Busy social service professionals can continue their eduction with a doctorate in social work. We rank the best PhD degree programs in social work.
There is a growing demand for clinical practice professionals in the social services, mental health support professions, and in education-based areas like curriculum development. Several universities now offer an Online Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) to students interested in running their own private practice, providing care in a clinical practice, or otherwise becoming a licensed clinical social worker.
DSW programs often cater to the needs of those already working in the field. This means that students seeking their doctorate must balance existing work and personal responsibilities with a challenging course of education. For many graduate students, online courses and a fully online program provide a way to achieve this balance.
For a look at how these online doctoral programs stack up against traditional on campus programs, check out our look at the Best Social Work Research Universities.
Or find out what your options are with a look at our full List of University Rankings.
Otherwise, read on and learn more about how you can complete a clinical social work doctorate program or social work PhD online...
Quality and credibility are important when it comes to finding an online doctorate in social work degree. The best online social work programs will have proper higher education accreditation:
To learn more about financial aid, visit the Federal Student Aid website.This site has information about financial aid loans and grants, and repayment info.
When looking for an online doctoral program, seek out options with accreditation from a colleges and schools commission in your region. This stamp of approval is critical for ensuring the quality and credibility of your online program.
Under this classification, top research universities for doctoral degrees and PhD candidates are identified as either R2: Doctoral Universities for “high research activity” or R1: Doctoral Universities for “very high research activity.” Look for these classifications when considering options for your online doctoral programs.
Key Point: The best online doctorate programs in social work will have both institutional and programmatic accreditation.
Schools that offer online doctorate programs have different admission requirements. However, most online doctoral programs will carry the same basic threshold for admission for prospective students:
Key Point: In most cases, you’ll be eligible to enter a doctoral degree online after earning a bachelor’s degree. However, some specialized online doctoral and PhD programs may require you to have earned a master’s degree as well.
The curriculum and courses in your social work program will depend on the nature of your degree. Those pursuing a professional practice degree such as a DSW will likely learn practical skills such as how to treat mental health disorders whereas those pursuing a PhD may learn how to conduct scholarly research.
This is true for fully online doctorate degrees as well as hybrid degrees combining online education with traditional on-campus courses. Regardless of whether you complete a traditional, hybrid or online doctoral program, the typical time to completion is three to six years.
The typical components of your online social work program may include:
Students who complete DSW programs online will typically complete practical courses in areas like intervention strategies, evidence based practice, financial management, and more. Students who complete the PhD in social work will take courses focusing on areas like social work theoretical perspectives and academic research methods.
Online doctoral students pursuing their PhD are required to complete certain examinations to enter into PhD candidacy. This will typically occur after students complete one to two years of foundational courses.
In most cases, the central component of your doctoral program will be the completion of your dissertation or capstone project. After gaining status as a PhD candidate, you will typically work closely with a professorial advisor or mentor to develop an original research question.
This research question will form the basis of your dissertation—an ongoing project designed to address this research question through applied research. While you will work closely with your advisor or mentor, much of your dissertation will be rooted in your own research.
Upon completion of the written portion of your dissertation—which will typically present the findings from your original research project—you will be expected to defend your findings. This “oral defense” will typically be conducted by a commission of professors and experts in your field. PhD candidates in some online degree programs may be able to conduct this defense via teleconferencing.
Some online DSW and PhD programs will also include a teaching component, which will require you to work as an adjunct professor or teacher’s assistant in an undergraduate or graduate school. It may be possible for students in the online doctoral degree program to also serve teaching requirements by instructing online students.
Key Point: Social work programs vary depending on whether you are pursuing a PhD or DSW.
Accredited online doctorate in social work programs are generally terminal degree programs. The same is true of the online PhD program in social work. This means that students who complete this online advanced degree are generally eligible for top positions in their field including those in the administration of home healthcare, long term care facilities, and other clinical settings.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top 10% of earners among social workers earned more than $82,000 in 2021.
Working professionals who earn an accredited online doctorate may be eligible to work in the following areas.
Key Points: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, students with a doctorate in social work will earn more than social workers with a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Technically, a PhD is a type of doctorate degree. This means that all PhD candidates are doctoral students. By contrast, not all doctoral students are PhD candidates.
The primary distinction is that doctoral students are primarily focused on putting existing theories into practice. Depending on your chosen field, your online doctoral degree may require participation in an educational leadership program, engagement in clinical practice, work as a resident in a nursing program, and much more.
By contrast, PhD students are focused on creating new knowledge in their area of study. This usually means that PhD candidates are focused on introducing new theories, creating research projects around these theories, and presenting new findings that demonstrate a mastery of existing knowledge and the insight to introduce new ideas into the field.
Today, more working professionals than ever before are pursuing both online doctoral degrees and online Phd programs.
The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Healthcare Social Workers in the U.S.
Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
The online programs identified here include both online DSW programs for aspiring clinical social workers and online social work PhD program degrees, geared toward students building careers in research, postsecondary education, policy development, and more. Online degrees are ranked based on influence, with weighting for graduation rate and full-time online enrollment.
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
92%
Student body
38K
Median SAT/ACT
1435/32
University of Southern California’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Students pursuing their PhD at USC are in good company. More than 28,000 students—well over half the student population—are pursuing graduate level degrees at the research intensive institution. Indeed, USC is identified among R1: Doctoral Universities, those distinguished for very high research activity. Specialized opportunities include USC’s online Doctorate of Social Work Program (DSW).
Plan to pursue career opportunities in the Los Angeles area. Some estimates identify USC as the largest employer in the region as well as a top contributor to the labor market.
Are seeking a more intimate academic experience. USC is a massive school in an urban environment.
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
72%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1221/28
University of Tennessee’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
The University of Tennessee offers an array of online doctoral pathways into advanced clinical practice in social work including its Doctor of Social Work online program (DSW).
Enjoy a party atmosphere. The Greek system and the school’s football program play a major role in shaping the campus culture at the University of Tennessee.
Are seeking a more intimate environment. University of Tennessee is a large campus, which can make it challenging to make friends at first.
Tuition + fees
$50K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
82%
Student body
18K
Baylor University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Baylor University is noted for several accredited online programs, including its research-based online PhD in Social Work. Baylor’s program is unique for its emphasis on the development of leaders and educators, as opposed to clinical practitioners of social work.
Are seeking a beautiful campus with thoughtful architecture. Students describe Baylor’s main campus as warm and welcoming.
Have financial constraints. Baylor University is a comparatively costly private institution.
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
68%
Student body
25K
Median SAT/ACT
1175/25
University of Kentucky’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
University of Kentucky is a strong draw for PhD candidates, enjoying classification among R1: Doctoral Universities, institutions noted for their very high level of research activity. Kentucky also holds the distinction of offering numerous top-ranked online doctoral programs such as its Doctor of Social Work online (DSW).
Are looking to get involved. Students who attend the University of Kentucky praise the extremely wide variety of clubs, activities, and on-campus events.
Are looking for a quiet, intimate campus. Students note that Greek life and sporting events are a major part of the culture at this large institution.
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
39%
Graduation
87%
Student body
1K
Bryn Mawr College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Bryn Mawr College is noted for its distinctive online Ph.d in social work program. Students in its Doctoral Program in Social Work (PhD) will conduct research, develop leadership skills, and prepare for roles in higher education.
Seeking a balance between a beautiful campus and a nearby city. Though Bryn Mawr is in a quiet Pennsylvania suburb, it is only a short train ride from Philadelphia.
Do not prefer to attend an all-girls college. While students can take co-educational courses through partnerships with nearby schools like Swarthmore College and the University of Pennsylvania, the Bryn Mawr campus is all-female.
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
54%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/22
University of Memphis’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
University of Memphis is noted for several excellent online social work programs, including its Online Doctorate of Social Work Program (DSW).
Are looking for a surrounding area with tons of stuff to do. Students note that the Memphis metro area offers many restaurants, shops, nightlife and cultural opportunities.
Are looking for a traditional residential campus. Many students refer to University of Memphis as a commuter school, where many people leave campus on the weekends.
Tuition + fees
$30K
Acceptance
66%
Graduation
35%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
975/17
Our Lady of the Lake University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Our Lady of the Lake University is noted for its excellent social work programs, including its Online PhD in Social Work.
Enjoy the intimacy of a small campus. Students speak highly of the modest class sizes and the personal attention they receive from their professors.
Require a great deal of administrative support. Students note that some of the student support services are not as fast or responsive as desired.
Students considering an online doctoral in Social Work should also check out the best on-campus options to compare features like cost, curriculum, acceptance rate, and more.
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
87%
Student body
49K
Median SAT/ACT
1455/32
New York University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
92%
Student body
38K
Median SAT/ACT
1435/32
University of Southern California’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
93%
Student body
43K
Median SAT/ACT
1420/32
University of California, Berkeley’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
92%
Student body
46K
University of California, Los Angeles’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
53%
Graduation
84%
Student body
44K
Median SAT/ACT
1326/30
University of Washington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Check out the complete Online Program Ranking List.