Missouri is home to 13 MSW programs. Of the available options, 7 of them are traditional, campus-based programs, while 7 of them offer online MSW programs (either online only or hybrid options).
If you are looking for an MSW program in Missouri, check out the full school listings below, which provide the latest program highlights, tuition information, and other relevant details designed to help you compare and contrast degree options.
In this guide
- Online MSW listings
- MSW programs listings
- Online MSW programs
- How to become a social worker
- License requirements
- Social worker job and salary
- Expert advice
Online MSW programs in Missouri
Missouri Baptist University
St. Louis, MO
Credits: 60
Cost per credit: $668
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing, Multiple cohorts per year
Area of specialized practice: Advanced Generalist
Program Highlights:- Fully-online and CSWE-accredited
- Offers competitive tuition costs, full and part-time program options, and flexible courses that can be completed fully online
- Faculty are accessible, approachable and passionate about supporting the growth of their students
Missouri State University
Springfield, MOCredits: 60
Cost per credit: $331
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing
Area of specialized practice: Advanced Generalist
Program Highlights:- GRE is not required for admission
- Flexible MSW gets you ready to succeed in counseling, community planning or program management
- Based on advanced generalist practice
Park University
Parkville, MOCredits: 60
Cost per credit: $695
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing
Area of specialized practice: Children, Youth, and Families, Military Social Work, Aging and Gerontological Practice
Certification: Mental Health
Program Highlights:- Developed within the context of current and future demand for effective and efficient social work interventions in behavioral health
- Infuses and models the social work code of ethics and the six core values of the profession
- Prepares students to assume leadership roles in providing effective and efficient multilevel behavioral health interventions
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MOCredits: 48-56
Cost per credit: $1,120
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing, Multiple cohorts per year
Area of specialized practice: Clinical or Direct Practice, Community Development and Social Systems, Other
Dual Degree Option(s): Law, Pastoral Studies, Public Health, Theology or Divinity
Certification: Gerontology
Program Highlights:- Offers a manageable class load balanced with field work to prepare students for success after graduation
- Virtual sessions will be held via Zoom
- Students will be mentored by an M.S.W. field instructor and work in a social work capacity in the community
University of Missouri
Columbia, MOCredits: 60
Cost per credit: $575
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing
Area of specialized practice: Clinical or Direct Practice, Management or Administration, Social Policy
Dual Degree Option(s): Doctorate in Social Work, Public Health
Certification: Gerontology
Program Highlights:- Structured so that studentscan maintain a full-time job while taking classes toward their degree
- As a cohort based program, students take courses together each semester and develop meaningful, collegial relationships
- Instructors and advisers are accessible for assistance and mentoring using web conferencing technology
University of Missouri-St. Louis
St. Louis & Park Hills, MOCredits: 60
Cost per credit: $614 in-state | $1460 out-of-state
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing, Weekends/Evening
Area of specialized practice: Children, Youth, and Families, Social Justice, Leadership
Certification: Non-Profit Management, Other, School Social Work, Behavioral Health
Program Highlights:- A wealth of practicum sites throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area are available
- prepares social workers for local, state, and national organizations in a wide range of leadership and management positions
- Advocate for programs, clients, and constituents
MSW programs in Missouri
Missouri Western State University
St. Joseph, MOCredits: 62
Cost per credit: $425 in-state | $710 out-of-state
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Advanced Standing
Area of specialized practice: Other
Program Highlights:- Students will learn through a trauma-informed and applied-learning framework
- Classes will meet once per week with an online component
- Committed to the guiding principles of competency, diversity, equity and inclusion
Park University
Parkville, MOCredits: 60
Cost per credit: $695
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing
Area of specialized practice: Children, Youth, and Families, Military Social Work, Aging and Gerontological Practice
Certification: Mental Health
Program Highlights:- Advanced practice concentration is in Behavioral Health
- Graduates demonstrate the 9 Core Competencies of Advanced Social Work Practice set by the Council on Social Work Education upon graduation
- Three areas of emphasis: gerontological social work, military social work or social work with children and families
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MOCredits: 48-56
Cost per credit: $1,120
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing, Multiple cohorts per year
Area of specialized practice: Clinical or Direct Practice, Community Development and Social Systems, Other
Dual Degree Option(s): Law, Pastoral Studies, Public Health, Theology or Divinity
Certification: Gerontology
Program Highlights:- Offers multiple course delivery formats to assist students
- Electives may also be offered in the following formats: two intersession periods of week-long classes, online blended classes or five consecutive Saturday sessions
- Offers three concentrations:Applied Behavior Analysis, Clinical and Community and Organization
University of Missouri
Columbia, MOCredits: 60
Cost per credit: $575
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing
Area of specialized practice: Clinical or Direct Practice, Management or Administration, Social Policy
Dual Degree Option(s): Doctorate in Social Work, Public Health
Certification: Gerontology
Program Highlights:- Prepares competent, effective and ethical social work professional leaders for social change
- Emphasizes a commitment to enhancing human well-being by alleviating social problems
- Has a variety of program options, concentrations and delivery methods
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Kansas City, MOCredits: 60
Cost per credit: $488 in-state | $1225 out-of-state
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing, Weekends/Evening
Area of specialized practice: Advanced Generalist
Certification: Developmental Disabilities, Gerontology
Program Highlights:- Provides opportunities to learn in the classroom and in the field
- Research methods with practical application to agency practice
- Approaches to working with culturally diverse populations
University of Missouri-St. Louis
St. Louis & Park Hills, MOCredits: 60
Cost per credit: $614 in-state | $1460 out-of-state
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing, Weekends/Evening
Area of specialized practice: Children, Youth, and Families, Social Justice, Leadership
Certification: Non-Profit Management, Other, School Social Work, Behavioral Health
Program Highlights:- Offer additional graduate certification in areas related to Social Work
- Students can choose from 400+ practicum locations in and around the St. Louis area for practicum
- Students will move into an area of specialization after completing one year
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MOCredits: 60
Cost per credit: $1,561
Plan of Study: Full-Time, Advanced Standing
Area of specialized practice: Children, Youth, and Families, Health, Social Justice, International Social Work, Mental Health, Other, School Social Work, Aging and Gerontological Practice, Trauma, Practice with a Specific Racial or Ethnic Group
Dual Degree Option(s): Business Administration, Jewish Studies, Law, Other, Pastoral Studies, Public Health, Theology or Divinity
Certification: Trauma, Administration or Management, Domestic Violence
Program Highlights:- Led by a community of passionate individuals dedicated to creating positive change
- Offers flexibility, evidence-based approach and anti-oppression lens
- Prepares students to connect theory to practice, bolstered by real-world learning experiences and research opportunities
Online MSW programs in Missouri
For students who would prefer to complete their education online, the Missouri State School of Social Work offers an online CSWE-accredited MSW program that is completely online. The program is designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of students and is available in four different formats.
- Advanced standing full-time
- Advanced standing part-time
- Regular full-time
- Regular part-time
All of the programs place a special emphasis on economic and environmental issues, client advocacy and the eradication of racism in the community. Many students will qualify for financial aid and more information about scholarships and grants is available here.
The University of Missouri also offers a 100 percent online MSW program. Similar to other schools there is an advanced standing program that only requires the student to take 39 credit hours to obtain their MSW. The regular program requires 60 credit hours of study.
Besides Missouri this online program is also available to students living in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois. All of these states have the same tuition costs, there is no additional fee for out of state students. According to the University of Missouri the average cost for their online MSW program is $28,185.
For a complete list of online MSW programs in Missouri, as well as other programs throughout the United States, please check our online MSW degree page.
How to become a social worker in Missouri
Although Missouri allows bachelor’s degree holders to become licensed social workers, in this article we’ll focus on the steps that MSW graduates can take to enter into the field of social work.
- Graduate with a MSW degree from a CSWE certified university.
- Pay the $230 testing fee and take the ASWB exam. The exam consists of 170 questions of which only 150 are graded.
- Pass a background check.
- Master’s degree holders can then apply for a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) certification.
- At this point the LMSW license holder can perform unsupervised social work in Missouri.
- Or, a social worker with the LMSW license has the option to perform 3,000 hours of supervised clinical social work. Upon completing those hours they may apply for a Licensed Clinical Social Worker license. Once this is granted the LCSW license holder can practice unsupervised, clinical social work.
Missouri is unique in that social workers with a MSW degree can begin working unsupervised immediately after graduation. That’s different from other states, many of which require a social worker to accrue 3,000 hours of supervised experience before they can work unsupervised.
While a social worker with a MSW degree will have a lot of flexibility in the work that they do, there are certain tasks which require a PhD. For instance, managing a community center or performing statistical analysis. Social workers interested in this kind of work should consider a doctorate degree. More information on a PhD in social work can be found on our doctorate degree page. Also listed are some of the most popular PhD social work programs available in the United States.
Social work license requirements in Missouri
The official state licensing board website is the best place to find out more information about social work licensure in Missouri. That being said, we can also provide a summary of the four types of licenses available to social workers in Missouri.
Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW)
Of the four licenses the LBSW is the only one available to bachelor’s degree holders. LBSW license holders can perform a wide variety of social work activities, however, many tasks will need to be supervised. After the license holder has accumulated enough supervised hours they may request to have their license upgraded so that they can work without supervision.
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
This is the first license that a MSW graduate will apply for. The LMSW permits the license holder to practice unsupervised social work. The LMSW license holder may also practice clinical social work but only under supervision.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
A LMSW license holder may apply for the LCSW license after they have completed 3,000 hours of supervised social work. With a LCSW license a social worker can perform clinical social work without supervision. In order to qualify for a LCSW license a social worker must already have a LMSW license.
Licensed Advanced Macro Social Worker (LAMSW)
LAMSW license holders can engage in policy development and community organization. To apply for this license a social worker should already have a LMSW license and a certain number of supervised, macro social work hours.
License renewal in Missouri
A social work license must be renewed once every two years in Missouri. Before they can renew their license the social worker should complete 30 hours of ongoing education in topics like ethics and suicide prevention. More information about the ongoing education requirement is available here.
Social worker jobs and salary in Missouri
In total there are currently 16,900 social workers employed in Missouri. Thanks to data provided by the BLS we can break down these employment figures to show the type of job and total number of social workers in that field.
According to the BLS the average salary for a social worker in the state of Missouri is $42,728.
There is a salary range of $41,070 for child, family and school social workers to $51,340 for social workers in all other fields. Below is a breakdown of the type of social work and the average salary in Missouri.
- Child, family, and school social worker: This category is the most numerous with 7,200 social workers employed. The average salary for this group is $41,070.
- Mental health and substance abuse social worker: There are 1,960 mental health and substance abuse social workers in Missouri, with an average salary of $41,050
- Healthcare social worker: Also a group of social workers that has a high level of employment in the state, 1,710 healthcare social workers in Missouri, make an average of $43,210.
- Social worker all other: There are 1,170 social workers in this category, which includes the kinds of social work that doesn’t neatly fit into other categories, such as researchers, administrators, and social workers in private practice. This group makes an average salary of $50,870.
Career Advice
Find the latest social work career advice from people working directly in the field in Missouri. Learn more about all the different pathways and opportunities available in social work today.
- What are the most important factors for students deciding on an MSW program in Missouri?
- What are the challenges or opportunities for becoming a social worker in Missouri?
- What does the future of social work look like in Missouri?
- What types of jobs are MSW graduates finding in Missouri?
- Do you have advice or guidance for MSW graduates pursuing a license in Missouri?