MSW Online

  • Programs By State
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Washington DC
    • Wisconsin
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Online Programs
    • Online Bachelor’s in Social Work
    • Online Master’s in Social Work
    • Online PhD/DSW in Social Work
    • Advanced standing online MSW programs
    • Accelerated online MSW
  • Degrees
    • Master’s in Social Work
    • Associate in social work
    • Bachelor’s in Social Work
    • Clinical MSW
    • Accelerated Bachelor’s
    • PhD/DSW in Social Work
    • MSW in international social work
    • MSW in forensic social work
    • Marriage and family therapist (MFT) master’s degree
    • Master’s in counseling
    • Master’s in mental health counseling
    • MSW and MBA dual degree
    • MSW and MPH dual degree
    • MSW and law dual degree
    • MSW and MPA dual degree
    • MSW and theology dual degree
    • MSW and education dual degree
  • Experts
  • Social work certifications
  • Careers
    • School Social Worker
    • Medical Social Worker
    • Child Social Worker
    • Behavioral Therapist
    • Military Social Worker
    • Forensic Social Worker
    • Hospice Social Worker
    • Psychiatric Social Worker
    • Chemical Dependency Counselor
    • Community Social Worker
    • Research Social Worker
    • Public Policy Social Worker
    • Pediatric Social Worker
    • Mental Health Social Worker
    • Substance Abuse Social Worker
    • Geriatric Social Worker
    • Private Practice Social Worker
    • Marriage and Family Therapist
    • Immigration Social Worker
    • International Social Worker
  • Resource Center
    • How to Become a Social Worker
    • Job Guide
    • Internship Guide
    • Salary Guide
    • LCSW Guide
    • Cyberbullying Guide
    • COVID-19 Guide
    • Student Mental Health Guide
    • Scholarship Guide
    • Mental Health Resources
    • CSWE Accreditation
    • Social Work Ethics
    • MSW vs MSSW degrees
    • Women in Leadership
    • Continuing Education Guide
    • Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Guide
    • Guide to Online Counseling
    • Guide to Field Experience
    • Social Work and Climate Change
    • Social Work vs Psychology
    • Dual-Degree Programs
    • MSW Specializations
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • MSW Admission Requirements
    • Bilingual Social Work
    • Levels of Licensing
    • Mental Health and Homelessness
    • LGBTQIAP Support
    • Food Insecurity Issues
    • Social Work and Healthcare Costs
  • Experts
  • Certifications
    • Case Management
    • Child Welfare
    • School Social Work
    • Forensic Social Work

MSW programs in Ohio

Written by MSW Online Contributors – Last updated: January 24, 2023

This guide presents a comprehensive overview of the social work profession in Ohio. The guide contains information about master of social work (MSW) programs in Ohio. It also contains information about social work licensing requirements in the state. 

CONTENTS OF THIS GUIDE

  • Social Work in Ohio
  • MSW programs
  • Online MSW programs
  • How to become a social worker
  • License requirements
  • Social worker jobs and salary
  • School Listings
  • Expert Advice

Social work in Ohio

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) there are currently 28,310 social workers employed in Ohio. That number is likely to grow in the coming years for one reason in particular: Ohio has been one of the states hit hardest by the opioid epidemic. 

Ad
mastersinsocialworkonline.org is an advertising-supported site. Clicking in this box will show you programs related to your search from schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other information published on this site.
Featured Online MSW Programs

School NameProgram More Info
Case Western Reserve UniversityEarn a CSWE-Accredited MSW Online website
University of KentuckyCSWE Accredited Online MSW Program website
University of Southern California (USC)Accredited Online MSW Program from USC website
Baylor UniversityBaylor's Online MSW—Now Accepting Applications website
Fordham UniversityOnline MSW from Top-Ranked Fordham website

In 2015, Ohio had the highest deadly opioid overdose rate in all of the United States. By 2018, state and local leaders had managed to address the problem to some degree such that Ohio fell to the fourth-highest overdose rate in America. 

Nonetheless, opioid abuse in Ohio is a serious public health concern. Solving the problem will require more social workers than police officers. Incarcerating a drug addict does little to solve the problem, whereas a social worker can create rehabilitation strategies for a patient as well as connect them with resources in the community. More broadly, a social worker can provide the support a recovering addict needs to stay clean. 

For social workers in Ohio who are looking for professional guidance, support, or networking opportunities there is the Ohio chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. 

MSW programs in Ohio

As mentioned in the introduction, most social work positions in Ohio require a master’s degree. As a result of that requirement, there are many Masters of Social Work (MSW) programs available in the state. 

One of the most important considerations when judging an MSW program is that it has a Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation. A CSWE accreditation proves that an MSW program conforms to accepted standards within the social work field. While social work employers all across the United States prefer to hire graduates from a CSWE program, in Ohio, it’s mandatory to graduate from an CSWE approved institution in order to work in the state. 

Currently, there are about a dozen MSW programs available in Ohio. One of the most popular is the MSW program at Ohio State University. An accelerated program (the ASAP program) is available to anyone who has a bachelor’s in social work while there is a standard duration learning path for students with a bachelor’s degree in another field. 

Cleveland State University offers another popular MSW program. According to CSU’s website their program, “provides a rigorous intellectual base, an opportunity for effective skill development, and an educational perspective that views human diversity as desirable and enriching to society.”

Online MSW programs in Ohio

It’s important to point out that there are two different types of online MSW programs. A hybrid program includes both online lessons as well as campus-based instruction. There are also complete online programs where 100 percent of the teaching happens over the internet. 

Ohio University’s college of health sciences and professions offers an online MSW program that can be completed in two years. The program is taught fully online and does not require a GRE or GMAT test for admittance. 

There’s also the 100 percent online-based MSW program from Ohio State University. The program prepares students to work in a variety of fields such as substance abuse, child services, and mental health. Since students can view the classes at any time this program is convenient for anyone who would like to work part-time while they’re studying.

How to become a social worker in Ohio

The following steps are necessary in order to become a social worker in Ohio. 

  1. Obtain either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work. The degree must come from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited university.
  2. An applicant with a bachelor’s degree can apply for a SWA license. The SWA will allow the license holder to work under the supervision of another social worker.
  3. Those who graduate from a MSW program can obtain a LISW license. This is a higher level of licensure and will allow the license holder to perform unsupervised social work, including handling a caseload and running group sessions.
  4. Having both a degree and a license, a social worker can begin applying for jobs in Ohio. 

Graduates with a PhD will find themselves eligible to work at the highest levels of the social work field. Typically this will involve managing other social workers, writing public policy, and doing detailed statistical analysis. 

More information on studying for a PhD is available on our doctorate degree page, as well as a list of PhD social work programs that are available in the USA. 

Social work license requirements in Ohio

To be employed as a social worker in Ohio you must have a license. While there are four different types of licenses we’ll only cover three in this guide, as these are the most common. For more information on social work license requirements in Ohio please see the Counselor and Social Worker Board’s website for Ohio. 

  • Registered Social Work Assistant – SWA license holders are only permitted to work under the supervision of another psychologist, social worker, or psychiatrist. While being supervised they may perform any of the jobs that a normal social worker does.
  • Licensed Social Worker – LSW license holders can practice under the supervision of another social worker. This license is available to anyone with a bachelor’s degree or higher in social work. 
  • Licensed Independent Social Worker – The LISW license requires the applicant to have completed an MSW program from a CSWE-accredited institution. LISW license holders can practice social work unsupervised. 

Social worker salary in Ohio

Currently, there are 28,310 social workers employed in Ohio. These social workers are employed in a variety of positions. 

The average salary for a social worker in Ohio is $50,006. This salary is very close to the national median salary in America, although one benefit of social work is that the benefits package tends to be comprehensive. 

Thanks to BLS data we can break down social worker salaries in Ohio into four categories. Mental health and substance abuse social workers have the lowest average annual salary at $46,950 while healthcare social workers have the highest average salary at $55,760 per year. 

  • Child, family, and school social workers are the most numerous kind of social workers in Ohio. There are 11,560 child, family, and school social workers working with families to ensure that all of a child’s needs are being met and that they’re growing up in a healthy, safe environment. The average annual salary for this group is $47,260.
  • Healthcare social workers number 7,230 in Ohio. These social workers engage with sick patients at the hospital or make house calls to provide any medical assistance that is needed. The average annual salary for healthcare social workers in Ohio is $55,760.
  • Mental health and substance abuse social workers make up about 6,650 members of the workforce. Social workers in this field interact with addicts and their families to build comprehensive rehabilitation strategies to help the addict stay clean. The average annual salary for this group is $46,950.
  • All other social workers is a catchall term for social workers that do not neatly fit into one of the other categories. The total employment for this group is 2,870 and may include social workers employed in the court system as forensic social workers or even in a corporate setting, typically in the human resources department. The average annual salary reported for this group is $53,560.

Social work programs in Ohio

In this Section:
BSW programs
Online BSW programs
MSW programs
Online MSW programs
Ph.D programs

Career Advice

Find the latest social work career advice from people working directly in the field in Ohio. Learn more about all the different pathways and opportunities available in social work today.

  1. What are the most important factors for students deciding on an MSW program in Ohio?
  2. What are the challenges or opportunities for becoming a social worker in Ohio?
  3. What does the future of social work look like in Ohio?
  4. What types of jobs are MSW graduates finding in Ohio?
  5. Do you have advice or guidance for MSW graduates pursuing a license in Ohio?


SOCIAL WORK Bachelor’s PROGRAMS IN Ohio

School City Program Website
Ashland University Ashland Bachelor of Social Work
Aultman College Canton Bachelor of Social Work
Bluffton University Bluffton Bachelors of Arts in Social Work
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Capital University Columbus Bachelor of Social Work
Cedarville University Cedarville Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Central State University Wilberforce Social Work
Cleveland State University Cleveland Bachelor of Social Work
Defiance College Defiance Social Work Major
Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville Social Work Major
Lourdes University Sylvania Social Work (BA)
Malone University Canton Social Work Major
Miami University Oxford Bachelor of Social Work
Mount St. Joseph University Cincinnati Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work
Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work
Ohio Dominican University Columbus Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
Ohio State University, The Columbus Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Ohio University Athens Social Work Major (B.S.W.)
Union Institute & University Cincinnati Baccalaureate Social Work
University of Akron Akron Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Bachelor of Social Work
University of Findlay Findlay Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande Bachelor of Social Work
University of Toledo Toledo Bachelor of Social Work
Ursuline College Pepper Pike Bachelor’s in Social Work
Wright State University Dayton Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
Xavier University Cincinnati Bachelor of Social Work
Youngstown State University Youngstown Bachelor of Social Work in Social Work

SOCIAL WORK Online Bachelor’s PROGRAMS IN Ohio

School City Program Website
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Cleveland State University Cleveland Bachelor of Social Work
Lourdes University Sylvania Social Work (BA)
Malone University Canton Online Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Bachelor of Social Work: Online

SOCIAL WORK Master’s PROGRAMS IN Ohio

School City Program Website
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Master of Social Work
Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Master’s in Social Work
Cleveland State University Cleveland Master of Social Work
Miami University Oxford Master of Arts in Social Work
Ohio State University Columbus MSW
Ohio University Athens MSW Program
University of Akron Akron Master of Social Work
University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Master of Social Work
University of Toledo Toledo Masters of Social Work
Wright State University-Main Campus Dayton Master of Arts in Social Work
Youngstown State University Youngstown Master of Social Work

SOCIAL WORK Online Master’s PROGRAMS IN Ohio

School City Program Website
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Master of Social Work
Case Western Reserve College Cleveland Online Social Work Master’s Degree
Greater Miami Valley MASW Collaborative (Miami University and Wright State University) Dayton Master of Arts in Social Work
Ohio State University Columbus MSW
Ohio University Athens Online Master of Social Work
Wright State University Dayton Master of Arts in Social Work
Youngstown State University Youngstown Master of Social Work

SOCIAL WORK Ph.D PROGRAMS IN Ohio

School City Program Website
Case Western Reserve University Cleveland PhD in Social Welfare
Ohio State University Columbus Doctoral Program in Social Work

Primary Sidebar

  • Careers
    • School Social Worker
    • Medical Social Worker
    • Child Social Worker
    • Behavioral Therapist
    • Military Social Worker
    • Forensic Social Worker
    • Hospice Social Worker
    • Psychiatric Social Worker
    • Chemical Dependency Counselor
    • Community Social Worker
    • Research Social Worker
    • Public Policy Social Worker
    • Pediatric Social Worker
    • Mental Health Social Worker
    • Substance Abuse Social Worker
    • Geriatric Social Worker
    • Private Practice Social Worker
    • Marriage and Family Therapist
    • Immigration Social Worker
    • International Social Worker
  • Resource Center
    • How to Become a Social Worker
    • Job Guide
    • Internship Guide
    • Salary Guide
    • LCSW Guide
    • Cyberbullying Guide
    • COVID-19 Guide
    • Student Mental Health Guide
    • Scholarship Guide
    • Mental Health Resources
    • CSWE Accreditation
    • Social Work Ethics
    • MSW vs MSSW degrees
    • Women in Leadership
    • Continuing Education Guide
    • Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Guide
    • Guide to Online Counseling
    • Guide to Field Experience
    • Social Work and Climate Change
    • Social Work vs Psychology
    • Dual-Degree Programs
    • MSW Specializations
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • MSW Admission Requirements
    • Bilingual Social Work
    • Levels of Licensing
    • Mental Health and Homelessness
    • LGBTQIAP Support
    • Food Insecurity Issues
    • Social Work and Healthcare Costs
  • Experts
  • Certifications
    • Case Management
    • Child Welfare
    • School Social Work
    • Forensic Social Work

  • Guides
  • Online Programs
  • Career Profiles
  • Campus Programs
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
mastersinsocialworkonline
Copyright © 2023 · Masters in Social Work Online · All Rights Reserved