West Virginia 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 West Virginia
- Residency and class meetings
- In-person courses in the first year; later required courses are hybrid with 6 in-person meeting times each semester, and the latter portions of the program can be completed remotely
- Credits
- 53 credits (41 course credits and a minimum of 12 dissertation research credits)
- Length
- Full-time plan: four years (dissertation work in Year 4); part-time plan: five years
- Final project
- Three-article dissertation (three articles suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals, an introduction chapter and a conclusion chapter)
- Practice experience
- Two years post-MSW practice experience is encouraged, but not required
- Funding
- Full-time students are eligible for teaching or research assistantships that include a stipend and tuition waivers for fall and spring semesters and require 20 hours of work per week
Online DSW Programs Open to West Virginia Residents
26 online practice doctorates at schools outside West Virginia 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 West Virginia residents before you apply.
Compare every online DSW program
Online and Hybrid Social Work PhDs for West Virginia Residents
9 social work PhDs at schools outside West Virginia are offered online or in a hybrid format. Funded programs are listed first.
Social Work Doctorates in States Bordering West Virginia
- Spalding UniversityLouisville, KY · DSW
- University of KentuckyLexington, KY · DSW and PhD
- University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY · DSW and PhD
- Morgan State UniversityBaltimore, MD · DSW and PhD
- University of Maryland School of Social WorkBaltimore, MD · DSW and PhD
- Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OH · PhD · not admitting now
- Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH · PhD
- Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr, PA · PhD
- Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown, PA · DSW
- Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville, PA · DSW
- Penn (University of Pennsylvania)Philadelphia, PA · DSW and PhD
- University of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA · PhD
- Widener UniversityChester, PA · PhD
- Norfolk State UniversityNorfolk, VA · PhD
- VCURichmond, VA · PhD
Social Work Doctorates in West Virginia: Common Questions
How Many Social Work Doctorate Programs Are in West Virginia?
1 at 1 school: West Virginia University (PhD).
Can West Virginia Residents Earn a DSW Online?
Yes. 26 online DSW programs at schools outside West Virginia accept students nationwide; the lowest estimated tuition among them is $19,800 at University of Alabama. Confirm the school can enroll West Virginia residents before you apply. Compare online DSW programs.
Can You Earn a PhD in Social Work Online From West Virginia?
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.
Compare Programs Beyond Your State