Massachusetts · Verified October 2026

DSW and PhD in Social Work Programs in Massachusetts

Where Can You Earn a Doctorate in Social Work in Massachusetts?

4 schools in Massachusetts offer 5 social work doctorates: 1 practice doctorate (DSW) and 4 PhDs, at Boston College, Boston University, Simmons University and Smith College. 2 can be completed online. Estimated tuition for Doctorate of Social Work (DSW): Online at Simmons University is $60,720 before fees. 2 PhDs state full funding. Massachusetts residents can also choose from 25 online DSW programs at schools in other states.

Researched and edited by Taylor Rupe · Updated October 10, 2026

schools in Massachusetts: 4
DSW programs: 1
PhD programs: 4
offered online: 2
online DSWs open to residents: 25

Massachusetts Schools Compared

School	Degrees	Formats	Est. DSW tuition	PhD funding
Simmons UniversityBoston · Private nonprofit	DSW and PhD	Online	$56,925
Boston CollegeChestnut Hill · Private nonprofit	PhD	On campus		Funded
Boston UniversityBoston · Private nonprofit	PhD	On campus		Funded
Smith CollegeNorthampton · Private nonprofit	PhD	On campus

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 Massachusetts

PhD in Social Work at Boston College

Chestnut Hill · Private nonprofit

PhDOn campusFunded

Credits: 45 credit hours (30 required, 15 elective)
Length: Typically 4 years
Final project: Dissertation
GRE: GRE optional
Funding: Every admitted PhD student receives a doctoral fellowship valued at more than $250,000 over four years, including tuition remission, health insurance, an annual living stipend and conference and professional development support

PhD in Social Work at Boston University

Boston · Private nonprofit

PhDOn campusFunded

Credits: 63-credit plan with coursework completed in four semesters (two years)
Length: Full-time program designed to be completed within five years
Final project: Dissertation (traditional monograph or three-paper format)
GRE: GRE and MAT no longer required
Funding: Multi-year funding package of up to five years, including tuition, paid stipends and health care

Doctorate of Social Work (DSW): Online at Simmons University

Boston · Private nonprofit

DSWOnline

Credits: 48 credits (15 courses)
Length: About 3 years part time or as little as 2 years full time
Final project: Capstone project (6 credits)
Practice experience: Three years of relevant post-MSW work experience; two years post-MSW experience accepted as of January 2027
Tuition: $1,265 per creditProgram tuition, per credit. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
Estimated tuition: $60,720$1,265 per credit times 48 credits, before fees.

Online PhD in Social Work at Simmons University

Boston · Private nonprofit

PhDOnline

Credits: 45 credits
Length: Most students complete the program, including the dissertation defense, in 4 to 6 years
Final project: Dissertation (traditional or three-paper format)
Practice experience: Minimum of 2 years post-master's professional experience
GRE: GRE no longer required
Tuition: $1,265 per creditProgram tuition, per credit. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
Estimated tuition: $56,925$1,265 per credit times 45 credits, before fees.

Ph.D. Program in Social Work at Smith College

Northampton · Private nonprofit

PhDOn campus

Residency and class meetings: Low-residency program with three intensive summers on campus (10 weeks of coursework each summer); clinical and research internships in the intervening fall and spring
Length: 27 months
Final project: Individual doctoral dissertation
Practice experience: Minimum of two years post-master's experience, additional experience preferred
Tuition: $40,970 per year for Year 1 and Year 2 students; $18,440 for final summer students; plus a $45 student activity fee and Ph.D. supervisory feesProgram tuition, per year, 2026-27. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.

Online DSW Programs Open to Massachusetts Residents

25 online practice doctorates at schools outside Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts residents before you apply.

Program	Credits	Est. tuition	CSWE
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at University of AlabamaAlabama · Residency	45	$19,800
Online Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Social Welfare at University at BuffaloNew York	39	$31,200
Online Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) at University of KentuckyKentucky · Residency	42	$33,180	Candidacy
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at Millersville University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania · Residency	48	$33,312
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at Barry UniversityFlorida · Live online classes	50	$35,000
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania · Residency	48	$36,864
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at University of KansasKansas · Live online classes	42	$41,790
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Leadership in Community Practices at Spalding UniversityKentucky · Residency	50	$42,500

Compare every online DSW program

Online and Hybrid Social Work PhDs for Massachusetts Residents

9 social work PhDs at schools outside Massachusetts are offered online or in a hybrid format. Funded programs are listed first.

Program	Format	Credits	Funding
PhD in Social Work at Baylor UniversityTexas	Online		Funded
Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (Ph.D.) at Norfolk State UniversityVirginia	Online and on campus	54	Funded
Online PhD in Social Work at Our Lady of the Lake UniversityTexas	Online	54	Funded
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work at University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOklahoma	Online	40	Funded
PhD in Social Work at West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia	Hybrid	53	Funded
PhD in Social Work (Hybrid) at Adelphi UniversityNew York	Hybrid
Ph.D. in Social Work at Alabama A & M UniversityAlabama	Online	58
PhD in Social Work at Walden UniversityMinnesota	Online	63

Social Work Doctorates in States Bordering Massachusetts

Social Work Doctorates in Massachusetts: Common Questions

How Many Social Work Doctorate Programs Are in Massachusetts?

5 at 4 schools: Boston College (PhD), Boston University (PhD), Simmons University (DSW and PhD) and Smith College (PhD).

Are Massachusetts's DSW Programs CSWE-Accredited?

None of Massachusetts's practice doctorates is in CSWE's practice doctorate directory (captured September 30, 2026). CSWE began accrediting practice doctorates only recently, and most DSWs nationally haven't completed the process.

Can Massachusetts Residents Earn a DSW Online?

Yes. 25 online DSW programs at schools outside Massachusetts accept students nationwide; the lowest estimated tuition among them is $19,800 at University of Alabama. Confirm the school can enroll Massachusetts residents before you apply. Compare online DSW programs.

Can You Earn a PhD in Social Work Online From Massachusetts?

9 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 Massachusetts?

Doctorate of Social Work (DSW): Online at Simmons University has an estimated tuition of $60,720 before fees.

Compare Programs Beyond Your State

Sources

Official program pages of the 4 Massachusetts schools listed, reviewed October 2026
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), practice doctorate program directory, captured September 30, 2026