.74 or higher.

For the Advanced Standing MSW Track, you’ll need:

• A CSWE-accredited Bachelor in Social Work (BSW) degree earned in the last 10 years
• A total cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• A minimum GPA of 3.5 in social work courses
• A statistics course completed with a grade of C or better

The application process for both tracks works like this:

1. Submit an online application to the Office of Graduate Education (select “online accelerated” if applying to the fully online program)
2. Pay the $40 non-refundable application fee for master’s programs
3. Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended[171]
4. Provide your professional resume with education, experience, and three professional or academic references[171]

International students must show English language proficiency through either:

• TOEFL with a minimum score of 79 on the internet-based test
• IELTS with a minimum paper score of 6.5[181]

The MSW program accepts applications for these start dates:

• Standard MSW Online: Fall (priority June 15, final August 1), Spring (priority October 15, final December 1), and Summer (priority February 15, final April 1)
• Advanced Standing Online: Same deadlines as Standard Online
• Advanced Standing Hybrid: Summer only (priority February 15, final April 1)

Tuition

Your MSW education at NKU is a most important financial investment. NKU is the third most affordable social work graduate program in Kentucky. You’ll get excellent value and quality education here.

NKU’s Masters of Social Work program will use a tiered tuition structure based on where you live for the 2025-26 academic year. Kentucky residents will pay $647 per credit hour. Graduate Metro students from Ohio or Indiana counties pay $665 per credit hour. Students outside these areas pay non-resident tuition at $909 per credit hour.

Your total program cost depends on which track you choose. The Standard MSW pathway needs 60 credit hours, so Kentucky residents pay about $38,820 in total. The Advanced Standing option needs just 30 credit hours, which cuts your cost to around $19,410 for in-state students.

NKU keeps the same tuition rates for both online and on-campus MSW programs. You’ll get the same quality education and won’t pay extra for the flexibility of online learning.

Let’s look at how NKU compares to other Kentucky schools. The University of Kentucky’s MSW program costs in-state students between $11,500 and $17,200 yearly. Non-residents pay between $28,400 and $42,600. The University of Louisville charges in-state students between $11,500 and $17,300, while non-residents pay $23,300 to $34,900.

You should also think about other costs like books, supplies, and fees. NKU’s total cost of attendance shows these extra expenses along with tuition to give you a detailed financial picture.

The university’s “3 States, 1 Rate” tuition model helps undergraduate students from Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. Graduate students from these states can still get better Metro rates that make studying across state lines more affordable.

Additional Information

Career outcomes demonstrate how well the program works. NKU’s graduate students embraced online learning, with 89.6% taking at least one virtual class during 2020-2021. Even more impressive, 78.8% completed all their coursework online. The MSW program’s graduates have achieved exceptional success, as 89% found employment within three months of completing their degree.

Social work jobs will grow 12% this decade, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects. This growth outpaces the average 8% rate across all professions. The field will add approximately 89,200 new positions between 2020 and 2030. Healthcare social workers earned a median annual wage of $60,840 as of May 2021, showing the field’s strong earning potential.

NKU’s MSW students get hands-on experience through field placements at leading organizations. These include Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, FUEL NKU, Family Nurturing Center, Department of Veteran Affairs, and Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services. These strategic collaborations are a great way to get practical training while meeting community needs.

The program celebrated a significant achievement when MSW student Elyssa Carmony won the “best presentation by a graduate student” award at NKU’s Celebration of Student Research and Creativity. Her research focused on the connections between eating disorders and borderline personality disorder.

Professional organizations like the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) help advance your career through networking and continuing education. Graduates join a community of professionals who make meaningful differences in healthcare, schools, substance abuse treatment, and gerontology.