10 Best MSW Programs in California Ranked For 2024

Looking to start or advance your career as a social worker in The Golden State? Then these rankings of the best MSW programs in California is the perfect place to start!

Impressively, nine of the top ten MSW programs in this state achieved a 100% pass rate on the ASWB Master’s Exam. Since you’ll need to pass this exam to become a Licensed Master of Social Work, this metric is key to determining how well a program prepares you for social work practice.

However, the state is home to about 30 different Masters in Social Work degree programs, so finding the right one for you may seem a little daunting.

That’s why, in this article, we’ve put together a list of the top MSW programs in California to make your search a little easier. Better yet, we used official and objective data to rank each school.

So, keep reading to discover the best California MSW programs, as well the distinctive features of each one.

Table of Contents

• What Is The Best MSW Program In California?
• 10 Best MSW Programs In California Ranked
• Is An MSW Program In California Right For You?
• California MSW Programs FAQs

What Is The Best MSW Program In California?

University of California at Berkeley offers the best MSW program in California. Not only did graduates from this school attain a 100% pass rate on the ASWB Master’s Exam, they also achieved an impressive 90.5% pass rate on the Clinical Exam.

However, just because this school placed number one in our rankings doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right choice for you.

For example, Berkeley’s program offers only one track of study. For students interested in part-time or online options, this school won’t make the right fit.

However, there are plenty of other options to choose from with more flexible ways to earn your degree. Additionally, you may want to explore other options depending on your budget, desired location, preferred specialization, or other factors.

So, to explore some of the other best MSW programs in California, keep reading!

10 Best MSW Programs In California Ranked

To rank the top MSW programs in California, we used official exam pass rate data from the Association of Social Work Boards.

First, we ranked each school based on their pass rate on the Master’s exam. Then, since so many schools achieved a 100% pass rate, we broke the tie by ranking them based on Clinical Exam pass rate.

Since these exams are required for advanced licensure, like LMSW and LCSW, the pass rates are a good indicator of how well each school prepares its graduates for social work practice.

Finally, the table below provides Master’s and Clinical exam pass rate data for every school with graduates taking the test in 2022.

School	Masters Exam Pass Rate	Clinical Exam Pass Rate
1. University of California – Berkeley	100%	90.5%
2. San Diego State University	100%	83.5%
3. California State University – Fullerton	100%	81.2%
4. Cal Poly Humboldt	100%	75.0%
5. San Francisco State University	100%	52.9%
6. San Jose State University	100%	51.6%
7. California State University – Monterey Bay	100%	50.0%
8. California State University – Los Angeles	100%	47.2%
9. Azusa Pacific University	100%	40.5%
10. California State University – Long Beach	88.9%	51.9%
11. California State University – San Marcos	83.3%	80.0%
12. California State University – Stanislaus	75.0%	44.8%
13. Loma Linda University	66.7%	57.4%
14. Fresno State University	66.7%	31.0%
15. California State University – Sacramento	62.5%	55.0%
16. California State University – San Bernardino	60.0%	51.6%
17. University of California – Los Angeles	55.6%	76.9%
18. University of Southern California	54.2%	54.3%
19. California Baptist University	50.0%	83.3%
20. California State University – Chico	50.0%	64.6%
21. California State University – Northridge	46.2%	52.7%
22. California State University – East Bay	42.9%	42.1%
23. Northcentral University	42.9%	0.0%
24. California State University – Dominguez Hills	40.0%	37.8%
25. University of Massachusetts Global	34.8%	0.0%
26. California State University – Bakersfield	14.3%	54.9%
27. Whittier College	N/A	100%

1. University of California (Berkeley)

The University of California at Berkeley Master of Social Welfare MSW program is a two-year, full-time, on-campus degree. It’s worth noting that there are no part-time, advanced standing, or online options with this school.

Not only does it rank as our best MSW program in California, but it consistently ranks as one of the top programs in the country. This isn’t too surprising given its impressive 100% ASWB Master’s Exam and 90.5% ASWB Clinical Exam pass rates.

There are three areas of specialized practice you can opt to study, including:

• Advancing Health and Wellbeing Across the Adult Life Span
• Strengthening Children, Youth and Families
• Strengthening Organizations in Communities

This MSW program has been accredited by Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since 1928, giving the school a robust and well-established history.

In order to earn your degree, you’ll need to complete the following requirements:

• Generalist Practice Courses
• Advanced and Elective Coursework
• Social Work Practicum (includes two distinct practicum internships and concurrent practicum integration seminars)
• Social Research Methods Coursework

Finally, in order to qualify as a candidate for the program, you must satisfy all of these admission requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree conferred prior to the beginning of classes
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 in all coursework after the first two years of undergraduate study
• Significant academic preparation through coursework related to social work, including liberal arts and humanities, as well as behavioral or social sciences
• Completion of a college-level statistics course with a C- grade or better
• One full year (2,100 hours) of employment or volunteer experience related to social welfare or human services, or a position requiring skills relevant to work with underserved or marginalized populations

Finally, we should note that the program is highly-competitive. In fact, the UC Berkeley MSW program’s acceptance rate is only 31%. 

In-State Tuition	Out-of-State Tuition	Acceptance Rate	ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate	ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate
$6,132 per semester	$12,254 per semester	31%	100%	90.5%

2. San Diego State University

Ranking second in our list of the top MSW programs in California is San Diego State University. Graduates at this school also achieved a 100% pass rate on the ASWB Masters Exam. 

While SDSU was just edged out by UC Berkeley when it comes to the ASWB Clinical Exam, the school still boasts an impressive 83.5% pass rate.

It also offers more flexibility in its MSW degree options, including one, two, three, and four year plans. The one-year program is for Advanced Standing students.

Additionally, San Diego State University offers two dual degrees: Master in Social Work/Master in Public Health Degree (MSW/MPH), and Master in Social Work/Juris Doctor Degree (MSW/JD).

There are four different MSW specialization pathways you can pursue:

• Administration and Community Development Advanced Specialization
• Administration Specialization
• Community Development Specialization
• Direct Practice/Clinical Advanced Specialization

Additionally, if you’re interested in a particular practice area, faculty members will make course recommendations as you progress through the program. These areas of practice include school social work, mental health, child welfare, and more.

 To enter the program, you must meet all of the following admission requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree with a liberal arts foundation; Advanced Standing applicants must have an undergraduate degree in social work within five years of admission
• Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 units of study, but no less than an overall 2.85 GPA
• Completion of application, including a personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume, and more
• Complete a minimum of 500 hours of paid or volunteer work with diverse, vulnerable populations
• Pass a college-level statistics course with a C or better

Like UC Berkeley, this program is also extremely competitive, admitting just 100 of 415, or 22%, of applicants each fall.

In-State Tuition	Out-of-State Tuition	Acceptance Rate	ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate	ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate
$3,804 per semester	Adds $420 per unit to resident tuition, plus $1,000 per semester campus fee	22%	100%	83.5%

3. California State University (Fullerton)

The third-best California MSW program is California State University at Fullerton. This school also boasts an impressive 100% ASWB Master Exam pass rate of 100%, and a Clinical Exam pass rate of 81.2%. 

Of the five graduates taking the Master’s Exam, all five passed. Meanwhile, of the 96 graduates taking the Clinical Exam, 78 of them passed

Cal State Fullerton offers a two-year MSW and three-year flex MSW program. The two-year track consists of 15 coursework units each semester for four semesters. Meanwhile, the three-year flex program consists of nine units of coursework each semester for six semesters, plus one summer course.

Additionally, you can choose from one of three focus areas, which include:

• Child Welfare
• Community Mental Health
• Aging (only available as a two-year track program)

However, we should note that this school doesn’t offer an Advanced Standing track for BSWs.

To gain entry into this MSW program, you must meet the following admission requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree with an educational foundation in Liberal Arts/Social Sciences
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 in your last 60 semester units of coursework
• Three letters of recommendation
• Paid, volunteer, or internship experience relevant to social welfare
• Write a personal statement
• Undergo an interview with the admissions committee

Some of the things that help this school stand out from the others include:

• Over 1,000 graduates are employed in Southern California
• More than130 field agency partnerships
• 45% of students receive stipends

Finally, according to Petersons, the acceptance rate for the MSW program California State at Fullerton is 23%. Of the 571 people who applied, only 129 were accepted, and 84 enrolled. This makes admission to this program highly competitive.

In-State Tuition	Out-of-State Tuition	Acceptance Rate	ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate	ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate
$3,804 per semester (two-year program); $525 per unit (Flex program)	Adds $420 per semester unit to the resident tuition	23%	100%	81.2%

4. Cal Poly Humboldt

Like the top three schools in our rankings of the best MSW programs in California, Cal Poly Humboldt also had a 100% pass rate on the ASWB Master’s Exam. However, graduates scored just slightly worse on the Clinical Exam with a 75.0% pass rate.

All three graduates who took the Master Exam passed, while 33 of the 44 students who took the Clinical Exam passed.

Cal Poly Humboldt offers multiple tracks through which you can earn your MSW degree, including:

• Two-year, full-time, on-campus track
• One-year, full-time, on-campus Advanced Standing track for students who hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work
• Two-year, part-time, online Advanced Standing track for students who hold a BSW
• 3.5-year, part-time, online track

We should note that the school makes no mention of specializations like Child Welfare, School Social Work, etc. 

However, they do state that the program places an emphasis on “working with Indigenous and rural communities.” Additionally, the coursework is “designed to decolonize mainstream social work practice.”

To earn your MSW degree from this program, you’ll need to meet the following admission requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, or 3.5 for the Advanced Standing tracks
• Completion of a course in Native American Studies with a grade of C or better. The course must provide at least “a general introduction to the history and culture of Native peoples of North America…” It must also cover “the unique and sovereign relationship between tribal nations and local, state and federal governments.”
• For Advanced Standing tracks, you must also earn a B grade or better in all social work courses. You must also have earned your degree within five years prior to admission. 

Finally, Cal Poly Humboldt has a relatively high acceptance rate compared to the top three MSW programs in California. According to Petersons, the program’s acceptance rate is 61%, with 77 applicants, of which 47 were accepted and 36 enrolled.

In-State Tuition	Out-of-State Tuition	Acceptance Rate	ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate	ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate
$3,588 per semester (on-campus tracks); $510 per semester unit (online tracks)	Adds $396 per semester unit to the resident tuition	61%	100%	75.0%

5. San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University ranks as the fifth best MSW program in California, where the ASWB Master’s Exam pass rate was 100%. While only two graduates took the test in 2022, both of them passed.

Meanwhile, graduates from this program had a 52.9% pass for the Clinical Exam, with 27 out of 51 passing.

SFSU boasts a robust history in social work education, offering an MSW program since 1966, and gaining CSWE accreditation 1967.

Currently, the only format available is a full-time, two-year course of study. While the school does have a BSW program, there is no Advanced Standing track for MSW students. Additionally, there is no mention of any particular specializations on their website.

However, the school does claim to emphasize social work practice with individuals, families, and groups grounded in a biopsychosocial approach to direct service. It focuses on the promotion of individual strengths, as opposed to deficits or pathology. 

Graduates are prepared as multi-role practitioners, and can take on a number of roles including:

• Caseworker
• Case manager
• Leader
• Facilitator
• Broker
• Advocate
• Counselor
• Educator
• Resource specialist

To gain entry into San Francisco State University’s MSW program, you need to meet the following admission requirements:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree (BSW graduates may have certain courses waived, but must replace redundant courses with additional electives
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester units of undergraduate study
• Paid employment or volunteer work related to social services is preferred, but not strictly required

Unfortunately, we were not able to find recent data regarding the acceptance rate of the MSW program at SFSU. While one study found it had the lowest acceptance rates in California at one point at just 17.4%, this study was conducted all the way back in 2009.

In-State Tuition	Out-of-State Tuition	Acceptance Rate	ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate	ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate
$3,588 per semester	Adds $396 per semester unit to the resident tuition	N/A	100%	52.9%

6. San Jose State University

Number six in our rankings of the best California MSW programs is San Jose State University, which also achieved a 100% ASWB Masters Exam pass rate. All seven graduates who took the test passed.

Meanwhile, 98 of the 190 graduates who took the Clinical Exam passed, giving the school a pass rate of 51.6%, just behind SFSU.

SJSU offers four different tracks for earning your MSW degree, including:

• Full-time, Two-year, on-campus track
• Three-year, on-campus track (foundation year is completed part-time over two years, while the third year is equivalent to the final year of the two-year track)
• One-year, Advanced Standing track (available both on-campus and online, and skips the first full year of foundation courses required in the two-year track)
• Online/Hybrid track (available as a two-year track, or one-year track for Advanced Standing students; academic courses are completed online, while the field internship experience is completed in person)

The program provides an advanced generalist focus, meaning there are no specific specializations available. However, it emphasizes providing social services to “Latinos, other minority groups, and those communities, groups, families, and individuals who are disenfranchised, oppressed, and/or marginalized.”

In order to gain admission into San Jose State University’s MSW program, you must meet the following prerequisites:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in any field with a Liberal Arts foundation. For the Advanced Standing track, you must have earned your BSW in the past seven years.
• Achieve a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.50. For the Advanced Standing Track, you must achieve a minimum 3.50 GPA and A- grade or better in all social work major courses.
• “Significant volunteer, internship, and/or paid work experience with groups such as Latinos, African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and other marginalized, oppressed, or disadvantaged groups” is preferred. For the Advanced Standing track, you must complete at least 400 hours of social work related experiences in addition to BSW internship requirements

In-State Tuition	Out-of-State Tuition	Acceptance Rate	ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate	ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate
$3,588 per semester (full-time, on-campus); $600 per unit (online/hybrid)	Adds $396 per semester unit to the resident tuition	N/A	100%	51.6%

7. California State University (Monterey Bay)

The seventh top MSW program in California is California State University at Monterey Bay. While only one graduate from this school took the ASWB Masters Exam, they passed, giving them a 100% pass rate.

Meanwhile, 23 of 46 graduates taking the Clinical Exam passed, giving Cal State at Monterey Bay a 50.0% pass rate.

There are five different pathways you pursue through this school’s MSW program, including:

• Two-Year
• Three-Year
• Title IV-E Three-Year
• PPSC Two-Year
• PPSC Three-Year

While the first two tracks prepare you for generalist practice, the Title IV-E track prepares you to deliver public child welfare services. 

Additionally, the PPSC, or Pupil Personnel Services Credential, qualifies you to work as a school social worker. This credential is often a prerequisite to work in school systems as a social worker in some states, including California. 

We should also note that the two-year pathways typically require you to take five courses a semester. Meanwhile, the three-year pathways generally require you to take about three courses per semester.

To earn your degree, you’ll also need to complete a minimum or 960 clinical hours in a variety of settings under the mentorship of a qualified MSW.

Admission requirements to California State University at Monterey Bay’s MSW program include:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree
• Attain a GPA of 2.75 or higher in the last 60 semester units of undergraduate study. If your GPA is between 2.50 and 2.74, you’ll be considered for “Conditional Acceptance”, in which case you’ll have to attain a 3.0 GPA or higher during your first semester of the MSW program
• Three letters of recommendation
• Minimum of two years, or approximately 2,000 hours of experience related to social work

Finally, we could not find any data regarding the acceptance rate for the MSW program at this school.

In-State Tuition	Out-of-State Tuition	Acceptance Rate	ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate	ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate
$3,588 per semester	Adds $396 per semester unit to the resident tuition	N/A	100%	50.0%

8. California State University (Los Angeles)

Number eight in our rankings of the best MSW programs in California is California State University at Los Angeles. Like the programs ranking higher, this school also attained a 100% pass rate on the Masters ASWB Exam, with all seven who took the test passing.

Meanwhile, the university scored slightly worse than Monterey Bay on the Clinical Exam with a 47.2% pass rate. Overall, 91 of the 193 graduates taking the test passed.

The school has been accredited by the CSWE since 1999, and they offer three different tracks to earn your Masters in Social Work degree:

• 11-Month, Full-Time Advanced Standing (MSW-ASP) Track
• Two-Year, Full-Time MSW Track
• Three-Year MSW Track

While you may be able to continue working while enrolled in the three-year pathway, the school notes that it may not be possible once you begin your internship. Additionally, while the Advanced Standing track requires summer classes, the other two pathways do not.

The admission requirements for the MSW program at California State University in Los Angeles include:

• Bachelor’s degree with a liberal arts background
• For two- and three-year tracks, a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the last 60 semester unit of undergraduate study. For the Advanced Standing track, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Earn a C grade or higher in one course in “Research Methods and Statistics”, as well as 6 semester units of upper division social science courses
• Letter of good academic standing if you were previously enrolled in an MSW program
• Personal statement
• Resume
• Three references

According to Peterson’s, the acceptance rate for this MSW program is 38%. Of the 589 who applied to Cal State LA, 223 were accepted and 120 enrolled.

In-State Tuition	Out-of-State Tuition	Acceptance Rate	ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate	ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate
$4,342 per semester	Adds $420 per semester unit to the resident tuition	38%	100%	47.2%

9. Azusa Pacific University

Next on our list of the top MSW programs in California is Azusa Pacific University, which is the last school to achieve a 100% pass rate on the ASWB Masters Exam. Of the seven graduates who took the exam, all seven of them passed.

Meanwhile, of the 84 graduates who took the Clinical Exam, 34 of them passed, giving this university a 40.5% pass rate.

Azusa Pacific offers multiple tracks to earn your degree, including:

• One-Year Advanced Standing Track: Six weeks of bridge courses during summer, join second-year students for last two semester, and 20 hours of supervised practicum each week
• Two-Year Advanced Standing Track: Same as one-year track, but with a lighter course load to accommodate for employment while studying
• Two-Year Track: daytime classes twice per week, and approximately 16 hours of supervised practicum each week
• Three-Year Track: Tuesday evening classes every week, Saturday intensive courses three to five times a semester, and 16 to 20 supervised practicum hours each week

Additionally, you can choose to specialize in Clinical Practice with Individuals and Families or Community Leadership and Program Administration.

To gain admission to this MSW program, you must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a bachelor’s degree
• Attain a minimum 3.0 GPA. If your GPA is between 2.50 and 2.99, they may grant you provisional acceptance, but you must earn a B- or higher in each course for the first 12 units to remain in the program. For Advanced Standing tracks, you must also attain a B grade or better in all undergraduate social work courses.
• Completion of a statistics course with a C grade or better
• Two letters of recommendation
• Submit personal statement and resume

Unfortunately, we could not find any data regarding the acceptance rate for the MSW program at Azusa Pacific University.

In-State Tuition	Out-of-State Tuition	Acceptance Rate	ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate	ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate
$795 per unit (Advanced Standing requires 36-42 units, while other tracks require 60-66 units)	N/A (private university)	N/A	100%	40.5%

10. California State University (Long Beach)

The last school in our rankings of the top ten California MSW programs is California State University at Long Beach. Of the nine students who took the ASWB Master Exam, eight of them passed, giving this school an 88.9% pass rate.

Meanwhile, graduates achieved a 51.9% pass rate on the Clinical Exam, with 191 out of 368 passing the test.

This school provides four different tracks for earning your MSW degree, including:

• One-Year Advanced Standing Track: Involves an intensive Summer Bridge Program, 30 units of daytime coursework on Mondays and Fridays for two semesters, and a 660-hour field internship
• Two-Year Track: Involves 60 units of daytime coursework for four semesters on Mondays and Fridays and two 500 hour fieldwork placements
• Three-Year Track: Involves 60 units of coursework for eight semesters on Monday evenings, Wednesday evenings, and Saturday afternoons. You must also complete two 500 hour fieldwork placements during your second and third years in the program
• Three-Year Distance Education Track: Only available for the Child and Family Wellbeing specialization, you attend in-person courses on Saturdays and complete field placements during your second and third years. Face-to-face instruction is supplemented with interactive television and web-based instructional support. They offer this track at two sites, Santa Rosa Junior College and Ventura County Community College

Additionally, you can choose to pursue one of the following three specializations:

• Child and Family Wellbeing
• Adulthood and Aging
• Integrated Health

To gain entry into this MSW program, you must meet the following admission requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for Advanced Standing track. Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher for other tracks
• Completion of elementary statistics course with a grade of C or better
• Three letters of recommendation
• Submission of personal statement and resume

Unfortunately, we could not find any information regarding the acceptance rate for the MSW program at California State University Long Beach.

In-State Tuition	Out-of-State Tuition	Acceptance Rate	ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate	ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate
$12,672 total tuition (Advanced Standing); $16,844 (Two-Year); $27,110 (Three-Year); $28,500 (Distance)	Adds $396 per semester unit to the resident tuition	N/A	88.9%	51.9%

Is An MSW Program In California Right For You?

There are a myriad of MSW programs in California catering to different interests, specializations, budgets, schedules, and more. Furthermore, all of the schools in this article provide a solid educational foundation for your practice as a social worker.

Whether you’re drawn to the prestige of UC Berkeley, the flexibility of San Diego State University, or the unique focus of Cal Poly Humboldt, the state offers a range of MSW programs.

Of course, if you didn’t quite find a program that piqued your interest in this list, you may want to consider online options. They offer lots of flexibility and are often more affordable than traditional, on-campus options.

To explore more degree options, fill out this form and we’ll help you get started!

California MSW Programs FAQs

What Is The Acceptance Rate For MSW Programs In California?

Based on the top ten schools, the average acceptance rate for MSW programs in California is 35%. However, we could not find robust data regarding these rates.

For example, in our rankings of the best MSW programs in California above, we could only find acceptance rate data for five of them.

While the most competitive school we saw was San Diego State University at 22%, the least competitive we saw was Cal Poly Humboldt at 61%. 

How Long Does It Take To Get A Masters In Social Work In California?

Getting your Masters In Social Work in California can take anywhere from one to three years.

To earn your MSW degree in one year, you’ll need to enter an Advanced Standing program. This will require that you already obtained a Bachelor in Social Work degree and meet more stringent academic requirements.

Meanwhile, those with a bachelor’s degree who did not major in social work will take two to three years to complete their program. However, they’ll also generally be subject to slightly less stringent academic and minimum GPA requirements.

What is the acceptance rate for MSW at UCLA?

The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs’ MSW program acceptance rate is around 20% to 25%. The university admits about 100 students each year.

What is the acceptance rate for MSW at UC Berkeley?

The acceptance rate for the MSW program at UC Berkeley is 31%.

What GPA do you need for UC Berkeley MSW?

A minimum GPA of 3.0, equivalent to an average of B or better, is required after the first two years of your undergraduate study.

What is the acceptance rate for MSW at SFSU?

We were unable to find any recent data regarding the MSW acceptance rate at SFSU.

However, many years ago it had one of the lowest acceptance rates in California. In fact, the acceptance rate was only about 17.4% according to one study. 

It’s important to note that this study was conducted in 2009 though, so things may have changed dramatically in the last 15 years.

What GPA do you need for USC Social Work Masters?

The minimum cumulative GPA required for the USC Social Work Masters degree is a 3.0. Additionally, Advanced Standing applicants must attain a 3.0 GPA in all undergraduate social work courses.