Pennsylvania · Verified October 2026

DSW and PhD in Social Work Programs in Pennsylvania

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

6 schools in Pennsylvania offer 7 social work doctorates: 3 practice doctorates (DSW) and 4 PhDs, at Bryn Mawr College, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Penn (University of Pennsylvania) and 2 more. 2 can be completed online. Estimated DSW tuition runs from $33,312 to $36,864 before fees. 3 PhDs state full funding. Pennsylvania residents can also choose from 24 online DSW programs at schools in other states.

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

schools in Pennsylvania: 6
DSW programs: 3
PhD programs: 4
offered online: 2
online DSWs open to residents: 24

Pennsylvania Schools Compared

School	Degrees	Formats	CSWE (DSW)	Est. DSW tuition	PhD funding
Penn (University of Pennsylvania)Philadelphia · Private nonprofit	DSW and PhD	Hybrid, On campus	Accredited		Funded
Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr · Private nonprofit	PhD	On campus			Funded
Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown · Public	DSW	Online		$36,864
Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville · Public	DSW	Online		$33,312
University of PittsburghPittsburgh · Public	PhD	On campus			Funded
Widener UniversityChester · Private nonprofit	PhD	On campus		$55,080

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 Pennsylvania

Doctoral Program in Social Work (Ph.D.) at Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr · Private nonprofit

PhDOn campusFunded

Credits: 12 courses (10 required and 2 electives)
Length: A minimum of four semesters of class work; maximum of 8 years to complete
Final project: Three comprehensive exams, dissertation and final oral examination
Practice experience: Two years of post-MSW work experience recommended but not required
Funding: All Ph.D. students are funded equally, with full tuition waivers and substantial stipends to offset costs of living

Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown · Public

DSWOnlineResidency

Residency and class meetings: In-person weekend residencies at the beginning of each term
Credits: 48 credits
Final project: Applied research culminating in a dissertation; Praxis I and II experiential leadership or teaching projects
Practice experience: 2+ years of professional practice experience with an MSW
Tuition: 2026-27: $768 per credit for Pennsylvania residents ($728 tuition plus $40 technology fee); $1,145 per credit for non-residents ($1,092 tuition plus $53 technology fee)Program tuition, per credit, 2026-27. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
Estimated tuition: $36,864$768 per credit times 48 credits, before fees.

Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville · Public

DSWOnlineResidency

Residency and class meetings: One in-person weekend residency in August each year, and 2 virtual residencies in January and May
Credits: 48 total credit hours (16 courses)
Length: 3 years, part-time over 8 semesters (must complete program within 5 years); 4 or 5 year plans may be proposed
Final project: Original research project culminating in a dissertation defense
Practice experience: 2 years post-MSW practice experience
Tuition: 2025-2026: PA residents $694 per credit ($4,164 per semester plus fees); non-residents $1,041 per credit ($6,246 per semester plus fees)Program tuition, per credit, 2025-26. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
Estimated tuition: $33,312$694 per credit times 48 credits, before fees.
Funding: Graduate assistantships: full-time GAs earn a $6,000 annual stipend and 18 credits of tuition waiver; part-time GAs earn a $3,000 annual stipend and 9 credits of tuition waiver

Doctor of Clinical Social Work (DSW) at Penn (University of Pennsylvania)

Philadelphia · Private nonprofit

DSWHybridResidencyAccredited

Residency and class meetings: Five-day immersion on the Philadelphia campus at the start of the first semester (late August/early September) and a four-day residency in the fall of year two
Credits: 12 course units
Length: Typically three years; can be earned in as little as two years
Final project: Dissertation (traditional chapter-style or two publishable articles) and dissertation defense
Practice experience: Three years of post-MSW practice experience
GRE: Standardized tests are not required
Tuition: 2026-27: $7,575 per course unit plus $162 per course unit online services feeProgram tuition, per credit, 2026-27. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.

Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare (PhD) at Penn (University of Pennsylvania)

Philadelphia · Private nonprofit

PhDOn campusFunded

Length: Typically 4-5 years
Final project: Comprehensive exams and dissertation defended before a dissertation committee
GRE: Standardized tests are not required
Tuition: 2026-27: years 1-2 tuition $46,540 plus $4,268 general fee and $770 clinical fee per year; dissertation status years 3-4 tuition $5,818 plus $1,064 general fee and $770 clinical fee per yearProgram tuition, per year, 2026-27. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
Funding: Four years of support in the form of tuition, fees, individual health insurance, and a ten-month research and teaching stipend

PhD in Social Work at University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh · Public

PhDOn campusFunded

Credits: Minimum of 50 credit hours (10 core courses, one policy elective and at least five electives) before the comprehensive exam
Length: A minimum of three years of full-time study
Final project: Comprehensive examination, dissertation overview defense and final dissertation defense
Funding: Students are fully funded with tuition and stipend support for four years of study; tuition support includes health insurance

Doctor of Philosophy of Social Work (PhD) at Widener University

Chester · Private nonprofit

PhDOn campus

Residency and class meetings: All classes on Fridays on the Chester, PA campus, in one morning and one early afternoon session
Credits: 54 credits
Length: Average 5 years
Final project: Comprehensive examination paper, dissertation proposal and dissertation
GRE: Nationally recognized measures of aptitude and/or academic achievement are not required
Tuition: $1,020 per creditProgram tuition, per credit. Source: the school's program page, reviewed October 2026.
Estimated tuition: $55,080$1,020 per credit times 54 credits, before fees.

Online DSW Programs Open to Pennsylvania Residents

24 online practice doctorates at schools outside Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Barry UniversityFlorida · Live online classes	50	$35,000
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
Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at Walden UniversityMinnesota · Residency	59	$43,070	Accredited
Doctor of Social Work at Capella UniversityMinnesota · Residency	71	$45,000	Candidacy

Compare every online DSW program

Online and Hybrid Social Work PhDs for Pennsylvania Residents

10 social work PhDs at schools outside Pennsylvania 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
Online PhD in Social Work at Simmons UniversityMassachusetts	Online	45

Social Work Doctorates in States Bordering Pennsylvania

Social Work Doctorates Near Pennsylvania Cities

Social Work Doctorates in Pennsylvania: Common Questions

How Many Social Work Doctorate Programs Are in Pennsylvania?

7 at 6 schools: Bryn Mawr College (PhD), Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (DSW), Millersville University of Pennsylvania (DSW), Penn (University of Pennsylvania) (DSW and PhD), University of Pittsburgh (PhD) and Widener University (PhD).

Are Pennsylvania's DSW Programs CSWE-Accredited?

Penn (University of Pennsylvania) (accredited) is 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 Pennsylvania Residents Earn a DSW Online?

Yes. 24 online DSW programs at schools outside Pennsylvania accept students nationwide; the lowest estimated tuition among them is $19,800 at University of Alabama. Confirm the school can enroll Pennsylvania residents before you apply. Compare online DSW programs.

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

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 Pennsylvania?

Estimated tuition for Pennsylvania DSW programs that publish a rate and credits runs from $33,312 at Millersville University of Pennsylvania to $36,864 at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, before fees.

Compare Programs Beyond Your State

Sources

Official program pages of the 6 Pennsylvania schools listed, reviewed October 2026
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), practice doctorate program directory, captured September 30, 2026