California Schools Compared
From each school's own pages, reviewed October 2026. CSWE status from CSWE's practice doctorate directory, captured September 30, 2026; CSWE doesn't accredit PhD programs. Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
Every Social Work Doctorate in California
- Residency and class meetings
- Two four-day residency intensives each year
- Credits
- 48 units
- Length
- 2 years (24 months, 6 semesters)
- Final project
- Comprehensive project addressing a local or global social issue
- Tuition
- $1,028 per unit plus feesProgram tuition, per credit, 2026-27. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
- Estimated tuition
- $49,344$1,028 per credit times 48 credits, before fees.
- Credits
- 79 quarter units
- Length
- 3 years, typically 11 quarters (includes summer in years 2 and 3), part-time cohort model
- Final project
- Practice-based doctoral project in place of a traditional dissertation
- Practice experience
- Minimum of four years of professional social work experience after the MSW
- Tuition
- Cost of attendance tuition and fees: Year 1 $20,010; Year 2 $24,360; Year 3 $28,112School-wide graduate rate, per year, 2026-27. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
Berkeley · Public
PhDOn campusFunded
- Length
- Within ten semesters; qualifying exam by end of year 3, dissertation filed by end of year 5
- Final project
- Dissertation
- GRE
- GRE optional
- Funding
- Funding packages typically support a student for five years, including tuition and fees, student health insurance and an annual living allowance
Los Angeles · Public
PhDOn campusFunded
- Length
- About 4 years
- Final project
- Dissertation
- Funding
- Basic aid package for all new students: tuition coverage and at least two years of stipend support
- Credits
- 42 units
- Length
- 9 semesters (standard track)
- Final project
- Capstone project
- Practice experience
- At least 3 years of post-MSW professional experience in social work, particularly in supervisory or management roles
- Tuition
- $2,322 per unit (1-14 units)Program tuition, per credit, 2025-26. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
- Estimated tuition
- $97,524$2,322 per credit times 42 credits, before fees.
- Credits
- Minimum of 45 units beyond the master's degree
- Final project
- Doctoral dissertation, after written and oral qualifying exams
Online DSW Programs Open to California Residents
22 online practice doctorates at schools outside California are open to new students nationwide. These are the 8 with the lowest estimated tuition, one per school; programs without an estimate follow alphabetically. Confirm that the school can enroll California residents before you apply.
Compare every online DSW program
Online and Hybrid Social Work PhDs for California Residents
10 social work PhDs at schools outside California are offered online or in a hybrid format. Funded programs are listed first.
Social Work Doctorates in States Bordering California
Social Work Doctorates Near California Cities
Social Work Doctorates in California: Common Questions
How Many Social Work Doctorate Programs Are in California?
7 at 5 schools: California Baptist University (DSW), Loma Linda University (DSW), UC Berkeley (PhD), UCLA (PhD) and USC (DSW, PhD and Social work doctorate).
Are California's DSW Programs CSWE-Accredited?
Loma Linda University (candidacy), USC (candidacy) and USC (candidacy) are in CSWE's practice doctorate directory (captured September 30, 2026). CSWE began accrediting practice doctorates only recently, and PhD programs aren't CSWE-accredited.
Can California Residents Earn a DSW Online?
Yes. 22 online DSW programs at schools outside California accept students nationwide; the lowest estimated tuition among them is $19,800 at University of Alabama. Confirm the school can enroll California residents before you apply. Compare online DSW programs.
Can You Earn a PhD in Social Work Online From California?
10 social work PhDs at schools elsewhere are offered online or in a hybrid format. The other 67 of the 77 social work PhDs on this site are campus-based, and campus PhDs are the ones most likely to state full funding. Compare online PhD programs.
How Much Does a DSW Cost in California?
Estimated tuition for California DSW programs that publish a rate and credits runs from $49,344 at California Baptist University to $97,524 at USC, before fees.
Compare Programs Beyond Your State