115 Programs Verified · October 2026
Doctorate in Social Work: Every DSW and PhD Program, Verified
Every Doctor of Social Work and PhD in social work program in the U.S., checked on the school's own pages: format and residencies, credits, length, the final project, admission requirements, tuition or funding, and CSWE status for practice doctorates.
Online DSWPhD in social workFunded PhDsMost affordable online DSWDSW or PhD?
What Is a Doctorate in Social Work?
A doctorate in social work is either a Doctor of Social Work (DSW), a practice doctorate for experienced MSW holders who want to lead, teach or deepen clinical work, or a PhD in social work, a research doctorate that trains professors and researchers. We verified 115 programs at 96 schools in 38 states on the schools' own websites in October 2026: 38 DSWs and 77 PhDs. 29 DSWs can be completed online, and 46 PhDs state full funding.
- programs verified
- 115
- DSW programs
- 38
- PhD programs
- 77
- online DSWs
- 29
- funded PhDs
- 46
- median estimated DSW tuition
- $45,000
Where the Doctorate Sits on the Social Work Degree Ladder
Most students reach a social work doctorate after a bachelor's and a master's in the field. The MSW is the degree state boards license; the doctorate is optional and comes after it, usually following years of practice.
- BSWBachelor of Social Work. Four years; qualifies you for entry-level practice and advanced standing in an MSW.
- MSWMaster of Social Work. One to two years; required for clinical licensure in every state.
- DSWPhDDoctorate. The DSW (median 48 credits) for practice leaders; the PhD for researchers and professors.
The BSW and MSW links go to our sister sites, which verify every program at those levels.
Compare Social Work Doctorate Programs by What Matters to You
DSW vs PhD in Social Work, Side by Side
Pick the DSW if you want to stay in practice and lead it; pick the PhD if you want to research and teach at a university. Here is how the two compare across every program we verified.
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
- What it trains you for
- Advanced practice, leadership, supervision and teaching
- Programs on this site
- 38 at 37 schools
- Offered online
- 29 of 38 (76%)
- Median credits
- 48 credits
- Final project
- Capstone in 29, dissertation in 5
- Paying for it
- Median estimated tuition $45,000
- CSWE accreditation
- 4 accredited, 11 in candidacy or pre-candidacy
PhD in Social Work
- What it trains you for
- Original research and university faculty careers
- Programs on this site
- 77 at 77 schools
- Offered online
- 10 online or hybrid
- Median credits
- 51 credits
- Final project
- Dissertation in 69
- Paying for it
- 46 of 77 state full funding
- CSWE accreditation
- Not accredited by CSWE
The full DSW vs PhD comparison · Take the six-question DSW or PhD chooser
Lowest-Cost Online DSW Programs
Ranked by lowest estimated tuition first. Estimated tuition is the school's published per-credit rate times the credits it states, before fees, or the school's own published program total, for programs that publish those figures (one program per school). Rates were read on each school's site in October 2026; school-wide or general graduate rates are left out.
| Rank | Program | Credits | Est. tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at University of AlabamaAlabama | 45 | $19,800 |
| 2 | Online Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Social Welfare at University at BuffaloNew York | 39 | $31,200 |
| 3 | Online Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) at University of KentuckyKentucky · CSWE candidacy | 42 | $33,180 |
| 4 | Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at Millersville University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania | 48 | $33,312 |
| 5 | Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at Barry UniversityFlorida | 50 | $35,000 |
Guides to the Doctorate in Social Work
Social Work Doctorates by State
Schools in 38 states offer a social work doctorate. Every state page, including the 15 states and territories without one, lists the online programs open to residents.
- Alabama3
- Arizona1
- California7
- Colorado2
- Connecticut2
- District of Columbia2
- Florida5
- Georgia2
- Hawaii1
- Illinois5
- Indiana1
- Iowa1
- Kansas2
- Kentucky5
- Louisiana2
- Maryland4
- Massachusetts5
- Michigan2
- Minnesota5
- Mississippi2
- Missouri3
- Nebraska1
- New Jersey3
- New York14
- North Carolina2
- Ohio2
- Oklahoma1
- Oregon1
- Pennsylvania7
- Puerto Rico2
- South Carolina1
- Tennessee3
- Texas8
- Utah1
- Virginia2
- Washington2
- West Virginia1
- Wisconsin2
Every state, with online options for residents · All 96 schools A to Z
Free Planning Tools
- DSW or PhD? Doctorate ChooserAnswer six questions about your goals, schedule and budget, and see whether the practice doctorate or the research doctorate fits, with the programs that match.
- Social Work Doctorate Program MatcherPick the degree, format, residency, focus, budget and where you live, and get the verified programs that fit, with the reason each one made the list.
- DSW Cost and Loan CalculatorTotal tuition for any program with a published rate, what federal loan limits cover, the gap, and the monthly payment on what you borrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Doctorate in Social Work?
It's the highest degree in social work, and it comes in two forms. The DSW is a practice doctorate: the median program requires 48 credits, 29 of 38 can be completed online, and 29 of 38 end in an applied capstone. The PhD is a research doctorate that ends in a dissertation and prepares you for faculty and research careers. What a DSW is and who it's for.
What Is the Difference Between a DSW and a PhD in Social Work?
A DSW trains you to lead and improve practice; a PhD trains you to produce research. 29 of 38 DSWs are offered online and they charge tuition, while 46 of 77 PhDs state full funding and 48 are taught on campus. DSW vs PhD in social work, compared.
Can You Earn a DSW Online?
Yes. 29 of the 38 DSW programs we verified can be completed online, many with short campus residencies. 10 PhDs are offered online or in a hybrid format. Online DSW programs.
How Much Does a DSW Cost?
Among the 19 DSW programs that publish a per-credit rate and their credits (or a program total), estimated tuition runs from $19,800 to $97,524, with a median of $45,000 before fees. DSW cost and ways to pay.
Are DSW Programs CSWE-Accredited?
CSWE began accrediting practice doctorates only recently. Its directory (captured September 30, 2026) lists 4 of the DSW programs on this site as accredited and 11 in candidacy or pre-candidacy. CSWE doesn't accredit PhD programs. CSWE-accredited DSW programs.
Do You Need an MSW to Earn a Doctorate in Social Work?
For a DSW, yes: 36 of the 38 DSW programs that state a degree requirement ask for an MSW, and the median practice requirement among programs that state one is 2 years after the MSW. PhDs vary more: 57 of the 66 that state a degree requirement name the MSW, and others accept a related master's degree. DSW admission requirements.
Sources
- Official program, tuition and admissions pages of 96 schools, reviewed October 2026
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), practice doctorate program directory, captured September 30, 2026
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23, CIP 44.0701
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025