BSW Programs in California

25 colleges · 1,188 BSW graduates per year · in-state tuition $5,742–$62,400

Every college below awards a Bachelor of Social Work degree in California, based on the latest federal IPEDS completions data. Programs are ordered by size (BSW degrees awarded per year). Click a college for admissions, financial aid, and outcome details. See also the best BSW colleges in California ranking.

College City BSW Grads/Yr In-State Tuition Grad Rate
California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles 217 $5,742 53%
California State University-Sacramento Sacramento 151 $5,742 56%
University of Massachusetts Global Aliso Viejo 102 $12,000 43%
California State University-Fresno Fresno 89 $5,742 57%
San Diego State University San Diego 80 $5,742 76%
California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino 73 $5,742 55%
Fresno Pacific University Fresno 70 $34,960 50%
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley 68 $11,834 93%
California State University-Chico Chico 66 $5,742 63%
California State University-Long Beach Long Beach 60 $5,742 69%
San Jose State University San Jose 52 $5,742 69%
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata 39 $5,742 49%
San Francisco State University San Francisco 21 $5,742 50%
California Baptist University Riverside 19 $37,570 62%
Azusa Pacific University Azusa 18 $42,900 62%
Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego 12 $42,600 77%
World Mission University Los Angeles 11 $6,720 100%
La Sierra University Riverside 8 $34,920 58%
Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles 7 $46,726 52%
Pacific Union College Angwin 6 $34,191 47%
Touro University Worldwide Los Alamitos 6 $14,440 29%
Pacific Oaks College Pasadena 5 $32,040 —
Whittier College Whittier 4 $48,924 60%
Chapman University Orange 3 $62,400 82%
California State University-East Bay Hayward 1 $5,742 48%

Social Work Licensure in California

BSW-Level License
N/A
Exam Required
N/A
Supervision
Not offered at BSW level
Renewal
N/A

California does not license social workers at the bachelor's level — most BSW graduates here pursue an MSW (LCSW) for licensure. Learn more in our licensure guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many colleges offer BSW programs in California?

25 colleges in California awarded bachelor's degrees in social work, graduating 1,188 BSW students per year according to the latest federal IPEDS data.

What is the most affordable BSW program in California?

California State University-Los Angeles in Los Angeles has the lowest published in-state tuition among California BSW colleges at $5,742 per year. Your actual cost may be lower after grants and scholarships — check each college's average net price.

Which California college has the largest BSW program?

California State University-Los Angeles graduates the most BSW students in California, with 217 bachelor's degrees in social work awarded per year.

Explore More

All States BSW Rankings Careers & Salary

Where a BSW Leads

A Bachelor of Social Work opens into six main practice areas, and pay differs between them by more than most prospective students expect. Each guide below carries the full BLS percentile spread, pay by work setting, and pay by state. Figures are May 2025 medians.

Community Social Worker $71,900

Nonprofits and government — program development, policy, advocacy
School Social Worker $69,620

K-12 districts — attendance, behavior, family support, IEP teams
Healthcare Social Worker $67,880

Hospitals, clinics, home health — discharge planning and care coordination
Mental Health Social Worker $60,280

Community clinics and hospitals — assessment, counseling, crisis response
Substance Abuse Social Worker $60,280

Treatment centers and public health — recovery planning and aftercare
Child & Family Social Worker $59,550

County and state agencies — child protection, foster care, family preservation

Not sure which fits? Start with the career and salary overview or the is social work for me self-assessment.