Most Affordable MSW Programs in Texas

Graduate school is intended to provide the foundations from which you can build a lucrative and long-lasting career. However, for many, the high costs of tuition can be prohibitive, leaving many to feel that the great opportunity that is graduate school is out of their personal reach.

Fortunately, there are many terrific affordable Master of Social Work programs in Texas that can help make prospective students’ grad school dreams a reality.

Thanks to the arrival of online Master of Social Work programs, aspiring students also have the ability to fit graduate school more easily into the rest of their lives. This can be a game-changing factor for many students, who have previously needed to clear space in their schedules and even consider relocating to make it easier to commute to campus. Online graduate programs offer a newfound ease of access that can help you take your career into your own hands.

How We Determined the Most Affordable Social Work Master’s Programs in Texas

The schools on this list all fall below the state’s average cost of tuition. They are also all accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which ensures that students’ degrees will render them eligible for social work licensing after they graduate.

Delivery and scheduling options vary from school to school, but include the full spectrum of possibilities for students, including full-time and part-time options as well as in-person, online, and hybrid models. This means that students with a wide variety of academic needs will find fantastic options for them among the options listed below.

Affordable Master of Social Work Programs in Texas

Below is a list of the most affordable accredited Master of Social Work programs in Texas, which offer a first-rate education at an accessible price. Take a look at each program description to learn about course offerings, majors and concentrations, delivery format, and application requirements to find the school that’s best for you.

Angelo State University

Location: San Angelo, TX
Online option: Yes

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Per-year tuition (in-state): $4,181

One of the fastest-growing social work programs in Texas, Angelo State University is an excellent option for aspiring social workers in the San Angelo area. Even those who aren’t local can enroll in the school’s fully online option, which provides 100% of coursework remotely. (It’s worth noting that online programs will still require students to complete field work internships in person, as this is the only way to build the hands-on skill the practicum is intended to develop.) Students are able to enroll on a full-time or part-time basis, allowing them to integrate their studies into the rest of their schedules.

Angelo State offers two primary educational tracks: Advanced Generalist and Clinical Social Work. The former of these concentrations is intended to prepare students to become Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSWs), qualified to hold administrative and leadership positions in social work organizations. The latter is designed to build skills for direct clinical services (i.e. therapy and counseling) for students who wish to become Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs).

Prairie View A&M University

Location: Prairie View, TX
Online option: Yes

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Per-year tuition (in-state): $5,191

Prairie View A&M University is among the oldest educational institutions in Texas. Its social work program, offered by the Brailsford College of Arts & Sciences, is the #1 ranked social work program at an HBCU in the state. Indeed, this program features a unique orientation toward Africentric social work practice, creating an especially supportive environment for Black social work students as well as those who intend to practice social work in Black communities.

It’s worth noting that while Prairie View A&M’s curriculum is designed to foreground Africentric perspectives and issues in social work practice, this is not itself a concentration for social work master’s students. The school’s primary specializations are in Medical Social Work and Behavioral Health. Both of these programs are well-integrated into the Prairie View community at large, offering exceptional field work opportunities where students can gain firsthand experience.

Stephen F. Austin State University

Location: Nacogdoches, TX
Online option: Partial

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Per-year tuition (in-state): $5,262

The Master of Social Work degree program at Stephen F. Austin State University is an excellent choice for students living in or near the Nacogdoches area. Offering a range of specializations and concentrations, the school’s core course offerings are oriented toward supporting future social workers working in rural communities. This can be an excellent and unique basis of understanding the tenets of social work practice and how they can be applied outside of urban centers.

While not all coursework is available online, Stephen F. Austin State University’s MSW program offers all specialization courses in online format, helping students with outside responsibilities create more manageable graduate schedules. Courses are offered on a full-time or part-time basis, further alleviating the burden of completing graduate coursework for working students.

Tarleton State University

Location: Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco
Online option: Yes

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Per-year tuition (in-state): $4,356

For students looking for flexibility in their social work education, Tarleton State University’s MSW program could be the perfect choice for you. This program offers in-person, online, and hybrid course options to allow students to tailor the perfect academic schedule to fit into their lifestyle. Its on-campus offerings are also located in three different cities: Stephenville, Fort Worth, and Waco, allowing students local to those areas to take in-person courses at their convenience.

Concentrations and specializations at Tarleton State University run the gamut of social work topics, including policy and gerontology, social media and technology in education, mental health, substance abuse, community development and organizing, and child welfare. For students interested in study abroad experience, the school makes it possible to pursue internships and courses in outside places to be used toward one’s course requirements.

Texas A&M University – Commerce

Location: Commerce, TX
Online option: Yes – exclusively

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Per-year tuition (in-state): $3,630

If you’re looking for one of the most affordable online Master of Social Work programs in Texas, the MSW program at Texas A&M University Commerce is one of the best and most budget-friendly options out there. Offered exclusively online, this program is tailored to build core competencies in all the skill areas needed to have a thriving social work career. This is an excellent choice for prospective students who wish to begin their long-term career training while maintaining other responsibilities, including continuing to hold jobs or uphold family responsibilities.

It’s worth noting that while Texas A&M University at Commerce does offer a part-time MSW track, it is at a slower pace than part-time options at other schools (amounting to four years total rather than the more standard three). For some students, this can be optimal, ensuring that their class time and field work will not be too disruptive to their day to day lives while still leading them toward their desired degree.

Texas A&M University – Kingsville

Location: Kingsville, TX
Online option: No

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Per-year tuition (in-state): $3,409

Kingsville-based prospective social work students have an excellent and affordable option in their own city. Texas A&M Kingsville’s MSW program is hosted by the Department of Clinical Health Sciences, and offers both traditional and Advanced Standing tracks for students with a variety of academic backgrounds.

TAMUK’s MSW program is called the “Clinical/Activist program,” which should give potential applicants a sense of the program’s orientation. Students will build the skills needed to provide direct one-on-one services to clients, including therapy and counseling. Beyond this, coursework will cover a wide variety of social work topics, including elder care, veterans’ social work, and leadership.

Texas A&M University – Texarkana

Location: Texarkana, TX
Online option: No

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Per-year tuition (in-state): $4,535

The Master of Social Work program at Texas A&M Texarkana is an excellent choice for those looking for an affordable degree path. Available in three scheduling formats – full-time, two-year part time with summer courses, and four-year part time – the school makes it possible for students with a variety of time concerns to pursue their degrees without disrupting the rest of their lives.

Texas A&M Texarkana’s MSW program is especially known for its emphasis on mental health-related practices, which extends to substance abuse and addiction treatment. However, students who attend this program will also gain a grounding in the full range of social work disciplines, allowing them to pursue careers in whatever social work subfield most speaks to them.

Texas Woman’s University

Location: Denton, TX
Online option: No

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Per-year tuition (in-state): $5,184

Students looking for a school geared toward female students with a particular curricular emphasis on women’s issues may find the perfect option for them at Texas Woman’s University. (Men are also able to attend TWU, and those who have a particularly keen interest in providing social services that address women’s causes may benefit from this academic focus.) The University’s Master of Social Work program used to be offered in tandem with University of North Texas but as of 2024 is offered autonomously.

TWU’s MSW program offers an advanced generalist education, building core competencies and a large breadth of social work knowledge to allow students to pursue a social work career in whatever area of focus most calls to them. For students in the Denton area who wish for time to explore the various social work focus areas out there, this could be the perfect program to build skill while zeroing in on your career goals.

The University of Texas at El Paso

Location: El Paso, TX
Online option: No

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Per-year tuition (in-state): $5,865

If you’re passionate about supporting those who have been most drastically impacted by the border crisis – namely, migrant families who have recently arrived in the United States – the MSW program at the University of Texas at El Paso offers an unparalleled education in the struggles such communities face and the solutions that can help disadvantaged people take the reins on their lives. This coursework includes a primer on numerous key social work causes, including child welfare, family violence, drug and alcohol abuse, medical social work, immigration, and criminal justice.

The MSW program at UT El Paso is deliberately kept small, allowing students to get the benefit of focused mentorship from professors and close relationships with their cohort. This provides a deeply supportive learning environment for students who are seeking a hands-on learning experience as they take the first steps in their social work career.

The University of Texas at Permian Basin

Location: Odessa, TX
Online option: Yes, exclusively

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Per-year tuition (in-state): $4,948

A fully online program designed to provide a comprehensive education on a flexible schedule, UT Permian Basin’s MSW program is an excellent option for those who wish to work toward their social work degree with maximum control over their class time. All classes are provided online, allowing students to attend UT Permian Basin’s MSW program from any part of the state. (Field work opportunities are still expected to be completed in-person at a social work organization that is convenient to you.)

It’s worth noting that UT Permian Basin’s MSW program is only offered on a full-time basis. However, its flexibility in terms of coursework may make this option more manageable than it would be at many other schools, even those offering classes on a part-time basis. It is worth taking a good look at these class requirements to see if this option would be in service to your professional and academic needs.

The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley

Location: Edinburg, TX
Online option: Yes

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Per-year tuition (in-state): $6,948

The Master of Social Work program at UTRGV is one of the most affordable in the state while offering a complete and comprehensive education in social work. The school offers two curricular tracks for students: Direct Practice with LatinX Individuals, Families, and Groups, and Administration and Community Practice. The former of these is geared toward those who wish to become Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), who provide services like counseling and therapy in one-on-one contexts to clients. The latter is intended for those who wish to become Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSWs), who can take on leadership and program management roles in social work organizations.

UTRGV offers graduate scholarships up to $1,000 for qualified students entering their programs. If you’re eager to take your first steps toward a social work education but not sure how you can afford the high cost of a graduate program, this can be an incredible source of assistance as you take your first steps in the field.

West Texas A&M University

Location: Canyon, TX
Online option: Yes, exclusively

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Per-year tuition (in-state): $5,088

For those who would like to attend a fully online MSSW program, West Texas A&M University offers a program that will provide you with a thorough education in social work from wherever you are. Students will still be expected to complete an in-person field work or practicum, but will have the opportunity to do so in a location that is convenient to where you live. This is an excellent opportunity for those who wish to pursue your education while maintaining outside responsibilities.

West Texas A&M’s curriculum is oriented toward an Advanced Generalist framework, allowing students to explore the range of social work specializations to determine where their skills and interests lie. This is a great choice for those who aren’t yet sure where they’d like to lay their career foundations but are eager to take the next steps toward launching thriving social work careers.