Looking to start or advance your career as a social worker in The Empire State? Then these rankings of the best MSW programs in New York is the perfect place to start!
Now, there are lots of different Master In Social Work degree programs to choose from in this state. In fact, we counted at least 25 different ones when researching this article. With all those choices, picking the right one may seem a little overwhelming.
Fortunately, we collected data on every school to help you narrow down which option may be right for you.
In this article, you’ll discover all the key information you need to know about the top MSW programs in New York, including licensure exam pass rates, available degree pathways, admission requirements, tuition, and more.
So, keep reading to find out if one of these programs may be a good fit for you.
Table of Contents
- What Is The Best MSW Program In New York?
- 5 Best MSW Programs In New York Ranked
- Is An MSW Program In New York Right For You?
- New York MSW Programs FAQs
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What Is The Best MSW Program In New York?
Based on our ranking criteria, the best MSW program in New York is Columbia University. Graduates from this school achieved an 80% pass rate on the ASWB Master’s Exam, with 369 out of 461 passing the test.
Meanwhile, the 76.6% of graduates taking the Clinical Exam passed. Of the 402 who took the test, 308 passed.
However, just because Columbia University topped our rankings doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best fit for you. For example, while Columbia offers an impressive array of degree options and pathways, tuition is also generally much higher than most of the other schools in our rankings.
Additionally, some colleges specialize in different focus areas. For instance, University at Buffalo focuses heavily on trauma-informed and human rights perspectives, while Keuka College specializes in clinical preparation.
Ultimately, choosing the right MSW program depends on your own personal goals and circumstances. To learn more about your options and what makes each school stand out, keep reading.
5 Best MSW Programs In New York Ranked
To rank the best MSW programs in New York, we used official exam pass rate data from the Association of Social Work Boards. This way we were able to rank each school using an objective metric.
Since you’ll need to pass the Master’s Exam in order to become a Licensed Master of Social Work, these pass rates are a good measure of how well each school prepares you for social work practice.
The table below ranks every MSW program from the highest ASWB Master’s Exam pass rate to the lowest. To learn more about the top MSW programs in New York, keep reading after the table.
Note: Graduates from Cornell University and Plattsburgh State University actually had the highest ASWB Master’s Exam pass rates. However, both schools have only ever offered a BSW program, and Cornell’s BSW program is now defunct. This likely means the data for this school counted BSW graduates who later gained their MSW at a different school. So, we’ve excluded Cornell University and Plattsburgh State University from our rankings of the top MSW programs in New York after the table.
| School | Masters Exam Pass Rate | Clinical Exam Pass Rate |
| 1. Cornell University (no longer offers social work degree; previously BSW only) | 100.0% | N/A |
| 2. Plattsburgh State University of New York (BSW only) | 100.0% | N/A |
| 3. Columbia University | 80.0% | 76.6% |
| 4. State University of New York – Binghamton | 72.2% | 65.7% |
| 5. State University of New York – Buffalo | 70.6% | 75.0% |
| 6. Keuka College | 68.3% | 47.1% |
| 7. New York University | 68.2% | 68.3% |
| 8. State University of New York – Albany | 65.1% | 68.4% |
| 9. State University of New York, College at Brockport | 61.2% | 66.7% |
| 10. Syracuse University | 60.9% | 76.1% |
| 11. Roberts Wesleyan College | 58.8% | 61.1% |
| 12. College of Saint Rose | 57.9% | 100.0% |
| 13. Hunter College of the City University of New York | 57.0% | 64.5% |
| 14. Daemen College | 56.6% | 100.0% |
| 15. Yeshiva University | 55.5% | 53.8% |
| 16. Nazareth College of Rochester | 51.6% | 42.9% |
| 17. Niagara University (BSW only) | 50.0% | 66.7% |
| 18. State University of New York, College at Fredonia (BSW only) | 50.0% | N/A |
| 19. State University of New York – Stony Brook | 48.1% | 49.4% |
| 20. Fordham University | 47.1% | 57.0% |
| 21. College of Staten Island | 38.2% | 33.3% |
| 22. Touro University | 35.0% | 57.1% |
| 23. Long Island University Post | 33.3% | 75.0% |
| 24. Adelphi University | 31.2% | 42.2% |
| 25. Lehman College, City University of New York | 29.5% | 45.2% |
| 26. Nyack College (defunct) | 26.1% | 66.7% |
| 27. Marymount College of Fordham University | 25.0% | N/A |
| 28. Long Island University – Brooklyn | 23.5% | 48.8% |
| 29. York College of the City University of New York | 22.6% | N/A |
| 30. Greater Rochester Collaborative | 18.8% | 77.8% |
| 31. Dominican College of Blauvelt (BSW only) | 0.0% | N/A |
| 32. Iona College (BSW only, or Marriage & Family Therapy MS) | 0.0% | N/A |
| 33. Medgar Evers College, City University of New York (BSSW only) | 0.0% | N/A |
| 34. Concordia College (BSW only) | N/A | 100.0% |
| 35. Siena College (BSW only) | N/A | 100.0% |
1. Columbia University
Columbia University boasts an impressive array of MSW degree formats and tracks of study, including:
- Two-Year, Full-Time Traditional Standing track: Offered online and on-campus, this track requires four consecutive Fall and Spring semesters to complete. You’ll spend two days each week in the classroom and three days each week in practicum
- 16-Month, Full-Time Traditional track: Offered on-campus only, this track requires four consecutive semesters of study beginning in Spring to complete. With one semester in the Summer, you’ll be able to earn your MSW degree in less time than the two-year pathway.
- One-Year, Full-Time Advanced Standing track: Offered both online and on-campus, this track begins in the Summer and requires three consecutive semesters to complete.
- Three- to Four-Year, Part-Time to Full-Time Extended track: Offered both online and on-campus, you take a reduced course load and complete no practicum hours in your first year of study. In the final two years, you take a reduced course load while adding the practicum component. Once you begin practicum, you must be prepared to be at your placement three days a week.
- One-Year Residency For Working Professionals: Offered on-campus and online, this track is for those with more than two years of full-time experience in a social services agency. You continue working full-time while taking a part-time course load for the first two years. In year three, you can continue working at your agency to fulfill your practicum requirement or opt for one arranged by the school.
- Part-Time Traditional Standing track: Offered online only, you complete your degree over a period of up to four years of part-time study.
Additionally, you can choose from one of four specializations, including:
- Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice
- Policy Practice
- Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming
- Leadership Management and Entrepreneurship For Social Justice
You can also choose from one of two specialized programming tracks: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Accelerated Policy Practice.
Furthermore, Columbia University offers even more customizability to their MSW degrees, with seven different fields of practice including:
- Aging
- Family, Youth, and Children’s Services
- International Social Welfare and Streets to Immigrants and Refugees
- World of Work
- Contemporary Social Issues
- Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities
- School-Based and School-Linked Services
You may even opt to pursue a dual degree or minor to add to your MSW degree, including:
- MEd
- MBA
- JD
- Urban Planning MS
- Jewish Studies MA
- MPH
- MPA or MIA
- MDiv
- Criminal Justice (minor)
- International Social Welfare (minor)
- Emerging Technology, Media and Society (minor)
Finally, to gain entry into the MSW at Columbia University, you must meet the following admission requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree; Advanced Standing students must have earned their BSW degree in the last five years
- Excellent academic record (specific GPA requirements are not listed)
- Submission of resume and two to three essay responses
- Two letters of recommendation
- Advanced Standing students must submit their BSW practicum/field evaluation form and list of BSW coursework
| In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate | ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate |
| $27,822 per semester (full-time); $1,854 per credit hour (part-time students taking 10.5 or fewer credits per semester); Online tuition is the same price | N/A (private university) | 80.0% | 76.6% |
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2. Binghamton University, State University of New York
Number two in our rankings of the best MSW programs in New York is Binghamton University. Graduates from this school attained a 72.2% pass rate on the ASWB Master’s Exam, with 78 of 108 passing.
Meanwhile, graduates achieved 65.7% pass rate on the Clinical Exam, with 44 out of 67 passing the test.
Binghamton University offers only an Advanced Generalist curriculum, but does provide several routes through which you can earn your MSW degree, including:
- Two-Year, Full-Time Regular Standing: Consists of two 16-credit Fall and two 16-credit Spring semesters. This track is offered on-campus and online
- Three-and-a-half-Year, Part-Time Regular Standing: Offered online only, this track consists of ten six- to seven-credit semesters beginning in Fall and requiring Summer semesters.
- One-Year, Full-Time Advanced Standing: Consists of one three-credit Summer semester, one 16-credit Fall semester, and one 16-credit Spring semester. This track is offered on-campus and online.
- Part-Time Advanced Standing: Year one consists of six-credit Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters. Year two consists of a seven-credit Summer semester and seven-credit Fall semester. This track is offered on-campus and online.
You may also opt to pursue a dual degree to supplement your Master In Social Work, such as:
- Master of Public Administration (MPA)
- Master of Arts in Spanish (MA)
- Master of Science in Student Affairs Administration (MS SAA)
Finally, in order to gain admission into the MSW program at Binghamton, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree; Advanced Standing students must have earned their BSW in the last seven years
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in all undergraduate coursework and the last 60 semester credits of undergraduate coursework
- Advanced Standing students must earn a grade of B or better in all undergraduate social work major courses
- Submission of personal statement and resume demonstrating paid or volunteer human services experience
- Two letters of recommendations
| In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate | ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate |
| $6,540 per semester (full-time students taking 12 or more credits per semester); $545.00 per credit (part-time students taking less than 12 credits per semester) | $11,105 per semester (full-time students taking 12 or more credits per semester); $944.00 per credit (part-time students taking less than 12 credits per semester) | 72.2% | 65.7% |
3. University at Buffalo, State University of New York
The third school in our rankings of the top MSW programs in New York is University at Buffalo with a 70.6% ASWB Master’s Exam pass rate. Of the 296 graduates who took the test, 209 of them passed.
Meanwhile, the school boasts a 75.0% pass rate on the Clinical Exam, with 114 out of 152 graduates passing the test.
University at Buffalo’s curriculum places a special emphasis on both trauma-informed and human rights perspectives. They offer several routes through which to earn your degree, including:
- Two-Year, Full-Time, Traditional Standing: Beginning in Fall, this track requires 60 total credits and four semesters to complete. Semesters are in Fall and Spring only, so no summer courses are necessary. This pathway is only available on-campus.
- Three-Year, Part-Time Traditional Standing: Beginning in Fall, this track also requires the completion of 60 credits, but takes 9 consecutive semesters to earn your degree. You’ll take courses in Fall, Spring, and Summer. This pathway is available on-campus and online.
- One-Year, Full-Time Advanced Standing: Beginning in the Summer, this three-semester track requires the completion of 35 total credit hours over one Summer, one Fall, and one Spring semester. This pathway is only available on-campus.
- One-and-a-half-Year, Part-Time Advanced Standing: Beginning in Spring, this five-semester track also requires the completion of 35 total credit hours, but requires two Spring, two Summer, and one Fall semester. This pathway is available on-campus and online.
It’s also worth noting that UB provides several dual degrees, micro-credentials, other advanced degrees, including:
- Online Doctorate of Social Work (DSW)
- PhD In Social Welfare
- MSW/PhD Dual Degree
- BA/MSW Joint Degree
- JD/MSW Dual Degree
- MBA/MSW Dual Degree
- MPH/MSW Dual Degree
- Excellence in Aging Micro-Credential
- Social Work Practice in Serious Illness Care Micro-Credential
Finally, to gain entry into the MSw program at UB, you must meet the following admission requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree; Advanced Standing students must have earned their BSW in the last six years
- Minimum 24 credits of undergraduate liberal arts coursework, including six in social/behavioral sciences; six in arts or humanities; and 12 in either or the preceding categories, or from natural sciences or math courses
- At least one 3-credit human biology undergraduate course must be completed prior to entering Advanced MSW curriculum
- Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA in undergraduate coursework is preferred for Traditional Standing students, and required for Advanced Standing
- Advanced Standing students must have earned a B- or better in all undergraduate social work major courses
- Three letters of recommendation
- Submission of application essay
| In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate | ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate |
| $8,079 per semester (full-time students); $755.75 per credit (part-time students); $706.25 per credit (online part-time students) | $12,864 per semester (full-time students); $1,154.75 per credit (part-time students); $815.25 per credit (online part-time students) | 70.6% | 75.0% |
4. Keuka College
Next in our rankings of the best MSW programs in New York is Keuka College with an ASWB Master’s Exam pass rate of 68.3%. Of the 41 graduates who took the test in 2022, 28 of them passed.
Meanwhile, graduates from this school attained a 47.1% pass rate on the Clinical exam, with 8 out of 17 passing.
The MSW curriculum at Keuka College is clinically-focused, meaning you gain the skills to assess, diagnose, treat, and prevent mental illness, as well as other emotional and behavioral disturbances.
The school offers the following pathways to earn your Master’s In Social Work degree:
- 20-Month, Full-Time Foundations to Advanced
- 31-Month, Part-Time Foundations to Advanced
- 11-Month, Full-Time Advanced Standing
- 20-Month, Part-Time Advanced Standing
- Three-Year, Part-Time Online Traditional Standing (100% online coursework)
- Five-Semester, Part-Time Online Advanced Standing (100% online coursework)
To gain admission into the MSW program at Keuka College, you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree; Advanced Standing students must hold a BSW, but they did not indicate the timeframe within which you need to have earned your degree
- Minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA in all undergraduate coursework for Traditional track students, and 3.0 for Advanced Standing students
- Earn a C grade or better in writing, statistics, and human biology courses
- Advanced Standing students must earn a grade of B or better in all BSW major coursework
- Two letters of recommendation
- Submission of current resume and application essay
- Advanced Standing students must submit their BSW field evaluation
| In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate | ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate |
| $824 per credit hour | N/A (private college) | 68.3% | 47.1% |
5. New York University
The fifth and final school in our rankings of the best MSW programs in New York is New York University. Of the 694 graduates who took the ASWB Master’s Exam in 2022, 473 of them passed, equating to a 68.2% pass rate.
Meanwhile, the school attained a 68.3% pass rate on the Clinical Exam, with 451 out of 600 graduates passing the test.
New York University offers an impressive array of degree pathways, including:
- Two-Year, Full-Time Traditional Standing
- 16-Month, Full-Time, Accelerated Traditional Standing
- One-Year, Full-Time Advanced Standing
- 32-Month, Part-Time Traditional Standing
- Three- to Five-Year, Part-Time, Extended Traditional Standing
In addition to the tracks above, NYU also offers a Hybrid MSW option, allowing you to complete the first six courses of generalist study completely online. You then progress into a combination of online and on-campus coursework.
Furthermore, we should mention that there are several dual degrees you can pair with your MSW, such as:
- Child Development (MA)
- Law (JD)
- Public Health (MPH)
- Public Administration (Executive MPA)
Uniquely, this school also provides a track allowing you to attend courses in China. This Shanghai-New York track consists of generalist MSW coursework in Shanghai, before completing the specialized practice curriculum in New York City.
Finally, to gain entry into New York University’s Master In Social Work program, you must meet the following admission requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree that includes a minimum of 60 liberal arts credits; Advanced Standing students must have earned their BSW in the last five years
- Advanced Standing students must earn a grade of B or better in all undergraduate social work major courses
- Strong academic background (no specific GPA requirements listed)
- Strong preference is given to applicants with work and volunteer experience, as well as those who’ve taken courses in social work or social and behavioral sciences
- Submission of statement of purpose and resume
- Three letters of recommendation
| In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | ASWB Masters Exam Pass Rate | ASWB Clinical Exam Pass Rate |
| $1,588 per credit hour | N/A (private university) | 68.2% | 68.3% |
Is An MSW Program In New York Right For You?
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While there are lots of MSW programs in New York to choose from, any of the options in the rankings above are sure to make a great choice.
While Columbia University offers the largest amount of degree customizability, other options, like Keuka College, may be a better choice for those interested primarily in clinical social work.
Meanwhile, those looking to study trauma-informed or human rights perspectives may want to take a close look at University of Buffalo, while Binghamton University may be better suited to those looking for an advanced generalist curriculum.
Finally, if you’re seeking unique opportunities like studying abroad, New York University’s Shanghai MSW program could make a great choice.
However, if you didn’t quite find a school suited to your needs in this article, you’re not limited to MSW programs in New York. In fact, there are lots of online degrees to choose from, which typically offer more flexibility and affordability than the schools listed above.
To find the MSW program that’s right for you, fill out this form and we’ll help you get started!
New York MSW Programs FAQs
What Is The Salary For An MSW In New York?
The average annual MSW salary in New York is $76,871. However, salaries typically range anywhere from $63,164 to $92,145 per year.
How Do You Get An MSW In New York?
The process for earning your MSW degree in New York is the same as it is across the United States. There are typically two pathways you can take.
The first method is to earn your Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree, and then enter into an Advanced Standing MSW program. Alternatively, you can earn a non-social work Bachelor’s degree and then enter into a Traditional Standing MSW program.
While you can typically complete an Advanced Standing track in about one year of full-time study, Traditional Standing tracks usually take about two years of full-time study.
Does CUNY Have MSW Programs?
Yes, CUNY (City University of New York) does have colleges with MSW programs, including:
- College of Staten Island (CSI)
- Hunter College
- Lehman College
- York College
Does NYU Have An MSW Program?
Yes, NYU (New York University) does have an MSW program. In fact, NYU ranked as our fifth best MSW program in New York. You can learn more about their Master of Social Work degree above.
How Hard Is It To Get Into The NYU School of Social Work?
According to Peterson’s, the acceptance rate for the NYU School of Social Work is 82%. Of the 1,550 prospective students who applied, 1,275 were accepted, and 554 enrolled in the program.
Overall, this doesn’t appear to be quite as competitive as some schools in other states we’ve looked at. However, you’ll still need to ensure you meet all the admission requirements and build a strong application to gain entry.
