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Whether working with patients facing life-altering illnesses, children and families in need of help, or elderly people navigating senior care facilities, social workers fight for the rights of the most vulnerable.
Arkansas residents are able to earn social work degrees not only through traditional coursework on campuses across the state, but also through remote or distance learning.
Top Online Social Work Degree Programs in Arkansas
Several of the state's universities provide opportunities to earn online Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work degrees. After finishing an MSW, social work graduates will need to earn a license through the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board.
View a list of the top online social work degree programs in Arkansas.
1. Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a part of Jonesboro's College of Nursing & Health Professions. They offer two online programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Tuition is $331 per credit hour.
Online social work degree programs include:
- MSW-Standard (63 credit hours) at a total tuition of $20,853
- Advance Standing MSW (36 credit hours) at a total tuition of $11,916
2. Southern Arkansas University
Southern Arkansas University, located in Magnolia, provides a CSWE-accredited online bachelor of social work degree located in the Behavioral and Social Sciences Department (College of Liberal and Performing Arts).
In addition to online coursework, BSW students will complete at least 420 hours of supervised field internship practice.
Southern Arkansas tuition for the program is $285 per credit hour for in-state and $437 per credit hour for out-of-state students.
3. University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, the state's flagship university, offers students an online MSW option only for the Advanced Standing MSW.
This program, only available for full-time students, is 39 credit hours and takes one year to complete. Students will take courses online but can expect their faculty internship coordinator to help them set up a field experience internship in the community of their choice.
Tuition is $437.54 per credit hour.
4. University of Arkansas at Little Rock
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock offers both an online BSW and an online MSW degree program, each accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
In addition to coursework, BSW students must successfully complete a senior-year internship of 480 work hours. The BSW tuition rate is $280 per credit hour.
The 60-credit online MSW program will unfold over two academic years. The online MSW curriculum has a concentration in Advanced Direct Practice (clinical).
Most online classes are asynchronous, but the program requires an extensive field internship of 1,200 hours in your community of choice. Graduate tuition is $383 per credit hour.
In addition to the regular MSW program, the university also provides an Advanced Standing option of 43 credit hours. This online opportunity is for students entering the program (1) with a recent BSW and a cumulative GPA of 3.5.
FAQs about Arkansas Online Social Work Degrees
Below, we answer some of the most commonly asked questions about online social work degree programs in Arkansas.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Social Worker in Arkansas?
Students can earn a bachelor's degree in social work in four years and qualify for a social worker job.
Earning a Master's of Social Work (MSW) takes one to two years above a bachelor's degree. Most MSW programs are 60+ credit hours, which involves two full years of graduate education.
However, if a student has earned an accredited BSW within the past five years with a high GPA, they may enroll in an Advanced Standing MSW program, which may be completed in two or three semesters.
What Field of Social Work Pays the Most in Arkansas?
Indeed.com reports that the average social worker salary in Arkansas is $49,534 per year, which is 16% below the national average.
However, certain fields of social work command much higher salaries than others. Generally, travel social workers receive the highest pay (some over ($100,000 per year), followed by clinical and medical social workers, all in the healthcare fields.
Also, social workers in Arkansas cities like Springdale and Bentonville report much higher salaries than in other parts of the state.
How Much Does an Online Social Work Degree Cost in Arkansas?
At $331 to $437 per credit hour, an online master's degree in social work will cost around $25,000.
Social work students are also eligible for many scholarships at the graduate level, so be sure to submit a FAFSA and work with your financial aid office and departmental liaison.
Students can also choose to attend a low-cost college in Arkansas.
Find the Right Online Social Work Program in Arkansas
If a social work career is in your future, now may be the time to apply for an online BSW or MSW degree. For more information on social work degrees in Arkansas, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team at Best Accredited Colleges.
