9 Best Advanced Standing MSW Programs in North Carolina for 2025

Advanced Standing MSW Programs in North Carolina give you a chance to quickly advance your social work career without spending two years in graduate school.

BSW degree holders can complete these accelerated programs in just one year and save money on tuition. North Carolina’s 13 CSWE-accredited MSW programs include 6 programs with 100% online options. Students at institutions like Appalachian State University can build on their existing social work knowledge instead of repeating basic coursework.

Your MSW in North Carolina opens up promising career paths. Social workers in the state earn a median annual wage of $59,320. Standard MSW programs take two years full-time or three years part-time, but these advanced standing options give BSW graduates a great advantage when they want to specialize in children and families, mental health, or military social work.

Appalachian State University

Appalachian State University sits in North Carolina’s beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. The university’s Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited MSW program combines regional mountain expertise with professional social work education. Students who graduate from this program can work in advanced practice with individuals, families, organizations, and communities. They also qualify to apply for clinical social work and/or social work manager licenses.

Specializations

App State’s MSW program stands out with its crossover design and two concentration options:

• Individuals and Families concentration is built around advanced clinical practice. This track helps you work directly with children, adolescents, adults, and families from different backgrounds. You’ll learn social work values and ethics while developing your skills in professional relationships, theoretical perspectives, advanced clinical assessment, and evidence-based interventions.
• Community and Organizational Practice concentration gives you the tools for leadership roles that address social problems and create change at community, organizational, and societal levels. You’ll learn to develop and implement services, social programs, and policies while leading communities and organizations.

The program’s unique design lets you learn from both areas, which helps you handle complex cases, especially when you have rural settings.

Program Format

BSW graduates can benefit from the flexible Advanced Standing MSW program at Appalachian State:

• Eligibility: The program accepts graduates with a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program within the past 7 years and a 2 GPA in BSW courses.
• Format options:
  • Full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years)
  • On-campus or fully online delivery

Students start with an Advanced Standing Transitional Seminar in Summer II. A “B” grade or higher is required to continue with the remaining MSW courses.

The online program combines scheduled meetings (synchronous) with flexible study times (asynchronous). Scheduled classes might run Tuesday through Friday. Students complete face-to-face field placements in their local communities while attending online seminars. This approach blends practical experience with academic learning.

Tuition and Affordability

The university’s tuition rates are competitive compared to other MSW programs in North Carolina:

Online MSW students living off-campus can expect total costs of $22,053 for in-state and $33,817 for out-of-state, including books, housing, and personal expenses.

Students receive substantial financial support, with the university covering 54% of financial aid needs on average. First-year students receive need-based scholarships averaging $9,529. App State ranks consistently among America’s best value colleges, making it a budget-friendly choice for your advanced degree.

This affordable pricing structure and the accelerated Advanced Standing program format make Appalachian State University a smart choice to advance your social work career.

East Carolina University

East Carolina University’s College of Health and Human Performance in Greenville features a distinctive MSW program known for its relational view approach. Students learn to balance clinical practice with community participation while preparing to help populations facing economic, political, and social challenges.

Specializations

ECU’s MSW program stands apart from others in North Carolina by focusing on one specialized concentration: Clinical-Community Social Work Practice from a Relational Perspective. This approach highlights:

• Services that boost client healing and wellness through combined clinical and community practice
• Client advocacy to create relational solutions that promote social, economic, and environmental justice
• Cultural significance appreciation and respect for everyone’s dignity and worth

The program creates practitioner leaders who work with integrity to enhance quality of life through clinical and community practice. This view recognizes how relational networks enable people to make their own decisions. Students learn to apply critical thinking and breakthroughs to service delivery with steadfast dedication to economic and social justice from local to global settings.

Program Format

Students seeking an Advanced Standing MSW in North Carolina will find excellent flexibility at ECU:

In-Person Options:

• Full-time Advanced Standing MSW: Completed in just 1 year (entire calendar year including summer sessions)
• Regular MSW pathway: 2-year program (for non-BSW holders)

Online Options:

• Part-time Advanced Standing MSW: 3-year online program
• Part-time Regular MSW: 3-year online program

Students can complete the online program entirely virtually through a mix of synchronous Saturday courses and asynchronous self-paced coursework. This setup helps students who need reduced course time to manage work and family responsibilities.

Advanced Standing eligibility requires a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program within the past 7 years with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Field experience plays a crucial role in the MSW program’s educational approach.

Tuition and Affordability

ECU’s Advanced Standing MSW program comes with competitive tuition rates:

Online-only MSW students pay just $5,213 yearly for in-state residents. The MSW program includes an additional $75 per credit hour fee beyond base tuition rates.

Total costs for on-campus graduate students reach approximately $30,756 for in-state and $44,562 for out-of-state attendance. Distance education proves more budget-friendly at $28,608 for in-state and $42,414 for out-of-state.

The MSW program’s priority application deadline falls on January 15 of your intended entrance year, though spots remain open until filled. ECU’s Advanced Standing MSW program provides an exceptional path to advance your social work career in North Carolina through its specialized curriculum, flexible formats, and competitive pricing.

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville State University (FSU) runs a CSWE-accredited Advanced Standing MSW program that prepares social work professionals to serve in rural, urban, and military settings. The program teaches evidence-based practices in prevention, treatment, intervention, clinical practice, research, and administration to enhance human well-being.

Specializations

FSU’s MSW program gives you two main specializations based on different practice environments:

• Children and Family Services – This specialty teaches you to work with children and families of all sizes. You’ll build skills in case management, advocacy, administration, and creating community partnerships. The program prepares you for roles in adoptions, schools, foster care, protective services, courts, hospitals, and domestic violence programs.
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services – This concentration teaches clinical social work practice with individuals, families, and small groups. You’ll learn advanced approaches to help populations with interpersonal issues, psycho-social problems, and serious mental illness. The program covers prevention techniques, crisis intervention, brief problem solving, and treatment of mental disorders and substance abuse.

FSU also offers three certificates you can earn with your MSW degree:

• Substance Abuse Studies (12 credit hours)
• Military Behavioral Health (18 credit hours)
• Advanced Clinical Practice (approved recently)

The program’s military social work component stands out. FSU has worked with the Army Medical Department Center and School since 2008 to train Army social work officers.

Program Format

The Advanced Standing MSW at FSU fits different student schedules:

Students need a BSW degree earned in the last five years with a minimum 3.0 GPA to qualify for Advanced Standing. The program starts in summer with two key courses: Social Work Practice Seminar (3 credits) and Statistics and Research Seminar (3 credits).

Full-time classes run Monday through Thursday, mostly in the evenings (starting at 4:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m.). You’ll need to complete field instruction courses and several core advanced courses, totaling 35 credit hours to graduate.

Tuition and Affordability

FSU has one of North Carolina’s most affordable Advanced Standing MSW programs:

The program costs approximately $13,219.50 total, at $37.70 per credit for 35 credits. This makes it North Carolina’s sixth most affordable Advanced Standing MSW.

The source materials don’t list specific in-state and out-of-state tuition rates for FSU, but like other state universities, rates differ for residents and non-residents.

Students must complete at least 500 clock hours of field education while taking academic courses. The application deadline is January 15, and all admission documents must arrive by this date.

FSU’s Advanced Standing MSW program gives BSW graduates a great path to advanced social work education in North Carolina. The program combines specialized training in children and families, mental health, military social work, and substance abuse treatment with flexible schedules and affordable tuition.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC Chapel Hill runs one of America’s top MSW programs that delivers outstanding academic training for social work professionals. BSW graduates can fast-track their careers through the 12-Month Advanced Standing MSW program that upholds the highest standards of professional excellence.

Specializations

The MSW program at UNC Chapel Hill features two main concentrations that match different career paths:

• Direct Practice (DP) – This concentration prepares you to work with individuals, families, and small groups in clinical settings. You can start a private practice or work directly with clients in hospitals, schools, or public agencies.
• Community, Management and Policy Practice (CMPP) – This track gives you the skills for leadership roles in community organizing, human services administration, policy development, and advocacy.

Students can specialize further in five key areas:

• Child, Youth, and Family Well-Being
• Economic Security
• Health, Mental Health, and Behavioral Health
• Older Adults and Long-Term Care
• System and Service-Level Research

The university also offers certificate programs in Substance Use & Addiction Specialist, Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, and Licensure in School Social Work.

Program Format

The 12-Month Advanced Standing MSW program follows this timeline:

1. Summer Term (13 credit hours):
   • SOWO 702: Human Behavior in Context (1.5 credits)
   • SOWO 712: Research and Evaluation (1.5 credits)
   • SOWO 732: Brief History of Oppression and Social Welfare Policy (1.5 credits)
   • SOWO 772: Social Work Practice Module (1.5 credits)
   • SOWO 522: Pre-Specialization Practicum (4 credits)
   • Concentration-specific course (3 credits)
2. Fall/Spring Semesters: Students join all rising final-year MSW students to complete the Specialization Curriculum after finishing summer courses.

Students get hands-on experience through field placements at over 250 government, nonprofit, and human services agencies. They work in various areas like anti-poverty programs, child welfare, community development, family violence, healthcare, and behavioral health.

Tuition and Affordability

UNC Chapel Hill’s tuition rates vary based on where you live:

Students should budget $26,054 (in-state) or $56,394 (out-of-state) for total costs including housing, meals, and books.

The university offers strong financial support:

• First-year students receive an average need-based scholarship of $17,948
• Need-based financial aid goes to 38% of first-year students
• UNC meets 100% of student financial aid needs
• Graduates typically leave with $14,000 in federal loan debt

You can find detailed tuition and fee information for the School of Social Work on UNC’s Cashier website.

UNC stands out as the top choice for BSW graduates in North Carolina. The program combines academic excellence, diverse specialization options, a well-laid-out advanced standing format, and robust financial support.

North Carolina State University

NC State University offers a CSWE-accredited Advanced Standing MSW program that prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings. Students learn professional ethics, social justice principles, and ways to participate in community activities. The program gives you the skills needed for leadership roles in social work practice.

Specializations

The basis of this program is its Advanced Generalist Practice (AGP) specialization. It deepens and broadens your generalist practice knowledge. This approach improves your ability to work at multiple levels while embracing social justice principles.

Beyond core courses, you can shape your education through many elective choices:

• Clinical Focus: DSM and Clinical Conditions, Trauma-Informed Health Services, Biopsychosocial Pain Management
• Population-Specific: Direct Practice with Older Adults, Social Work with Soldiers/Veterans/Families, African American Families
• Issue-Based: Addiction Recovery, Hunger and Homelessness, Opioid Use Disorders

Students can earn specialized certifications in School Social Work, Child Welfare (through the Child Welfare Education Collaborative), and Addiction and Recovery licensure.

Program Format

The Advanced Standing MSW program runs for 12 months as a well-laid-out, full-time curriculum. It requires 39 credit hours starting in summer. Here’s how the program flows:

• Summer (7 credits): Social Justice (3), Advanced Practice Review Seminar (4)
• Fall (16 credits): Including Administration & Supervision, Advanced Practice with Individuals, and field internship
• Spring (16 credits): Including Advanced Practice with Family Systems and field internship

Field education plays a vital role. Students spend 24 hours weekly in internships during fall and spring semesters.

Advanced Standing admission requires a BSW from an accredited institution, a cumulative GPA of 3.5, B or better grades in all Social Work courses, and completed prerequisites in biology and statistics.

Tuition and Affordability

NC State’s graduate tuition rates for 2025-26 academic year are:

The total cost for 2025-26, including housing, food, books, and personal expenses, comes to about $34,503 for in-state and $55,801 for out-of-state students living off-campus.

Students can apply for Graduate Teaching Assistantships that cover tuition and provide a stipend for about 20 hours of weekly work. The School of Social Work also provides various scholarship opportunities.

NC State’s Advanced Standing MSW program stands out with its complete curriculum, diverse specialization options, and competitive tuition rates. It’s an excellent choice to advance your social work career in North Carolina.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

UNC Charlotte’s nationally-ranked Master of Social Work program excels with its focus on culturally-informed, community-based practice. Students learn to become social work leaders in practice, policy, and research through a curriculum that emphasizes social justice.

Specializations

Students get comprehensive social work education at UNC Charlotte that they can customize through electives and practicum experiences. The program includes:

• Foundation practicum that provides broad generalist practice situations including interviewing, case-planning, and professional supervision
• A tailored curriculum that covers advanced competencies that line up with the school’s mission and vision
• A chance to earn graduate certificates in areas such as Substance Abuse Counseling, Gerontology, Non-Profit Management, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Play Therapy

The curriculum helps students work at all levels of society, so graduates are ready for social work roles of all types. Students learn specialized approaches to work with individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities.

Program Format

The MSW program has several paths based on student needs:

Campus-Based Options:

• 1-Year Advanced Standing: Completed in one calendar year (May to May) with 39 credit hours
• 2-Year Traditional: 60 credit hours with the generalist curriculum in the first semester

Distance Education (Online) Options:

• 1-Year Advanced Standing Online: 39 credit hours completed in one calendar year
• 2-Year Advanced Standing Online: 39 credit hours over two academic years
• 3-Year Traditional Online: 60 credit hours over three academic years

You can qualify for Advanced Standing if you have earned a BSW from an accredited program within the last seven years with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Tuition and Affordability

Your tuition rates will vary based on your program type and residency status:

The total cost includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses. This may change depending on full or part-time attendance.

Students can check the Financial Services website for current tuition information. The university provides various financial aid options to help with costs, making this Advanced Standing MSW program a smart investment in your social work career.

University of North Carolina at Pembroke

UNC Pembroke, an NC Promise campus, provides one of the most affordable Advanced Standing MSW programs in North Carolina. The program serves rural and Native American communities. Social workers learn to practice using an advanced generalist model in clinical and healthcare settings through evidence-based approaches.

Specializations

The MSW program at UNC Pembroke focuses on Advanced Generalist Practice with two main areas:

• Rural communities practice that tackles unique challenges and opportunities in less populated areas
• Native American indigenous communities practice that shows the university’s historic connection to the Lumbee Tribe

Students can earn additional credentials with their MSW:

• School Social Work licensure through the NC Department of Public Instruction
• Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS) credential via the Criteria C option through the NC Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board

The curriculum builds on generalist foundations to prepare graduates for various careers. These include behavioral health, clinical practice, substance use disorder treatment, child welfare, and medical social work.

Program Format

UNC Pembroke gives you flexible completion options:

You need a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program earned within 5 years with a minimum 3.2 GPA to qualify for Advanced Standing. The hybrid option combines online and in-person components. Classes are scheduled so you’re on campus one day per week from 3:00-8:30pm.

Field education is essential—all students must complete 500 hours of fieldwork in North Carolina, whatever format you choose.

Tuition and Affordability

UNC Pembroke’s graduate tuition rates are among the lowest in North Carolina. The university’s fees vary based on delivery method:

On-campus students pay these required fees:

• Student Activity Fees: $37.67 per credit hour
• General Fees: $93.78 per credit hour
• Student Capital Fee: $15.61 per credit hour

Distance and online accelerated students pay reduced fees:

• General Fees: $33.00 per credit hour
• Association Student Government Fee: $0.06 per credit hour

This pricing structure makes UNC Pembroke a smart choice to advance your social work education while learning about rural and indigenous community practice.

Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University runs its Advanced Standing MSW program from two locations – the main Cullowhee campus and Biltmore Park site in Asheville. Students can choose either location while they learn about rural social work practice.

Specializations

WCU’s MSW program features an Advanced Generalist curriculum that puts special emphasis on rural contexts. Students can customize their education through several certificate options:

• Addiction Studies
• Child Welfare
• Culturally-Based Native Health
• School Social Work

Students also have the option to focus on Integrated Healthcare. This specialized training helps graduates work in public agencies, private clinical practice, integrated healthcare, mental health treatment, and social service administration.

Program Format

Students can complete their Advanced Standing program through two different timelines:

Students must take a bridge course (SOCW 553) during summer. Full-time students follow this schedule:

• Summer: Bridge course and elective
• Fall: Clinical interventions, family/group practice, field practicum (24 hours weekly)
• Spring: Leadership, rural advocacy, continuing field practicum

Faculty teaches most classes face-to-face, though some courses use online or hybrid formats. Students need to complete 33 credit hours total, including 600 field practicum hours.

Tuition and Affordability

WCU charges different tuition rates for MSW students based on program-specific costs:

The total program cost comes to about $10,895 for in-state students completing the two-semester program plus summer courses.

Students can get financial support through the HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Stipend ($10,000) during their specialization year if they focus on integrated care. Qualified students can also apply for graduate assistantships that provide part-time teaching or research work.

Joint MSW Program (UNC Greensboro & NC A&T)

The Joint Master of Social Work (JMSW) program showcases a groundbreaking collaborative effort between UNC Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University. This partnership stands as the first of its kind between a predominantly white institution and a Historically Black College/University in the United States. The program builds on a successful 45-year partnership between both universities’ undergraduate social work programs.

Specializations

Students in the JMSW curriculum focus on multicultural clinical practice. The specialized focus highlights:

• Understanding cultures, histories, and identities of all peoples, with special focus on oppressed or marginalized groups
• Building culturally sensitive therapeutic relationships that boost resilience
• Using psychological, ecological, and community contextual views in assessments

Students learn to work with individuals, families, and groups as their main practice areas. The program prepares graduates to qualify for clinical social work licensure across all U.S. states that require these credentials.

Format and Structure

Students can choose between two completion paths:

Advanced Standing students start with summer bridge courses (12 credits) that link BSW knowledge to specialized curriculum. Field education plays a crucial role – two-year students complete 1,008 hours in field internships, while Advanced Standing students complete 672 hours.

Tuition and Affordability

Students get randomly assigned to either UNCG or NC A&T as their “home campus” after acceptance. This assignment determines:

• Your financial aid processing campus
• Course registration location
• Student ID issuing campus

The program has received over $5 million in external funding over the last several years, which helps reduce student debt. This investment shows the program’s dedication to making quality social work education available to more students.

Comparing North Carolina’s Advanced Standing MSWs

Find the Right Program Today

Picking the right Advanced Standing MSW program needs you to think about several key factors. North Carolina’s nine CSWE-accredited programs each bring their own specializations, delivery formats, and tuition structures that match different career goals and personal needs.

Advanced Standing programs cut down your time investment compared to traditional MSW paths. Qualified BSW graduates can earn their master’s degree in just 10-12 months of full-time study instead of spending two years in a standard program. Many schools now offer part-time and online options that make advanced education available whatever your work schedule or location.

These programs’ specialization areas cover almost every social work career path. North Carolina’s MSW programs provide relevant training whether you want to practice clinically with individuals and families, lead community organizations, focus on substance abuse treatment, or serve military populations.

Each institution’s tuition costs vary. Schools like Appalachian State, Western Carolina, and NC State give in-state students economical options, while UNC Chapel Hill and East Carolina’s prestigious education comes at higher prices. Many programs’ financial aid packages can cut your actual costs substantially.

Field education sits at the heart of these programs. You’ll complete hundreds of supervised practice hours in ground settings that let you apply theoretical knowledge and develop professional skills under expert guidance.

Your final choice should match your career goals, location priorities, budget, and schedule needs. Program administrators can share great insights that websites and catalogs might miss.

Your BSW has built your social work practice foundation over the years. These Advanced Standing programs open doors to specialized expertise and better career opportunities throughout North Carolina and beyond.