Minnesota 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 Minnesota
- Residency and class meetings
- Two intensive virtual residencies
- Credits
- 71 quarter credits (14 courses)
- Length
- 3.5 to 4.5 years
- Final project
- Capstone: an applied research project on a real-world social work problem
- Practice experience
- Two or more years of post-master's social work practice experience
- GRE
- GRE and GMAT not required
- Tuition
- $1,020 per quarter credit for coursework; capstone $3,060 per quarter; $45,000 tuition capProgram tuition, per credit, 2026-27. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
- Estimated tuition
- $45,000Published tuition cap.
Minneapolis · Public
PhDOn campusFunded
- Length
- Typically 4-5 years
- Final project
- Dissertation and defense
- Practice experience
- Post-master's experience preferred; no set amount required
- GRE
- GRE not required
- Funding
- Most students receive a four-year package covering tuition, health insurance and a stipend; help securing fifth-year assistantships
- Residency and class meetings
- 2.5-day in-person orientation in August at the St. Paul campus at the start of the program
- Credits
- 45 credit hours
- Length
- 3 years, one course at a time
- Final project
- Banded dissertation: three linked works of scholarship
- Practice experience
- Minimum 2 years post-MSW work experience
- Tuition
- $1,311 per creditProgram tuition, per credit, 2026-27. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
- Estimated tuition
- $58,995$1,311 per credit times 45 credits, before fees.
- Residency and class meetings
- One virtual residency
- Credits
- 59 quarter credits
- Length
- As few as 21 months; up to 8 years
- Final project
- Capstone project integrated into coursework
- Practice experience
- At least 2 years full-time or equivalent practice experience beyond the master's degree
- GRE
- No test scores required
- Tuition
- $730 per quarter credit; program fee $185 per quarterProgram tuition, per credit. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
- Estimated tuition
- $43,070$730 per credit times 59 credits, before fees.
- Residency and class meetings
- Four PhD residencies (minimum 16 units), virtual or in person
- Credits
- 63 quarter credits minimum coursework plus 20-130 dissertation credits
- Length
- As little as two and a half years; up to 8 years
- Final project
- Dissertation
- Practice experience
- Three years of professional/academic experience related to the program preferred
- GRE
- GRE not required
- Tuition
- $680 per quarter hour (coursework and dissertation credits)Program tuition, per credit. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
- Estimated tuition
- $42,840$680 per credit times 63 credits, before fees.
Online DSW Programs Open to Minnesota Residents
23 online practice doctorates at schools outside Minnesota 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 Minnesota residents before you apply.
Compare every online DSW program
Online and Hybrid Social Work PhDs for Minnesota Residents
9 social work PhDs at schools outside Minnesota are offered online or in a hybrid format. Funded programs are listed first.
Social Work Doctorates in States Bordering Minnesota
Social Work Doctorates Near Minnesota Cities
Social Work Doctorates in Minnesota: Common Questions
How Many Social Work Doctorate Programs Are in Minnesota?
5 at 4 schools: Capella University (DSW), University of Minnesota (PhD), University of St Thomas (DSW) and Walden University (DSW and PhD).
Are Minnesota's DSW Programs CSWE-Accredited?
Capella University (candidacy), University of St Thomas (candidacy) and Walden University (accredited) 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 Minnesota Residents Earn a DSW Online?
Yes. 23 online DSW programs at schools outside Minnesota accept students nationwide; the lowest estimated tuition among them is $19,800 at University of Alabama. Confirm the school can enroll Minnesota residents before you apply. Compare online DSW programs.
Can You Earn a PhD in Social Work Online From Minnesota?
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 Minnesota?
Estimated tuition for Minnesota DSW programs that publish a rate and credits runs from $43,070 at Walden University to $58,995 at University of St Thomas, before fees.
Compare Programs Beyond Your State