Online Master of Social Work
Social workers shape lives—in hospitals and schools, at policy tables and in communities facing their most difficult moments. The Rutgers School of Social Work Online MSW gives you the advanced skills, CSWE-accredited credentials, and hands-on field experience to do that work with confidence.
The Rutgers School of Social Work admits students every term—fall, spring, and summer. You don’t have to wait a whole year to get started.
An Online MSW from Rutgers is a professional credential that hiring managers, licensing boards, and communities already know and respect. Graduates step into roles across mental health, healthcare, education, nonprofits, government agencies, and beyond. And they do so carrying a degree from a program ranked among the top in the country.
Average Annual Salary for Social Workers
Projected Job Growth in Next 10 Years
*Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Figures represent median earnings as of May 2024 and may vary by location, licensure, and experience.
Social work is one of the most versatile advanced degrees you can earn. A MSW doesn’t lock you into one job title or setting. It opens doors across healthcare, education, government, nonprofits, schools, and private practice.
Work directly with clients providing therapy, crisis intervention, and mental health support in clinics, hospitals, and private practice settings as a:
Empower families and protect the vulnerable by ensuring children have the safe environments and support systems they need to thrive as a:
Serve as a vital lifeline for patients and families, bridging the gap between clinical treatment and the community resources needed to navigate life-altering diagnoses and recovery with dignity as a:
Champion the success of students by removing the emotional, societal, and stability barriers that stand in the way of learning and growth as a:
Scale your impact by leading the community-wide programs and advocacy efforts that dismantle systemic barriers and champion social justice for vulnerable populations as a:
Transform the landscape of social justice by bringing frontline insights to legislative and research roles where you can shape the laws and systems that impact millions as a:
Choose a specialization that aligns with your career goals.
Develop engagement, intervention, and emotional health skills to provide mental health counseling in therapeutic settings or hospitals for diverse client populations.
Lead and advocate for impactful programs through electives focused on nonprofit management, strategic planning, and policy development.
Earn a certificate in a growing field without adding extra coursework or costs.
Every course in the Rutgers Online MSW is delivered asynchronously, meaning you log in and complete your coursework when it works for you, whether that’s early morning, during a lunch break, or late on a Saturday evening. No set class times. No commuting. Just focused, graduate-level instruction you can access wherever you are.
Finding a practicum placement that fits your schedule, goals, and location is one of the most important parts of your MSW experience. Our placement team works directly with you, gathering your preferences, connecting you with partner sites, and helping you land a placement where you’ll actually grow. You complete the hours. We’ll help you find the right place to do it.
Going back to school, especially online, can feel like stepping into the unknown. Rutgers built its support structure to take that uncertainty off your plate. From the moment you’re admitted, you’ll have real people in your corner: coaches, faculty, and specialists who know this program inside and out and are invested in seeing you succeed.
Carry a nationally ranked, CSWE-accredited credential backed by a 70-year legacy of excellence and over a decade of online graduate success. Stand out to employers with specialized embedded certificates integrated into your degree at no additional cost.