Find A Social Work Degree in Texas

We have your list of the top ten best Social Work schools in Texas. With over twenty schools with Social Work programs, Texas is a great place to start your career in Social Work. Social Work schools in Texas have been ranked for you, and we have your list of the top ten! Texas has been among the fastest-growing states for years. It is also the second-most populous state in the US, with over 29 million citizens. Texas also ranks second in physical size.

The state’s beautiful landscape consists of plains and plateaus that slowly roll into mountains. Texas has many great cities and urban areas. In addition, the state is also well known for its excellent colleges and universities. Offering over twenty schools with Social Work programs, Texas is a great place to start your career in Social Work. So, to get you started on your Social Work journey, we have compiled a list of Texas’s best Social Work schools. Furthermore, if you are interested in how to become a Social Worker in Texas, we have that guide as well.

For our ranking of the Best Social Work Schools In Texas, Social Work Degree Center editors focused on accredited, trusted institutions. In addition, programs are ranked according to cost, graduate salary, and student satisfaction, using data from IPEDS and Niche.

1. The University of Texas at Austin

The Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin is one of Texas’s best social work schools. The school’s mission is to educate social workers who have both a passion for social justice and a desire to make a difference in the world. UT Austin offers a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) that balances liberal arts with social work with a social justice focus. In addition, the University of Texas Master of Science in Social Work (MSW) program is one of the best master’s in social work programs in Texas and the nation. The Master’s program also has certificates if students have a specific focus for their social work practice. And for students interested in continuing their education further, UT Austin offers a PhD program.

The University of Texas at Austin has been educating texas social workers since 1950. The Steve Hicks School of Social Work is widely regarded as one of the best Texas colleges for social work. The school offers small classes and has a top-tier research facility with countless years of experience and leaders in their field.

Degrees: BSW, MSW, PhD

master’s in Social Work at UT Austin

2. University of Houston

The Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston is one of Texas’s best master’s in Social Work schools. Dedicated to preparing the leaders of today and tomorrow, Houston emphasizes diversity in practice and research. The UH Social Work students learn how to promote the well-being of all and understand the harmful impacts of unhealthy environments while making them better. While the school does not have an undergraduate BSW program, it has a robust offering of graduate degrees. In addition to an MSW, the university also offers five dual-degree Master’s programs and a doctorate in social work.

The Graduate College of Social Work has been one of the top Texas social work schools since 1967, and it received CSWE accreditation in 1970. The school offers three methods by which students can learn. Students can take classes online, in person, or a hybrid format. This flexibility allows students to pick the learning method that best fits their lives to work and continue their education.

Degrees: MSW, MSW/MPP, MSW/MBA, MSW/MPH, MSW/JD, MSW/PhD, PhD

Social Work at the University of Houston

3. Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University has one of the best Social Work schools in Texas with undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Students learn special skills and knowledge and a commitment to a core set of values. Social work students are always working towards change. The program adheres to the fundamental values of social justice, integrity, and competence.

Texas Tech University contains one of the best Texas social work schools. They have almost 100 years and are rated one of the top 100 public research universities. In addition, the university has ten colleges and 150 academic programs providing the opportunity for students to work on dual degrees.

Degrees: BSN, MSN

Social Work at Texas Tech

4. Texas Christian University

Another one of the best Social Work programs in Texas is at Texas Christian University. The school’s Department of Social Work offers both an undergraduate and graduate degree path. Students can earn a BSW, a MSW, or one of the three dual degrees in Social Work and Divinity.

Texas Christian University social work students are passionate about individuals, families, organizations, and groups. Students are given practice with critical thinking, leadership, and social change. The program has a focus on trauma-informed practice. In addition to the degree programs, Texas Christian University offers various electives and minor options, including child development, criminal justice, and psychology.

Texas Christian University is known as one of Texas’s best Social Work schools. The school also ranks as one of the top 100 universities in the US. The Texas Christian Social Work programs offer small class sizes and individual attention. In addition, this is one of the Texas Social Work schools that provides internships.

Degrees: BSW, MSW, MSW/MATM, MSW/MTS, MSW/MDiv

Social Work at Texas Christian

5. Baylor University

The Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University is another one of Texas’s best Social Work schools. Baylor offers an undergraduate degree, four different graduate degree options, two specializations, three dual degrees, a PhD program. In addition, the university is one of the top Texas social work schools focusing on justice, service, healing and restoration, and dignity for each person.

Baylor Social Work students enjoy small classes with a ratio of one professor to ten students and an average class size of fifteen. The school focuses on experiential learning and innovative techniques to train students to become professionals in Social Work. At the heart of social work, the curriculum is field service which allows students opportunities for real-life use of their classroom knowledge.

Degrees: BSW, MSW, MSW/MBA, MSW/MDiv, MSW/MTS, PhD

Social Work at Baylor University

6. University of North Texas

The University of North Texas has one of Texas’s best Social Work Schools. The Department of Social Work at UNT offers a Bachelor’s Degree in social work and a joint MSW program with Texas Woman’s University. The BSW program is a long-standing staple of the school and received accreditation from the CSWE in 1975. The joint Master of Social Work (JMSW) degree program is the first program of its kind in the state and draws on the resources of both universities. Students in the joint program are considered members of both the TWU and the UNT communities. In addition, program graduates receive a degree jointly awarded by both universities. The joint MSW has a generalist and advanced standing option. In addition, students can attend a full-time or part-time program.

The University of North Texas is a public university in the college town of Denton. However, it is only about a thirty-minute drive from the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. UNT first opened in 1890 and today is the flagship institution of the University of North Texas System.

Degrees: BSW, MSW (joint)

Social Work at the University of North Texas

7. The University of Texas at Arlington

The School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Arlington has one of the best Social Work schools in Texas. UT Arlington offers multiple degree options. These include a both Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work. In addition, UT Arlington also has a PhD in Social Work and certificate programs. Students learn how to become advocates for social justice and understand human behavior in a social environment. Social work majors will work with varying issues, including poverty, discrimination, addiction, and educational problems upon graduation. In addition, students can attend UT Arlington Social Work programs online or in-person, depending on what works for the student.

The University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work began in 1967 and received accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in 1970. Today, the school is home to two research training sites – The Judith G Birmingham Center for Child Welfare and The Center for Addiction and Recovery Studies (CARS).

Degrees: BSW, MSW, PhD, Graduate Certificates, Dual Degree options

Social Work at UT at Arlington

8. The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley

The School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley offers both a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work degree. The Bachelor of Social Work program focuses on teaching students the fundamentals of Social Work practice. Both undergraduate and graduate programs incorporate field education. As a result, students gain a basic understanding of the welfare system, theories of social work practice, skills, and knowledge to enter the social work profession successfully. In addition, both social work programs at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley focus on direct practice with Latino individuals, families, and groups in the local area.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is the southernmost member of the public University of Texas System. Although the school opened in 2015, it is a product of the consolidation of two established schools, UT Brownsville and UT Pan-American. Today, UTRGV has over 500 acres and six locations in the Rio Grande Valley region. The majority of the school’s student population is Hispanic. The UTRGV Social Work programs were initially part of UT Pan-American. The BSW program first received CSWE accreditation in 1976 and the MSW in 2002 under the old name.

Degrees: BSW, MSSW, Graduate Certificate

Social Work at UT Rio Grande Valley

9. Texas Woman’s University

Texas Woman’s University offers one of Texas’s best social work programs. The school offers a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work. The MSW is a joint degree with the University of North Texas. As one of the best Social Work schools in Texas, Texas Woman’s University provides an opportunity for students to gain employment in the health care industry. Students focus on child and family service, mental health, and other social concerns.

Texas Woman’s University has been one of the top Texas social work schools with an accredited Social Work program since the mid-1970s. Together the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University have worked for decades to create trained and professional Social Workers. This joint program gives students the ability to utilize the resources at both universities while developing robust connections throughout the community.

Degrees: BSW, MSW (joint)

Social Work at Texas Women’s – Joint Program

10. Texas State University

The School of Social Work at Texas State University is another one of Texas’s best Social Work schools. TSU offers two-degree programs with a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work. As one of the best Texas social work schools, Texas State University provides students with a general foundation of Social Work principles. Students learn to improve the overall well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Upon graduation, students will understand how to apply social work values and skills toward achieving social and economic justice.

Texas State University has small classes which ensures students have individual attention. The school takes pride in the deep interaction between faculty and students. In addition, TSU offers full-time and part-time programs and class schedules to accommodate the needs of working students. Texas State University has a robust program with also high expectations for students.

Degrees: BSW, MSW

Social Work at Texas State

When a student is looking for one of the best Social Work schools in Texas, accreditation and what the school offers are essential. However, students should also consider the program’s cost, the location of the school, program length, and specialties and degrees offered. In addition, students may want to know if distance learning and online classes are available. Scheduling flexibility is also critical for working students to decide which school is best for their needs. Finally, students may want to talk to some current students or recent graduates to understand the culture at the school and if it is a good fit for them.

Many students are interested in the online schools in Texas for Social Work. Students can earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW), Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW), or a Doctorate in Social Work (PhD) in Texas with an online program. So, the schools that offer these programs are listed below. Some of them did not make our top ten list, but all have received accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education(CSWE).

Texas Online BSW:

Online graduate schools in Texas for Social Work:

Online PhD Social Work schools in Texas:

Baylor University

The job market for a licensed social worker is growing not only in Texas but around the country. So, there is a severe need for more Social Workers already in the field and those ready for professional development. Current social workers feel as though they cannot keep up with the demand. In addition, the US Bureau of Labor projects the overall employment of Social Workers to grow as much as twelve percent (9%) between 2021 and 2031.

This growth is faster than the average growth for most other occupations. There is a projection of 78,300 job openings each year for a licensed master social worker over the ten years. A large percentage of those jobs come from replacing the workforce.

What are the types of Jobs Available for Social Workers In Texas?

working in a clinical or community practice
working with a community organization
licensed clinical social worker
human services

Labor statistics show that the average base salary for a licensed master social worker in Texas is $60,641. However, a Social Worker with less than one year of experience can expect a salary of around $56,276 in Texas. A Social Worker with more than ten years of experience in human services can expect a salary of $71,134. The highest paying city in Texas is El Paso, with an annual salary of around $77,752.

Related:

How We Ranked the 10 Best Social Work Schools In Texas 2022