Understanding Boston University's MSW Tuition Costs and Financial Aid Opportunities

Earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Boston University (BU) can be a significant investment in your future. This article breaks down the tuition costs associated with the MSW program at Boston University’s School of Social Work (BUSSW) and explores available financial aid options to help you fund your education.

Tuition Costs at Boston University's School of Social Work

Cost per Credit

For students commencing the MSW program, BUSSW charges a specific amount per credit. It's important to note that this rate is not guaranteed for the duration of the program; fees typically rise per credit each academic year. Part-time graduates at Boston U paid an average amount per credit hour in a specific academic year.

Total Program Cost

Traditional standing students in the online track must complete a specific total of credits. There is also a fixed price per semester for student fees. The estimated total cost for the online MSW program is a significant amount.

Students who pursue the online/hybrid option at the Worcester campus may pay less due to the associated fees with the in-person portion. The hybrid program charges a certain amount per credit for the first set of credits on-campus with a total estimated cost. The second year is spent in the online program and costs a different amount. This offers savings over the online format.

Boston College MSW Tuition

Please note: The tuition rate for MSW students for the 2025-2026 academic year is $1,436 per credit (set annually). Credit hours vary each year depending on the length of the program you are in, yet the overall cost of the degree remains the same.

Read also: Applying to BU Dental

Financial Aid Opportunities at Boston College School of Social Work (BCSSW)

Automatic Scholarship Consideration

When you submit your application for admission, you are automatically considered for BCSSW scholarships, fellowships, graduate assistantships, and research assistantships. All admitted MSW students are offered a BCSSW scholarship upon admission.

Graduate Assistantships

MSW students can also pursue a range of graduate assistantships during their final year. Graduate assistantships offered through BC Social Work award a student a total amount for the academic year-part in tuition remission and the rest in a stipend (monthly). There is a separate application for BCSSW assistantships. The application form will be distributed in March by the BCSSW.

External Scholarships

For external scholarships, view the BC School of Social Work Scholarship Database.

Loans

Students may decide to apply for a private loan in addition to or instead of federal loans. Information about private loans is available. Graduate students may consider applying for the Graduate or Professional Student PLUS loan or Alternative loans to fill the gap between the aid offered and their budget.

Federal Financial Aid

The Boston College Office of Student Services administers and awards need-based federal financial aid programs. You should submit your application for federal financial aid as soon as possible.

To access the FAFSA, the Enrollment Form, and a range of other information for both domestic and international students, visit the website.

Important Application Steps for Federal Aid

Department of Education Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID): If you do not already have an FSA ID, you can apply for one. Be sure to maintain a copy of the FSA ID for your records.
FAFSA Processing: Once you have submitted your FAFSA for the appropriate year, it will take a few days to process. Keep the summary of the FAFSA for your records.
BC Graduate Student Supplemental Information form: Complete the BC Graduate Student Supplemental Information form and upload this form to the specified website.

Summer Federal Financial Aid

You may still be eligible for summer federal financial aid (Federal Direct Stafford Loan and/or Federal Work-Study) if you submit your application after the preferred deadline, however Federal Work-Study funding may be limited or not available. Graduate students who enroll at least half-time during the summer (6 credits in most cases) may be eligible to receive a Federal Direct Stafford Loan for that period. If you are interested in being considered for this loan, or for summer Federal Work-Study, please complete the summer enrollment questions on pages one and two of the Boston College Graduate Supplemental Information form.

Loan Reduction

If you wish to borrow less than what you have been awarded, you must notify the Boston College Office of Student Services in writing or through the "Financial Aid Notification" in Agora Portal of your intent to cancel or reduce your loan. Click the "Edit" button to reduce the amount of your award, then click "Continue" to submit the request to your Financial Aid counselor.

Financial Aid Application Deadline

Yes. It is still possible to apply for financial aid after the FAFSA preferred deadline. In order to be considered for federal financial aid, your application and processed FAFSA must be received by the Office of Student Services before the end of that enrollment period.

Renewal of Scholarship

Although individual financial aid awards are not finalized until the summer, the School generally renews the amount of scholarship awarded in the previous year as long as the student has maintained satisfactory performance and there has been no change in financial status and number of credits to be earned.

Eligibility for Loan Cancellation

Students who go on to work in intervention services or services for high-risk children from low-income communities may be eligible to have all or a portion of their Federal Perkins Loan canceled.

Aid Opportunities for Specific Groups

International Students

*International students are not eligible for federal financial aid. Information about aid opportunities is available on the university website. Although international students are not eligible for Federal financial aid there are other options for funding your education.

Veterans

Boston College acts as a liaison with the Veterans Administration for students who may qualify to receive veterans' education benefits. Military Veterans as well as benefits through the Post 9/11 GI Bill® Yellow Ribbon program. Eligible students should apply through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in order to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. Once the Certificate of Eligibility has been received, the student should contact the VA Certifying Official in the Office of Student Services. The Certifying Official will then certify the student's enrollment information to the Regional Processing Office (RPO).

National Health Service Corps (NHSC)

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) unites underserved communities with thousands of dedicated clinicians. The NHSC provides a Loan Repayment Program to fully trained providers with qualified educational loans if they choose to serve at an eligible site. Applicants must agree to provide primary care services in a priority health professional shortage area for a minimum of two years. Clinical social workers can be candidates for the program.

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps, the domestic Peace Corps, engages a large number of Americans in intensive, results-driven service each year. Most AmeriCorps members are selected by and serve with local and national organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, and Boys and Girls Clubs. Others serve in AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) and AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps).

Program Tracks and Credit Requirements

MSW Degree

The total number of credits for the MSW degree is 65 credits.

PhD Degree

The total number of credits for the PhD degree is 51 credits.

Traditional Online Track

This track consists of 65 credits, which can be completed in three years over nine semesters (fall, spring, and summer). Students complete two field internships for a total of 1,200 placement hours.

Human Service Experience Online Track (HSE)

This track is designed for those with a minimum of two years of supervised human services experience. Students on the HSE track complete 65 credits in three years over the course of nine semesters (fall, spring, and summer). A single 1,000-hour field internship is required.

Advanced Standing

This track consists of 40 or 43 credits. Students fulfill one field assignment of 1,000 hours, completed over three semesters.

Curriculum and Majors

BUSSW integrates a focus on diversity, ethics, populations-at-risk, and social and economic justice throughout its MSW curriculum.

Clinical Practice Major

Clinical social workers focus on the mental health and overall well-being of those they serve. They often help individuals through challenging circumstances. Through coursework and field training, students in this major learn how to perform assessment and diagnosis, and they develop competencies for the treatment and prevention of various emotional and behavioral issues. Students also learn how to manage the therapeutic relationship with their clients.

MSWs who graduate with this major often work in such settings as:

Mental health centers
Private practice
Hospitals
Substance disorder treatment facilities
Hospice
Schools
Geriatric centers

Macro Practice Major

Macro social work attracts those who want to shake up the world. These individuals are interested in championing change and addressing social problems on a larger scale than is possible through one-on-one therapy. Macro social workers work in community empowerment and outreach, public policy and planning, and in public and private agencies. The macro social work education track emphasizes service and action in:

Social and economic justice
Participatory democracy
Human dignity
Equality and freedom
Respect for diversity
Community empowerment

Students in each major may also add a minor in the other.

BUSSW Program Highlights

BUSSW delivers its course content both synchronously and asynchronously. Students can access asynchronous content, which includes recorded lectures, simulations, third-party videos, podcasts, and discussion boards, at all times, day and night. Synchronous-i.e. live and teleconferenced-classes meet weekly for 60 to 90 minutes, always on a Sunday or Monday night; students must register for these mandatory sessions in advance, as each section has a 15-student capacity. Students can complete this part-time program in two to three years over nine semesters. Students take one course per seven-week term during the first year, and two courses per term subsequently. Fieldwork internships occur during the second and third years. Those holding a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school may receive advanced standing; such students typically complete the part-time program over six semesters. BUSSW also offers a hybrid/online option. At BUSSW’s Worcester Campus, students spend their first four semesters meeting weekly in live classes at the Worcester campus location; they then transfer to the online program for semesters five through nine.

Semesters 1-4: Classes are held once per week (Tuesdays, 4-9pm) at the Worcester campus. Semesters 5-9: Classes are held online either Sunday or Monday evenings. Students take practice, advanced, and elective courses online to complete their MSW degree. Each course is taken one at a time over 7 weeks.

Fieldwork

BUSSW staff includes a field team dedicated to MSW field placements. A well-developed international network allows the school to arrange fieldwork for students in their home communities. In assigning field placements, BUSSW engages students in a unique collaborative process that involves the student, the student’s academic advisor, and the field education team in finding the best field opportunity. While the school manages the placement process and makes the final decision, student input is solicited and students do have some say over where they complete this requirement. For students working full-time, their place of employment may serve double duty, earning them credit as an official field placement. The field placement office determines whether a student’s place of employment meets the requirements for fieldwork credit.

Admissions Requirements

Befitting an online program, BUSSW aspirants complete their applications online. The school does not require standardized testing nor a minimum GPA for traditional standing or human services applicants. Advanced standing applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.

A completed application includes:

Official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended, including study abroad institutions
A three-to-four page double-spaced essay evaluated for writing ability and interest; the essay should address the following prompt: “Discuss why you believe the Boston University School of Social Work is best suited to meet your graduate education needs. How do you believe you will manage the rigorous demands of coursework and field education during graduate study? If you have low or inconsistent grades in undergraduate (or graduate) study or have attended multiple schools to earn a degree, please discuss any issues you may have faced to help us better understand your academic background. Identify your strengths and areas in need of improvement that are relevant to the social work profession. What inspires you to pursue this profession? If you have clear career goals, please tell us what type of work you see yourself engaged in after earning the MSW?”
Three letters of recommendation
A résumé or CV
A phone or Skype interview, if requested by the school

Human Services candidates should have a minimum of two years of supervised human services experience, verified by both the employer and BU, to be considered for the Human Service Experience (HSE) track.

Nationally Recognized Research Centers

BUSSW boasts two research centers that serve as a primary source for innovation and advancement in social work practice:

Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health: The Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) aims to improve community health locally and globally by engaging social work, public health, medicine, and other disciplines in cost-effective prevention and intervention strategies that transform urban health care.
Center for Aging & Disability Education & Research: The Center for Aging & Disability Education & Research (formerly the Institute for Geriatric Social Work) endeavors to prepare and strengthen the workforce for an aging society. Located at BUSSW, the center “builds upon the school’s historical expertise in the aging field and gerontological teaching, research, and training.”

BUSSW Alumni Network and Career Placement

BUSSW offers a robust alumni network of over 9,000 social workers along with a busy schedule of ongoing networking events. A dedicated alumni web page provides a complete list of all the ways to stay connected. The BUSSW career development office delivers workshops on licensure, resume writing, and interviewing; it also hosts a MSW Alumni and Student mixer to forge career connections. Additionally, the University Career Center offers digital resources to assist students in their job search.

Additional resources

The BCSSW library connects students and alumni to a robust collection of books, journals, and databases. Our supportive and inclusive culture begins on our campus with student groups and extends to our alumni network. Graduate students have access to a robust number of campus resources including things like the Center for Student Wellness, which provides programs, services, and resources for the mind, body, and soul.

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