10 Top BSW Programs in Texas
Good news – we’ve looked at all of the Bachelor of Social Work programs here in Texas so you don’t have to! There are 37 CSWE-accredited BSW programs in Texas, and we’ve found what we consider to be the top 10. This list looks at a combination of curriculum and instruction, delivery modalities, features, tuition and more.
While you can’t be a counselor with just a BSW, you can certainly get your start in the field of helping people as you pursue the next step, which is an Advanced Standing MSW that will prepare you for clinical licensure.
Here’s our program list:
1. Stephen F. Austin State University BSW Program
Stephen F. Austin State University has a CSWE-accredited BSW program in Nacogdoches that is known for its specialized focus on rural social work practice. The School of Social Work combines classroom instruction with extensive field opportunities to prepare you for generalist practice in a variety of settings, from healthcare facilities and schools to child welfare agencies and criminal justice organizations.
Program Overview
The BSW degree requires 47 hours of professional social work courses among supportive discipline coursework and 13 hours of electives. You’ll enter as a pre-practice student before advancing to practice-level courses once you meet specific admission criteria. A 2.5 overall GPA is required to transition from pre-practice status, and you must complete foundational courses with grades of C or higher. You must also be within nine hours of finishing core curriculum requirements before enrolling in practice classes.
The program graduated 92 students with bachelor’s degrees during the 2021-2022 academic year, a 31% increase from the previous year. Transfer students can apply credits from other CSWE-accredited programs, though you must complete at least nine hours of practice methods courses and 15 hours of field practicum at SFA.
Top Features
SFA’s program emphasizes preparation to work in rural communities through its unique curricular focus. The Center for Rural Social Work Research and Development provides support for studies and intervention strategies that address real-life problems in non-metropolitan areas. This research component extends your learning beyond traditional classroom boundaries.
Field instruction is a foundation of your education. The Child Welfare Professional Development Project, a federally funded Title IV-E partnership with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, offers specialized fieldwork and internship opportunities. You’ll build professional networks through various student organizations and honor societies focused on social work practice.
The program’s mission centers on preparing competent generalist practitioners who can serve individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations while addressing poverty, oppression, and social justice issues. Faculty members involve themselves in rural population research and give you exposure to current practice challenges and solutions.
Tuition and Costs
Texas residents benefit from flat-rate tuition of $6,094 per semester when enrolled in 12 or more credit hours. This structure allows you to take up to 21 credit hours at the cost of 12 and supports timely graduation. Annual in-state tuition and fees total $11,128, while out-of-state students pay $23,428.
The estimated annual cost of attendance for Texas residents living on campus reaches $30,576, which has tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and miscellaneous expenses. Border-state residents pay slightly more at $31,472 a year, whereas out-of-state residents face costs of $43,412 per year.
Graduates who borrowed loans had a median debt of $21,714 upon completion, with typical monthly payments of $178. The median starting salary for BSW graduates is $36,628.
Best For
This program suits you if rural social work practice aligns with your career goals. The specialized curriculum and research opportunities prepare you to address challenges in non-metropolitan communities. You’ll thrive here if hands-on learning through extensive field placements appeals to your educational priorities and you value building strong professional networks during your undergraduate years.
2. University of Texas at Austin BSW Program
The Steve Hicks School of Social Work at UT Austin holds the 8th position among 319 graduate programs nationwide. This prestigious institution delivered 67 bachelor’s degrees in social work during the 2021-2022 academic year and prepares graduates for professional practice grounded in social justice principles.
Program Overview
Your BSW degree at UT Austin combines social work principles with liberal arts education and creates a foundation for professional practice and licensure. The curriculum prepares you for entry-level positions in human service organizations while opening pathways to graduate studies in law, public health, and medicine. The program’s reputation stems from its challenging coursework and faculty commitment to student achievement. You’ll develop competencies required for generalist practice in a variety of community settings as you progress through the degree.
Top Features
The Social Work Education Enhancement Program (SWEEP) distinguishes this BSW program from others in Texas. Upper-level students with field experience mentor first-year BSW students and help you work through academic challenges while accessing valuable campus resources. This peer mentorship model builds professional relationships that last from your first semester.
Supervised internships allow you to apply theoretical knowledge in practice settings, learn from experienced professionals, and establish connections with partner agencies. These placements bridge classroom concepts with hands-on social work practice and prepare you for employment right after graduation.
Destiny Ayala exemplifies the program’s effect on student success. As a first-generation college student and SWEEP mentor, she earned the prestigious SWEEP Mentor Scholarship for her work with incoming students. Her commitment to addressing education equity and the school-to-prison pipeline grew from overcoming imposter syndrome during her freshman year. The scholarship enabled her to focus on her final semester without financial strain and deepened her connection to social work practice.
Tuition and Costs
In-state students pay $11,687 for tuition and fees each year, while out-of-state students face costs of $44,908. These figures position UT Austin below the national average for in-state tuition. Financial aid through Texas One Stop services provides access to FAFSA support and work-study opportunities. Need-based scholarships averaged $16,689 for first-year students, with 43% receiving need-based financial aid. Graduates who borrowed had median debt of $20,500, with typical monthly payments of $217.
Best For
You’ll thrive in this program if you value academic rigor paired with field experience. The SWEEP mentorship structure benefits students seeking peer support during their undergraduate years. This BSW degree suits you if social justice principles match your career goals and you want access to a prestigious program that opens doors to advanced graduate studies or professional practice right away.
3. University of Houston BSW Program
The University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work offers a program designed to shape leaders who address complex social challenges through research, community partnerships, and justice-oriented education. The BSW degree creates a solid foundation for professional practice with a curriculum requiring 51 semester credit hours. This has 16 credit hours of foundation coursework and 35 credit hours in your chosen concentration and electives.
Program Overview
You can complete the full-time program in two calendar years. Part-time enrollment extends to three years. You’ll select between two specialized pathways after finishing foundation curriculum: Clinical Social Work Practice or Macro Practice. Each concentration just needs twelve credit hours of specialized coursework and allows you to build expertise in either direct client services or systems-level change.
The program has reduced required semester credit hours. This saves students between $1,900 and $12,800 in tuition costs. The financial benefit stems from curriculum efficiency without compromising educational quality. Critical thinking skills take center stage as you learn to champion social, economic, and political justice throughout your coursework.
Top Features
Focused Learning Opportunities (FLOs) set this BSW degree apart from other programs. These specialized pathways let you develop expertise in specific practice areas. You can choose from the Trauma Education Program that incorporates trauma-informed clinical curriculum. The Global Leaders of Behavioral Health Education program provides a $10,000 stipend in your final year. Political Social Work focuses on systems-level change, and the Mental Health Advanced Practice in Social Work Program offers another path. Each FLO pairs you with faculty mentors and delivers specialized training beyond standard coursework.
Three enrollment models provide flexibility for different learning styles and schedules. You can select face-to-face, hybrid, or online formats and match your education to your personal situation and what matters most to you. Field education is vital whatever format you choose and requires you to complete practicum hours at partner agencies.
Graduate outcomes demonstrate the program’s effectiveness. Sophie McCollum joined Baylor College of Medicine after graduation. Other alumni work at Catholic Charities, DePelchin Children’s Center, and Texas Department of Family & Protective Services. These placements reflect strong employer recognition of your degree’s value.
Tuition and Costs
Tuition and fees for in-state students total $9,717 a year. Out-of-state students face costs of $22,547. These rates position the program below national averages for both resident categories. Financial aid reaches 83% of students through various channels that include grants, scholarships, and loans. Federal student loans serve 35% of students and total $4,971 on average.
Best For
This program serves you well if specialized practice areas through FLOs line up with your career interests. The enrollment flexibility accommodates working professionals or students with family obligations. You’ll benefit from this BSW degree if research-informed practice and faculty mentorship appeal to your learning style. The $10,000 stipend opportunity in behavioral health education may match your professional aspirations.
4. Texas State University BSW Degree Program
The School of Social Work at Texas State University structures its BSW degree through a distinctive three-phase progression model that prepares you for generalist social work practice with vulnerable populations. This CSWE-accredited program has managed to keep its commitment to serving clients often forgotten by society since 1975, especially when you have those receiving services from public agencies.
Program Overview
You’ll complete a minimum of 120 semester credit hours across three distinct phases. Phase I allows any student to declare a social work major and enroll in entry-level courses like SOWK 1350 and SOWK 2375 while completing general education requirements. You must complete at least 45 credit hours with an overall GPA of 2.5 to advance to Phase II.
Phase II requires formal application through a web-based process that opens each fall and spring semester. An Admissions Committee reviews your academic record and suitability for social work practice before granting full major status. Then you must keep the 2.5 GPA requirement and earn minimum grades of C in each social work and supportive course. You’ll also demonstrate adherence to the NASW Code of Ethics among emotional stability, communication competence and strong interpersonal skills.
Phase III centers on field placement and requires you to complete a block internship with 400 contact hours in one semester. The program offers flexibility through multiple cohort options: on-campus in San Marcos, online, or on-campus in Round Rock. This structure accommodates different learning priorities while keeping rigorous academic standards.
Top Features
Texas State’s focus on preparing social workers for public sector employment sets it apart from other BSW programs in Texas. Faculty design coursework to give you the preparation for serving marginalized populations in child welfare, schools, healthcare, mental health care and public assistance settings. You’ll develop cultural responsiveness and advocacy skills alongside ethical decision-making capabilities.
The extensive agency network provides various field practicum placements in both rural and urban settings. These connections to public and private agencies give you hands-on experience while building professional relationships.
Tuition and Costs
Texas residents pay $12,240 for tuition and fees each year, while out-of-state students face costs of $25,080. The total estimated cost of attendance reaches $30,880 for in-state students. The online BSW program operates on a per-credit-hour basis at $426, with total tuition of $51,056.
Best For
This program serves you well if public sector social work arranges with your career goals. The phase-based structure benefits students who value clear progression milestones, while multiple cohort options accommodate working professionals or those preferring online education.
5. Baylor University BSW Program
The Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University integrates faith points of view into professional social work education through its distinctive approach to practitioner development. This CSWE-accredited program sits in downtown Waco and recognizes religion and spirituality as meaningful components of human experience. That sets it apart from other BSW programs in Texas.
Program Overview
Your BSW degree consists of 124 total credit hours. This includes more than 40 hours of core social work courses and 450 hours of practicum education with community professionals. The curriculum combines liberal arts education with hands-on field experience at different placement sites. These include local hospitals, congregations, public agencies and homeless shelters. You must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA for university requirements. Once accepted into the social work major, you need to achieve a 2.7 GPA.
You need to complete Introduction to Social Work (SWO 2321) with a minimum C grade to gain admission to the major. You also need an overall 2.7 GPA and must submit an application form affirming adherence to the GSSW Student Code of Conduct and NASW Code of Ethics. Transfer students without a Baylor GPA need a transfer GPA of 2.7 or above.
Top Features
Baylor’s program stands out through its 10th Competency. This guides students to engage in ethical and anti-oppressive practice while thinking over the role of religion, spirituality and philosophical points of view. The Council on Social Work Education mandates nine competencies for accreditation, but Baylor adds this unique dimension to address the whole person in social work education.
BSW graduates gain access to advanced standing in the MSW program. This enables completion of both degrees in just five years. This accelerated pathway saves you time and positions you for advanced clinical or community practice specializations. Coursework spans topics that include Juvenile Delinquency, Trauma Loss and Mourning, Foundations of Social Justice, and Human Diversity and Leadership.
Tuition and Costs
Tuition and fees are $63,620 annually. Room and board adds $16,638. But 55% of first-year students received need-based financial aid in fall 2023. The average need-based scholarship reached $35,203 for first-year students. Graduates who borrowed had median federal loan debt of $23,000, with typical monthly payments of $244.
Best For
This program serves you well if integrating faith points of view with professional social work practice aligns with your values. The five-year BSW to MSW pathway benefits students committed to advanced education. The downtown Waco location provides access to urban practicum sites that offer diversity.
6. UNT Dallas BSW Program
UNT Dallas delivers its BSW degree entirely online and removes geographical barriers for students throughout Texas and beyond. This CSWE-aligned program prepares you for generalist practice through virtual coursework paired with hands-on field experience in your own community.
Program Overview
The curriculum gets into human behavior across the lifespan, social welfare policy, diversity and culturally competent practice, mental health social work, and evidence-based research. Your coursework builds professional knowledge while maintaining flexibility for work and family commitments. The program launched its inaugural classes in January 2026, with both full-time and part-time study options available.
Field education requires 400 supervised practicum hours in professional settings such as schools, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations near your residence. Faculty guidance accompanies your fieldwork whatever your location and bridges virtual instruction with practical application. You become eligible to sit for the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners Licensing Exam upon completing your degree.
Top Features
The 100% online format distinguishes this program from traditional campus-based options in Texas. You design a schedule matching your personal circumstances while accessing the same quality education as on-campus students. The required practicum lets you apply classroom concepts in local agencies and build professional connections within your community directly.
Career-focused skill development spans case management, crisis intervention, treatment planning, and ethical decision-making. These competencies position you for employment in child welfare, school social work, medical settings, mental health services, and policy advocacy. Social work roles are projected to grow by more than 11% by 2027, with median salaries around $52,000 annually.
Tuition and Costs
In-state students pay $9,595 annually for tuition and fees, while out-of-state students face costs of $21,894. These rates make UNT Dallas one of the most economical pathways to a BSW degree in Texas.
Best For
This program serves you well if location flexibility matters for your education. Working professionals, parents, rural residents, and out-of-state students benefit from the online delivery model while completing meaningful field experiences in their local communities.
7. East Texas A&M University BSW Program
East Texas A&M University’s School of Social Work secured an eight-year reaffirmation of CSWE accreditation for its BSW program. This shows steadfast dedication to national standards for professional social work education. The BSW program has managed to keep full accreditation since 1978 and contributes to a 25-year history of shaping social work leaders.
Program Overview
Your BSW degree requires 120 credit hours. The curriculum blends professional social work courses with liberal arts education. The program offers three enrollment formats: 100% online, hybrid online, or face-to-face instruction at the Commerce campus. This flexibility accommodates different learning priorities and maintains rigorous academic standards that align with CSWE’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.
You advance through courses as cohorts. This builds lasting relationships with peers who share your professional goals. Applications for the BSW program open on March 1, 2026. You must first apply to East Texas A&M through ApplyTexas and then complete the separate BSW program application.
Top Features
This program excels in its field experience and faculty. Faculty mentorship guides your professional development throughout the program, and a strong alumni network creates pathways for career entry. This combination of academic rigor and hands-on experience prepares you to meet licensure requirements and pursue diverse social work careers.
Graduates work in various sectors that include schools, hospitals, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and nursing homes. Some pursue advanced degrees in social work or related fields.
Tuition and Costs
Texas residents pay $4,212 per semester for 12 credit hours. Non-residents face costs of $9,108 per semester. Annual tuition and fees total $10,026 for in-state students and $22,186 for out-of-state students.
Best For
This program serves you well if format flexibility matters for your education. You can choose between online learning or traditional classroom instruction. The cohort model benefits students who value peer support throughout their undergraduate experience.
8. Texas Tech University BSW Program
Texas Tech University’s Bachelor of Arts in Social Work operates as a hybrid program. It blends face-to-face instruction with online components to prepare you for generalist practice. This CSWE-accredited program maintains full accreditation through June 2031.
Program Overview
Your degree requires 6 hours of program adjunct courses, 3 hours of approved electives, 24 credit hours of lecture-based coursework, and 9 capstone credit hours. The capstone semester has a 400-hour field placement with concurrent seminar courses. You must complete university core curriculum, college general requirements, and an 18-hour minor along with major requirements.
You must meet with the Senior Academic Advisor every long semester to track degree progress. Submit field placement applications the semester before enrollment in the capstone courses. The Director of Field Education arranges all agency partnerships.
Top Features
Texas Tech’s program centers on a person-in-environment focus that distinguishes social work from other helping professions through dual orientation to individuals and their surroundings. The curriculum adheres to the NASW Code of Ethics and grounds practice in six core values: service, social justice, dignity and worth of persons, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.
Graduates achieve strong employment outcomes. A majority secure full-time positions before graduation. Complete the degree within 5 years and you become eligible for 1-year MSW programs. The program qualifies you to sit for the ASWB national exam and apply for licensure in most jurisdictions.
Tuition and Costs
Students who are residents pay $11,852 per year for tuition and fees, while out-of-state students face costs of $24,152. Total cost of attendance reaches $28,525 for residents and $40,825 for non-residents.
Best For
This BSW degree suits you if hybrid learning matches your schedule needs while regular advisor contact supports your academic success.
9. Texas Woman’s University BSW Program
The Orien Levy Woolf Division of Social Work at Texas Woman’s University has prepared social workers since 1946 and is one of the first accredited programs in Texas. This CSWE-accredited BSW degree centers on academic excellence and social justice while maintaining a strong educational foundation in women’s issues.
Program Overview
Your BSW degree requires 120 semester credit hours. This includes 52 hours in social work courses. The curriculum organizes around six areas: practice, human behavior and social environment, social welfare and policy, research, professional development, and field education. You must complete a 416-semester credit hour field placement under qualified social worker supervision. Admission just needs a minimum 2.50 overall GPA and grades of C or higher in all social work courses.
Top Features
The program gives you the ability to practice with diverse client systems while addressing structural causes of social, environmental, and economic injustice. Career paths span geriatrics, mental health, medical social work, child protective services, school social work, case management, policy development, and emergency services. Upon graduation, you qualify for state licensure and advanced standing in most MSW programs.
Tuition and Costs
In-state students pay $10,540 annually for tuition and fees, while out-of-state students face $22,840.
Best For
This program serves you well if enabling marginalized populations aligns with your values and you seek preparation for diverse social work settings.
10. University of North Texas BSW Program
The Department of Social Work at UNT gives you the knowledge, skills and values necessary for professional practice through faculty members who actively research aging, child welfare, mental health, program evaluation, relationship violence and social welfare policy. Their work appears in recognized journals and national conferences.
Program Overview
Your degree requires 120 credit hours over four years. The CSWE-accredited program meets strict standards for excellence in social work education. Service-learning projects in introductory and practice courses connect classroom theory to ground situations.
Top Features
Field placements span women’s shelters, child welfare agencies and settings serving individuals with AIDS, mental illness or chronic illnesses. The Fannie Belle Gaupp Scholarship and Social Work/Title IV-E Child Welfare Scholarship provide financial support each year. You’ll network through student organizations including Preserve UNTil Success Happens (PUSH), Social Work Student Association and Phi Alpha Honor Society.
Tuition and Costs
Texas residents pay $11,663 each year for tuition and fees.
Best For
This BSW degree serves you well if faculty mentorship matters to your education and diverse field placement options line up with your professional interests.
Choose Today
Out of these 10 BSW programs, we hope you find one that is a great fit. We’ve tried to look at all of the possible features, including field placement opportunities, faculty, tuition and more. If you take time to do your own research, make your own list of factors you find important and go from there.
If you drawn to rural social work practice, faith-integrated education or online flexibility, you can find a good BSW here. When you are looking at programs, look at more than just cost – specializations are important too. If you can visit campuses, do so, even if you can only do so virtually. Good luck!