Most Affordable MSW Programs in North Carolina

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Have you been longing to pursue a career helping those in need, but worried about how you would cover the cost of a graduate program? You’re not alone.

It’s widely known that graduate school can be incredibly costly, leaving students feeling like they’re adding to their burden before they’ve even started their careers. This can be enough to deter individuals who would otherwise be eager to take on the world-changing responsibilities of a social worker.

The world needs social workers, which is why it’s so important that a social work education is accessible to all who want it.

Fortunately, North Carolina is home to many terrific affordable MSW programs, online and in-person, that can help aspiring social workers make their goals a reality.

Beyond simply being low-cost, these programs offer exceptional educational experiences, with well-rounded curricula, a range of field work opportunities across the state, and a strong network of peers and professors to support your professional and academic efforts.

Are you ready to learn more about the North Carolina MSW programs that will offer you the best bang for your buck? Read on.

How We Determined the Best Affordable MSW Programs in North Carolina

All the schools included on this list fall below the average tuition cost for MSW programs in the state. Prospective students can rest easy that they are all accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), meaning they meet the eligibility requirements for North Carolina social work licensing. Our list includes a range of options, including affordable online MSW programs with no GRE requirements as well as low-cost on-campus opportunities at excellent universities.

Tuition costs are taken from each school’s reported cost breakdowns from the 2023-2024 school year. Prospective applicants should be advised that these costs are subject to change for the next school year, though they can provide a rough estimate of what you will pay per year.

Affordable Social Work Masters Programs

Take a look at our list below for information about the most affordable MSW programs in North Carolina, with information about course offerings, annual tuition, areas of specialization, and more.

Appalachian State University

Location: Boone
Website

Per-year tuition (in-state): $8,081
Online option: Yes

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Specializations:

GRE required: Yes (exam waiver possibility)

Founded in 1899, Appalachian State University is a prestigious institution that has been has been ranked by US News and World Report as the #1 Most Innovative School among Southern Universities and at #3 among Southern Regional Universities. AppState is nestled into the Blue Ridge Mountains, making it an exceptional location for students seeking an on-campus experience amid beautiful surroundings. If you live in the region or are looking for a rural lifestyle as you pursue your MSW, their on-campus program will offer you a stellar education and a taste of the North Carolina countryside.

For those who live far from Boone or wish to take their classes online, App State also offers one of the best affordable online MSW programs, providing flexibility for those who need to balance their grad school experience with other work obligations. Here you will complete the same full-time coursework as in an on-campus MSW, with greater flexibility in managing your class schedule.

East Carolina University

Location: Greenville
Website

Per-year tuition (in-state, on-campus): $7,658
Per-year tuition (in-state, online only): $5,213
Online option: Yes

Formats:

Specializations:

GRE Required: No

East Carolina University’s College of Health and Human Performance is home to its social work programs, offering excellent affordable MSW programs online and in-person. Students in these courses will receive an education designed to prepare them for clinical practice as well as community-level engagement with populations facing shared economic, political, and social hardships. This program places a strong emphasis on on-the-ground experience, meaning your field work hours will be an especially important part of your social work education.

There are two different models for pursuing an MSW at ECU: full-time and in-person, or part-time and online. These options are designed with the knowledge that many students need reduced course time in order to fulfill other work or family obligations. Students who already hold a BSW are eligible for the school’s part-time Advanced Standing MSW, either in a full-time in-person model (which takes one year to complete) or a part-time model, which, like the part-time traditional MSW program, also takes 3 years to complete.

Fayetteville State University

Location: Fayetteville
Website

Per-year tuition (in-state): $3,438
Online option: Yes

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Specializations:

GRE required: No

Founded in 1867, the historically Black university Fayetteville State University is the second oldest university in North Carolina. This is a tremendous point of pride for students of the school. There are two different tracks for traditional MSW degree programs at FSU: the full-time program, which, in line with most other MSW programs in the country, takes two years to complete; and the weekend part-time MSW, designed for working professionals who wish to take on their academic pursuits alongside their current occupation. There is also an Advanced Standing MSW which takes one year to complete if you are already a BSW holder.

FSU is close to the military base Fort Bragg, meaning veterans’ causes are a leading specialty among social work students in the program. Indeed, the school offers a certificate in Military Behavioral Health, preparing social workers to take on clinical practice working with veterans and active-duty soldiers living with PTSD and other emotional and mental health challenges. If you know you’re interested in committing your work to helping those who have served in the military, this is an excellent choice of school for you.

North Carolina Central University

Location: Durham
Website

One-year tuition (in-state): $4,740
Online option: No

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Specializations:

GRE required: No

If you are based in Durham and looking for an excellent and affordable MSW program close to you, the MSW program at North Carolina Central University is an excellent option. This program emphasizes cultural competence, building future social workers’ skills so that they are prepared to work with diverse communities like those found in the city of Durham. With an advanced generalist orientation, this program is designed to give students the foundational knowledge of the social work needed to thrive in any focus area of the profession.

NCCU’s MSW program is only recommended for those who live in Durham or are willing to move there, as courses are only available in person. The advantage of this is increased access to professors and the other students in your cohort, who could prove to be a valuable professional network for you in years to come. It can also be helpful in matching you with the right field work internships for your internship, which can provide game-changing experience to help guide your professional path in the direction of your deepest career goals.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Location: Charlotte
Website

Per-year tuition (in-state): $4,337
Online option: Yes

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Specializations:

GRE Requirement: No

Charlotte-based MSW applicants have an excellent option in their own hometown. UNC-Charlotte’s Master of Social Work program is designed to give students a complete social work education, with a tremendous array of field work partnerships available in both urban and rural environments. This means it can draw a student body with diverse social work interests to help inspire a more holistic view of the field overall.

UNC-Charlotte offers specializations in all the major subfields of social work practice. UNC-Charlotte offers Distance Education (online) MSW tracks on a part-time schedule, for both Advanced Standing MSWs (2 years) and Traditional MSWs (3 years). Courses for these programs typically meet on weekday evenings or Saturdays.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro / North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (Joint MSW Program)

Location: Greensboro
Website

Per-year tuition (in-state): $5,219
Online option: Yes

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Specializations:

UNC Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University offer a unique, jointly hosted cross-campus program for Greensboro-based social work students. The first year of school emphasizes an Advanced Generalist education, providing a comprehensive overview of the social work field. The next year offers a specialization curriculum, allowing students to choose a focus area and begin pursuing advanced clinical courses so that they can hold high-ranking social work roles in their specialty of choice. Thanks to the joint nature of the program, students have a particularly large number of course offerings and field work opportunities.

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Location: Pembroke
Website

Per-year tuition (in-state): $4,280
Online option: Yes

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Specializations:

GRE Required: Optional with GPA over 2.75

Designed specifically for students juggling work or family responsibilities with their studies, UNC-Pembroke’s MSW programs are among the best affordable online MSWs you can find. This is a fantastic choice for working students, as the entire program is catered to their unique needs and academic objectives.

Courses at UNC-Pembroke cover the full spectrum of social work focus areas, including clinical practice, social administration, public policy, substance abuse, school social work, and more. This means that students will graduate equipped to contribute to whatever branch of social work calls to them.

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Location: Wilmington
Website

Per-year tuition (in-state): $4,719
Online option: Hybrid options

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Specializations:

GRE required: Optional with GPA over 3.25

University of North Carolina at Wilmington is another excellent choice for prospective MSW students in the region. It’s also an exceptional choice for those who are specifically interested in Macro social work (that is, social work that is less oriented toward one-on-one clinical practice and more oriented toward advocacy and policy-level efforts). The school offers a Macro track for MSWs, a unique offering that isn’t available at many other schools. In fact, for those who wish to learn about social work on a global scale, UNC Wilmington offers a fantastic opportunity to study abroad, with program partnerships in London, Ireland, and India.

Beyond that focus, UNC-Wilmington also offers concentrations in all of the primary social work subfields, with an additional credential available in School Social Work and a traineeship in the Child Welfare Collaborative.

To help students with limited time for their MSW program, UNC Wilmington offers a part-time MSW available in a hybrid format. Students can complete this program in three years while continuing to maintain their employment or family responsibilities.