Understanding the University of Washington MSW Tuition Costs

Navigating the financial aspects of pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at the University of Washington (UW) requires careful consideration. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the tuition costs associated with the UW MSW program, available financial aid options, and other factors influencing the overall cost of attendance.

Official Tuition Information Sources

The University of Washington provides current annual and quarterly tuition information for its programs through official dashboards. It is crucial to consult these dashboards for the most up-to-date figures. These amounts are specifically for students enrolled in tuition-based programs. Rates are also posted as annual and quarterly PDFs on annual and quarterly tuition pages. This document with details about the annual full-time tuition and fee schedules, provides important information about tuition and fees to provide context for those rates.

Cohort-Based Tuition Model

The School of Social Work (SSW) at UW follows a cohort-based rate for MSW tuition/course fees. This means that students can expect their tuition to remain the same as when they entered throughout the duration of their program, as long as they continue in the program as expected.

Funding Your MSW Degree

Social Work students are able to fund their degree utilizing financial aid, fellowships, traineeships, assistantships, and additional programs that may help to supplement their education. The primary source of funding for MSW students comes from federal and state financial aid administered by the UW Office of Student Financial Aid. Non-residents and part-time students will only receive loans and possibly work-study.

Academic Year Structure

The Academic Year includes three quarters, beginning in September and ending in June. Annual tuition amounts do not include summer quarter. The Academic Year for Part-Time students begins in September and ends in August. Students take 6-9 Credits per quarter during fall, winter, spring and summer. The Part-Time Program typically takes 9-11 consecutive quarters.

Components of Tuition and Fees

Tuition includes building, facilities, IMA, operating, services and activities, technology, and U-PASS fees. SSW students must participate in the HSIP. HSIP fee estimate includes a one-time $43 setup fee, and annual fees. UW Fees charged through Professional and Continuing Education. Includes a building fee, tech fee, services and activities fee, IMA fee, facilities fee, and UPASS fee.

Financial Aid Application Process

In order to receive financial aid you must apply through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA), generally used if ineligible for federal aid (e.g. folks who are DACA eligible, HB 1079 eligible, DREAMers, or are undocumented). The FAFSA/WASFA should be submitted by UW’s priority deadline for priority consideration for aid programs for the upcoming school year, however it can be submitted after this date as well. The application for financial aid is separate from the application for admission. Awards and financial aid packages will be sent throughout the spring and summer. Please accept your aid as directed, even if you are requesting or expecting changes. Unaccepted awards are subject to cancellation.

Residency and International Student Tuition

Very few international students pay the resident tuition rate; students must apply and qualify for Washington state residency to pay this rate. International graduate tuition and fees listed on this page are based on the Tier I level. Review the Graduate & Professional Tuition Dashboard for Tier I, II, or III specific tuition & fee rates or search by your specific program. To receive an I-20 or DS-2019, you must provided proof of funding for a period of 1 academic year. Funds must be liquid.

Estimated Cost of Attendance

Please refer to the Estimated Annual Cost of Attendance for First-Year Undergraduates webpage for more information regarding the total cost of attendance for first year undergraduate students. Living expenses are calculated from the 2025-2026 Student Budget Nine-Month Expenses. (Textbooks and course supplies, rent, utilities and food, personal and miscellaneous, and transportation).

Alternative Funding Options

Academic Student Employee (ASE) positions such as Research, Teaching, or Staff Assistant positions generally receive some type of tuition reimbursement or waiver and health insurance through Graduate Appointee Insurance Program (GAIP).

Value and Rankings of UW Social Work Programs

Students have lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 57,618 people earned their degree in social work, making the major the 12th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, social work graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,459 and had an average of $30,084 in loans still to pay off.

Across Washington, there were 888 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,709 and $29,337 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 597 social work graduates with average earnings and debt of $62,184 and $46,709 respectively.

"Best Value" Rankings for Social Work Programs

This year’s “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 5 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social work. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent social work programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the social work program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

The colleges and universities below are the best for washington master’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k.

University of Washington - Seattle Campus

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k. UW Seattle is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 248 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Washington” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Eastern Washington University

Out of the 5 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Washington University landed the #2 spot on the list. EWU is a public institution located in Cheney, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 185 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

EWU also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Washington” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Washington University are $28,921, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Walla Walla University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Walla Walla University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k list. Walla Walla University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in College Place, Washington. It awarded 86 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

Walla Walla U also made our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Washington” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Walla Walla U are $23,841, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

University of Washington - Tacoma Campus

Out of the 5 schools in the Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Washington - Tacoma Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Washington - Tacoma Campus is a medium-sized school located in Tacoma, Washington that handed out 52 masters’s social work degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our washington master’s degree social work students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW Tacoma has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Washington” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW Tacoma are $30,438.

Seattle University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Seattle University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Work Schools for a Master’s in Washington For Those Making $0-$30k list. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s social work degrees to 26 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Seattle U, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Social Work Master’s Degree Schools in Washington” ranking.

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