After completing their military service, many veterans wish to take up career paths that address societal issues and uplift communities. If you are a veteran or active duty service member who is eager to contribute to the causes you care about, it’s worth considering a career as a social worker.
The social work field can offer wonderfully rewarding opportunities for veterans to stay connected to civic engagement, drawing from their own experiences to support those in need.
The first step in a social work career is obtaining a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. This is a requirement in order to qualify for licensure, which one must hold in order to provide direct services to clients. In an MSW program, students receive an education in a wide range of social work topics, from concentration areas to ethical considerations to innovations in social work practice today. They also receive rigorous training through extensive field internships at local organizations, where they will gain firsthand experiences of a social worker’s responsibilities.
Veterans and active duty military members who reside in the state of Texas are lucky to have numerous degree program options at their disposal, including both on-campus options near to military bases and fully online programs that they can attend from wherever they are in the state. These include a wide range of concentration pathways, allowing students to refine their specific career goals while they are still in school. There are also many universities offering online Bachelor of Social Work programs in Texas for those who haven’t completed their undergraduate education.
Taking the next steps in your education can be daunting, and for active duty military members and veterans, the complexity of the military benefit system can feel like another hurdle in the application process. However, good news: the benefits available to you can provide tremendous financial support to reduce the cost of your education and help you build the life you want after completing your service.
This guide provides an index of the best military-friendly social work degree programs in the state of Texas, designed to help any veterans or active duty military members looking to kickstart their education and take their careers into their hands today.
The Unique Insights Veterans Can Bring to the Social Work Field
After completing a career in the military, becoming a social worker may seem like an extreme change in focus and in lifestyle. However, becoming a military social worker can be a wonderful way to channel your experience in the armed forces into positive change for others.
Veterans who choose to pursue social work with other veterans can provide a degree of empathy and insight that others simply don’t possess.
This can make a world of difference for veterans who are struggling with the host of challenges that can await military personnel upon leaving the service, from physical incapacities to psychological and emotional issues to struggles securing basic needs like housing and employment. For veteran practitioners, meanwhile, it can be healing and fortifying to put their own experiences toward playing a supportive role in someone else’s life.
Beyond the fulfillment that can come from becoming a military social worker, it can also be a prudent career path, offering a stable trajectory with a wealth of opportunities. A report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs explains that it is the largest employer of social workers in the country, offering military social work jobs in every state, including Texas.
Though none of the schools appearing in the index below offer concentration pathways specifically on social work in the military, most will allow you to complete your practicum hours in the VA or other organizations that support veterans, providing the opportunity to gain expertise in this subfield so that you can launch a career in military social work upon graduating.
Military Benefits Can Help You Put Your Education Within Reach
As you consider your options for pursuing a degree in social work, don’t forget to do your homework on the military benefits available to you, which can make all the difference in making your education affordable and accessible.
Your military benefits are a well-deserved reward for your time in the armed forces, and you should absolutely take advantage of the resources available to you.
Different veterans are eligible for different benefits depending on their unique circumstances, so it’s important to do good research in a timely manner to be sure you’re finding the funding opportunities that work for you. Indeed, there are a wide range of resources available at both the national and state level that can cover as much as full tuition at the institution of your choosing. These include:
These are just some of the numerous resources available to Texas-based veterans who wish to pursue the next steps in their careers after service.
Index of Schools (listed alphabetically)
The following index includes information about in-person and online social work degree programs in Texas. These schools have been selected specifically for their proximity to military bases, allowing active duty military personnel or veterans who have remained close to the bases where they were stationed to easily access educational opportunities. (Note: “proximity” in this guide means within a one-hour drive of campus, with most schools being significantly closer than one hour away.)
As you review the guide below, make sure to take a look at the available degree and concentration pathways to confirm that they align with your specific needs. This list includes a mix of online bachelor’s degree programs and MSW programs in Texas, so look carefully to be sure you are eligible for the programs of your choice.
Abilene Christian University
Yellow Ribbon School
Location: Abilene, TX
Online option: Partial
Nearby military bases: Dyess Air Force Base
Formats:
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Full-time MSSW (2 year)
- Part-time MSSW (3-4 year)
- Full-time Advanced Standing MSSW (1 year)
- Part-Time Advanced Standing MSSW (2 year)
Per-year tuition (in-state): $24,174
- Specializations: Advanced Generalist
Our Lady of the Lake University
Yellow Ribbon School
Location: San Antonio, TX
Online option: Yes
Nearby military bases: Lackland Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Joint Base Camp Bullis, Randolph Air Force Base
Formats:
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Full-time MSW
- Part-time MSW
- Full-time Advanced Standing MSW
- Part-time MSW
Per-year tuition (in-state): $17,658
- Specializations: Social Work Practice in Hispanic Communities
Texas Christian University
Yellow Ribbon School
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Online option: Partial
Nearby military bases: Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth
Formats:
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Full-time MSW (2-year)
- Part-time MSW (3-year)
- Full-time Advanced Standing MSW (1-year)
- Part-time Advanced Standing MSW (2-year)
Per-year tuition (in-state): $35,730
- Specializations: Health and Mental Health, Children and Families
University of Houston
Location: Houston, TX
Online option: Hybrid and fully remote
Nearby military bases: Joint Reserve Base Ellison
Formats:
- Full-time MSW (2 years)
- Part-time MSW (3 years)
- Full-time Advanced Standing MSW (1-year)
- Part-time Advanced Standing MSW (2-year)
Per-year tuition (in-state): $8,723
- Specializations: Trauma Education, Global Leaders of Behavioral Health Education, Political Social Work, Abolitionist Social Work, Mental Health Advanced Practice, and Nonprofit Leadership
The University of Texas at Austin
Location: Austin, TX
Online option: No
Nearby military bases: Camp Mabry
Formats:
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Full-time MSW (2-year)
- Part-time MSSW (3- and 3-and-a-half year)
- Full-time Advanced Standing MSW (1-year)
- Part-time Advanced Standing MSW (2-year)
Per-year tuition (in-state): $12,012
- Specializations: Clinical Social Work, Administration and Policy Practice
The University of Texas at Arlington
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Online option: Yes
Nearby military bases: Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth
Formats:
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Full-time MSW (2-year)
- Part time MSW (3-year)
- Full-time Advanced Standing MSW (1-year)
Per-year tuition (in-state): $9,015
- Specializations: Aging, Children and Families, Health, Mental Health & Substance Abuse, Community and Administrative Practice
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Location: San Antonio, TX
Online option: Yes
Nearby military bases: Lackland Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Joint Base Camp Bullis, Randolph Air Force Base
Formats:
- Full-time MSW (2-year)
- Part-time MSW (3-year)
- Advanced Standing MSW (1-year)
Per-year tuition (in-state): $7,403
- Specializations: Advanced Generalist
FAQs
Do I need a formal degree in order to practice social work in the military?
Yes. In the state of Texas and the rest of the U.S., social workers working in any concentration area need to hold Master of Social Work degrees in order to be eligible for state licensure. This ensures that all social work professionals have the training and expertise needed to support individuals and families through serious situations.
Will I become eligible for licensure if I pursue my MSW through an online social work degree program in Texas?
As long as you are studying at an accredited university, absolutely. The curriculum of an online social work program should be no different from that of an on-campus program, and will similarly involve field internships at the location of your choosing.
What are Yellow Ribbon Schools?
Some colleges and universities participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which offers additional funding beyond what other federal programs (such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill) cover. Prospective graduate students in particular can benefit from the Yellow Ribbon Program, which covers master’s programs. Several of the schools included in the guide above are Yellow Ribbon Schools, making them excellent choices for those planning to pursue MSW degrees. This is noted in the listings above, where applicable.
What is the average military social worker salary in Texas?
Salary data for social workers is collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which does not individualize data for military and veterans’ social workers. Still, one can look at their data and approximate that military social workers earn an average of $68,500 per year.