Free Tool · 2026-27 Federal Loan Rules
DSW Cost and Loan Calculator
How Much Does a DSW Cost, and Will Federal Loans Cover It?
DSW tuition is the program's published rate times its credits: $19,800 to $97,524 across the 19 programs that publish both, with a median of $45,000, before fees and residency travel. Since July 1, 2026, federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans cap at $20,500 a year and $100,000 in total, with no Grad PLUS, so a pricier program leaves a gap to fill. Pick a program below to see your numbers.
How the DSW Cost Calculator Works
Choose any program on this site and the calculator fills in the per-credit rate and credits the school publishes, or its published program total. When a school publishes tuition per term or per year instead, the note under the search box quotes it so you can enter it yourself; school-wide graduate rates are labeled as such. Add the fees from the school's tuition page and the cost of getting to each residency, which online DSWs often require.
The federal loan figure follows the 2026 limits: at most $20,500 for each year of study, never more than $100,000 in total, and never more than you still need after savings and aid. Each disbursement loses the 1.06% loan fee, so the calculator borrows enough to cover the fee when the limit allows. Interest starts the day each loan is paid out; the calculator adds what builds up to the end of the grace period, then spreads the balance over your term at 8.07%. The last figure divides that payment by the BLS median monthly pay for the job you pick.
Federal Loan Limits for Doctoral Students
For anyone whose loans are all first paid out on or after July 1, 2026, Grad PLUS loans are gone and graduate Direct Unsubsidized Loans are capped at $20,500 a year and $100,000 in total. A DSW priced above $20,500 a year now needs another source for the rest. Awards also shrink when you enroll less than full time, which matters because many DSWs are part time by design.
Most social work PhDs avoid the question: 46 of the 77 PhD programs here state that they cover tuition and pay a stipend or assistantship. See the fully funded PhD programs or weigh both routes with the DSW or PhD chooser.
Ways to Lower What a DSW Costs You
- Compare estimated tuition, not sticker rates. A low per-credit rate on a long program can cost more than a higher rate on a short one. The most affordable online DSW programs ranking multiplies the two for you.
- Watch residency rules. Some public universities charge nonresidents more, even online. Check whether the rate you see is the resident rate.
- Ask your employer. Hospitals, health systems, agencies and universities often offer tuition assistance to staff; it goes in the aid box above.
- Plan for public service. If you work full time for a government agency or 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, Public Service Loan Forgiveness cancels the remaining Direct Loan balance after 120 qualifying payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Can You Borrow in Federal Loans for a DSW?
If all your loans are first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, you can borrow up to $20,500 a year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans and $100,000 in total as a graduate student. Grad PLUS loans aren't available to new borrowers. Over a three-year DSW that's at most $61,500, and your school can award less if you enroll less than full time or your cost of attendance is lower.
What Does a DSW Cost?
Across the 19 DSW programs that publish a per-credit rate and their credits, estimated tuition runs from $19,800 to $97,524, with a median of $45,000. That's tuition only, before fees, books and travel to residencies.
Does Interest Build While You're in School?
Yes. You're responsible for the interest on a Direct Unsubsidized Loan during all periods, including while you're in school and during the 6-month grace period. That's why the calculator shows your balance when repayment starts, not only what you borrowed.
What Interest Rate Applies to Graduate Loans in 2026-27?
Graduate Direct Unsubsidized Loans first disbursed from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 carry a fixed 8.07% rate, and a 1.06% loan fee is taken from each disbursement.
Can Public Service Loan Forgiveness Help With DSW Debt?
Often, yes. Government agencies and 501(c)(3) not-for-profits are qualifying employers, and many social workers, agency leaders and university faculty work for one. If you work full time (at least 30 hours a week on average) for a qualifying employer, the remaining Direct Loan balance is forgiven after 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying plan.
Should You Use the Calculator for a PhD?
Only if the PhD isn't funded. 46 of the 77 PhD programs on this site state that they cover tuition and pay a stipend or assistantship, so there is little or nothing to borrow for tuition. Pick a funded PhD and the calculator sets tuition to zero; add any fees and living costs you'd still borrow for.
Sources
- Federal Student Aid: big updates to federal student loans (2026 limits)
- Federal Student Aid: interest rates and fees
- Federal Student Aid: subsidized and unsubsidized loans
- Federal Student Aid: Public Service Loan Forgiveness
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- Official program pages of each school, reviewed October 2026