Question: What are the GPA requirements for online MSW programs?

Answer: GPA requirements vary by graduate school and range from a minimum GPA of 2.5 to 3.5

For traditional programs, the majority of graduate schools require a GPA of 3.0 or greater to apply (42 of the 62 programs). However, some of these schools will still allow students with a GPA lower than 3.0 to apply if they have taken the GRE (see the GPA table below for more information).

[Please note: The majority of universities have a selective admissions process for MSW programs that are online, meaning that even if a student meets the minimum requirements for the program, they are not guaranteed admission.]

Sponsored Online MSW Programs With GPA Requirements

Sponsored Online MSW Programs With GPA Requirements
School	GPA Requirement
University of Denver	Applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. (A 3.0 GPA is preferred, however, if your GPA is lower than 3.0, the admission committee is likely to look at your last 60 or 90 undergraduate credits.)
Fordham University	A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 2.6 or above. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is preferred.
Simmons University	Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with at least a 3.0 (B) grade point average.
University of Southern California (USC)	Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
Syracuse University	A minimum 3.0 GPA is preferred, as a 3.0 GPA is required to be considered in good academic standing throughout the program.
Case Western Reserve University	Minimum GPA of 2.7

Sponsored

GPA Requirements for Advanced Standing Online MSW Programs

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is the main accrediting body for BSW and MSW programs. For students who have already earned a Bachelor of Social Work from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited undergraduate program, the majority of GPA table below for more information). The only programs that have a GPA requirement lower than 3.0 are Case Western Reserve University, Winthrop University, Fordham University, West Virginia University, University of Denver, and Western New Mexico University . Advanced standing programs often have stricter admission criteria when compared to traditional programs.

BSW students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements for an advanced standing program, may still be eligible to earn a MSW degree through a traditional program.

For students who are not sure about their qualifications, we recommend contacting universities before applying to determine your chances for admission.

GPA Requirements by Online Master of Social Work Program

Click on the school name for more information about their programs, admission requirements and eligibility restrictions.

Traditional Programs (63)

Traditional Programs (63)
School Name	Structure of Program¹	Program Options	Minimum GPA	GRE Requirements
Adelphi University	Limited Campus Visits Required	PT	3.0	Not required
Arizona State University	100% Online	FT & PT	Not listed	GRE or MAT Only required for students with a GPA lower than 3.2
Boise State University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0 preferred	Not required
Boston University	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
California State University, Northridge	100% Online	FT	3.0	Not required
California State University, San Bernardino	Limited Campus Visits Required	PT	3.0 (2.8 may be considered)	Not required
Campbellsville University	100% Online	FT	3.0	Not required
Capella University	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
Case Western Reserve University Sponsored	100% Online	PT	2.7	Not required
Columbia University	100% Online	FT & PT	No Minimum GPA	Not required
Delaware State University	100% Online	FT	2.75	Not required
Edinboro University	100% Online	FT	3.0	Only required for students with a GPA lower than 3.0
Florida State University	100% Online	PT	3.0	GRE required unless conditions are met
Fordham University Sponsored	100% Online	FT & PT	2.6	Not required
George Mason University	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
Humboldt State University	Limited Campus Visits Required	PT	3.0	Not required but recommended if GPA is below 3.0
Indiana University	100% Online	FT & PT	Unlisted	Not required
Louisiana State University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not Required
Loyola University Chicago	100% Online	FT & PT	Unspecified	Not required
Metropolitan State University of Denver	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not required
Morgan State University	100% Online	FT	3.0 (2.5 on Conditional Basis)	Not required
New Mexico State University	100% Online	FT	3.0	Not required
Ohio State University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0, Lower Considered Case by Case	Not required
Ohio University	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
Our Lady of the Lake University	100% Online	PT	2.5 or 3.0 for last 60 credit hours	Not required
Portland State University	Limited Campus Visits Required	PT	2.75 Undergraduate or 3.0 Graduate	Not required
Rutgers University	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
Samford University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0 or 3.2 for last 60 credits. 2.8 considered with GRE	Not required
San Jose State University	Limited Campus Visits Required	PT	2.5	Not required
Simmons University Sponsored	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not required
Syracuse University Sponsored	100% Online	FT & PT	A minimum 3.0 GPA is preferred	Not required
Temple University	Limited Campus Visits Required	PT	3.0	Not required
Texas A&M University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0 or Submit GRE	Required for GPA under 3.0
Texas State University - San Marcos	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not required
The Catholic University of America	100% Online	PT	Unspecified	Not required
Tulane University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not required
University at Buffalo (SUNY)	100% Online	PT	Unspecified	Not required
University of Alaska Anchorage	Limited Campus Visits Required	FT & PT	3.0 Preferred	Not required
University of Central Florida	100% Online	PT	Unspecified	Not required
University of Denver Sponsored	100% Online	FT & PT	2.5	Not required
University of Georgia	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not Required
University of Houston	100% Online	PT	3.0	GRE required
University of Iowa	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
University of Kentucky	100% Online	FT	3.0	Not required
University of Louisville	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not required
University of Missouri	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
University of Nevada, Reno	100% Online	8 Semesters	3.0 or 3.25 for last 60 credits	Not required
University of New England (UNE)	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
University of New Hampshire	100% Online	FT	Not Specified	Not required
University of North Dakota	Limited Campus Visits Required	PT	3.0	Not required
University of Northern Iowa	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
University of South Florida	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not Required
University of Southern California (USC) Sponsored	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not required
University of Tennessee at Knoxville	100% Online	FT & PT	2.7, 3.0 in graduate coursework	Not required
University of Texas - Arlington	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Only required for students with a GPA lower than 3.0
University of Utah	100% Online	FT	3.0	Not required
Walden University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not required
West Virginia University	100% Online	PT	2.75	Not required
Western Kentucky University	100% Online	PT	3.0 for last 60 credits	Not required
Western New Mexico University	100% Online	FT & PT	2.75	Not required
Widener University	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
Winthrop University	100% Online	FT	2.8 for last 60 credits	GRE or GMAT required
Yeshiva University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not required

¹All online MSW programs require field education at a local health services agency. Programs that are 100% online do not require students to visit the campus during the program.

Last updated: March 2020

Advanced Standing Programs (58)

Advanced Standing Programs (58)
School Name	Structure of Program²	Program Options	Minimum GPA	GRE Requirements
Adelphi University	Limited Campus Visits Required	PT	3.0	Not required
Boise State University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0 preferred	Not required
Boston University	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
Campbellsville University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not Required
Capella University	100% Online	Unspecified	3.0	Not Required
Case Western Reserve University Sponsored	100% Online	PT	2.7	Only required for students with a GPA lower than 2.7
Columbia University	100% Online	PT	No Minimum GPA	Not required
Delaware State University	100% Online	FT	3.0	Not required
Edinboro University	100% Online	FT	3.0	Not required
Florida State University	100% Online	PT	3.0	GRE required unless conditions are met
Fordham University Sponsored	100% Online	FT & PT	2.6	Not required
Humboldt State University	Limited Campus Visits Required	PT	3.5	Not required
Indiana University	100% Online	FT & PT	Unlisted	Not required
Louisiana State University	100% Online	FT	3.0	Not required
Loyola University Chicago	100% Online	FT & PT	Unspecified	Not required
Metropolitan State University of Denver	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not Required
Morgan State University	100% Online	FT	3.0 (2.5 on Conditional Basis)	Not required
New Mexico State University	100% Online	FT	3.0	Not Required
Ohio State University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0, lower considered case by case	Not required
Ohio University	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
Our Lady of the Lake University	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
Portland State University	Limited Campus Visits Required	FT	3.0	Not required
Rutgers University	100% Online	FT	3.0	Not required
Samford University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0 or 3.2 for last 60 credits. 2.8 considered with GRE	Not required
Syracuse University Sponsored	100% Online	FT & PT	A minimum 3.0 GPA is preferred	Not required
Texas A&M University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0 or Submit GRE	Required for GPA under 3.0
Texas State University - San Marcos	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not required
The Catholic University of America	100% Online	PT	Unspecified	Not required
Tulane University	100% Online	FT	3.3 with a 3.0 in each substantial course	Not required
University at Buffalo (SUNY)	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
University of Alaska Anchorage	Limited Campus Visits Required	FT & PT	3.0 (3.5 in BSW core courses)	Not required
University of Arkansas	100% Online	FT	3.0	Not required
University of Arkansas, Little Rock	100% Online	PT	3.0	GRE required
University of Central Florida	100% Online	PT	3.3	Not required
University of Houston	100% Online	PT	3.0	GRE required
University of Iowa	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
University of Kentucky	100% Online	FT	3.0, 3.5 in Social Work Courses	Not required
University of Louisville	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0 (3.25 in Social Work Courses)	Not required
University of Missouri	100% Online	PT	3.0	Not required
University of Nevada, Reno	100% Online	4 Semesters	3.0 or 3.25 for last 60 credits	Not required
University of New England (UNE)	100% Online	Accelerated & PT	3.0	Not required
University of New Hampshire	100% Online	FT	3.2	Not required
University of North Dakota	Limited Campus Visits Required	PT	3.0	Not required
University of Northern Iowa	100% Online	PT	3.0, 3.25 in Graduate Courses	Not required
University of South Florida	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not Required
University of Southern California (USC) Sponsored	100% Online	FT & PT	3.25 (3.5 in Social Work Courses)	Not required
University of Tennessee at Knoxville	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not required
University of Texas - Arlington	100% Online	FT	3.0	Only required for students with a GPA lower than 3.0
University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley	100% Online	FT	3.2	Not required
Walden University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not required
West Virginia University	100% Online	PT	2.75, 3.25 preferred for social work courses	Not required
Western Kentucky University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0 for last 60 credits	Not required
Western New Mexico University	100% Online	FT & PT	2.75	Not required
Widener University	100% Online	PT	3.0, 3.25 in social work courses	Not required
Winthrop University	100% Online	FT	2.8 for last 60 credits	GRE or GMAT required
Yeshiva University	100% Online	FT & PT	3.0	Not required

²All online MSW programs require field education at a local health services agency. Programs that are 100% online do not require students to visit the campus during the program.

Last updated: March 2020

Program options include full-time (FT) and part-time (PT) programs. Most full-time online MSW programs designed for traditional students take two years to complete, whereas part-time programs typically take two and a half to four years to complete depending on the program.

Last updated: April 2020


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