MSW Tuition and Funding

MSW students are often able to fund their degree through financial aid, fellowships, traineeships, assistantships, and additional programs that may help to supplement their financial resources.

Additional funding resources can be found on The UW Graduate School’s funding webpage.

Admitted and current students are also able to utilize the Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS) which helps graduate students find funding.

You can also explore UW Campus Job opportunities.

For information on the WA State Tuition Exemption Program, visit the Registrar’s page. Please note that these waivers do not apply to our part-time MSW programs which are fee-based.

The School of Social Work has set its tuition in order to offer the very best education our nationally ranked programs have to offer.

The School follows a cohort based rate for MSW tuition/course fees, which means that as long as students continue in the program as expected, their tuition would remain the same as when they entered throughout the duration of their program. This practice applies to both resident and non-resident students.

Rates for incoming students will be evaluated annually with key governance groups and announced publicly in late Spring/early Summer (upon Board of Regents approval) so incoming cohorts have advance notice.

Detailed estimates are offered by program for planning purposes. View them HERE.

The primary source of funding for MSW students comes from federal and state financial aid administered by the UW Office of Student Financial Aid. UW financial aid includes grants, loans, and work-study, however, note that the main form of financial aid offered to graduate students is federal loans.

Non-residents and part-time students will only receive loans and possibly work-study. WA residents in a full-time program, depending on their SAI, may be eligible for some grants, as well as loans.

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). International Students are generally not eligible for financial aid through FAFSA/WASFA, however they are eligible for departmental scholarships. Not sure if you’re eligible for WASFA? Complete the WASFA Questionnaire to determine your eligibility.

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. Financial aid is not awarded until admission into UW has been granted.
The FAFSA/WASFA is frequently required in order to be considered for many additional types of funding so we encourage all students to submit one each year as soon as possible (international students are unable to file a FAFSA/WASFA).
If you plan to be enrolled for summer quarter, you’ll need to apply separately for summer aid.
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. Generally, this will be sent to you electronically so please check your UW email and MyUW regularly. Please accept your aid as directed, even if you are requesting or expecting changes. Unaccepted awards are subject to cancellation. You can request changes to your award as needed.

More info on financial aid can be found on UW’s Office of Student Financial Aid website.

Traineeships are training programs that offer students specialized skill-building and support to help them reach their professional goals. Our MSW Program offers five distinct traineeships, four of which include funding:

Child Welfare Training and Advancement Program: CWTAP’s mission is to recruit and develop highly skilled, culturally competent public child-welfare social workers through a partnership between the state’s Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and UW. Participants receive specialized advising, practicum placements, and classes, as well as extensive financial support in exchange for working for an eligible DCYF or Tribal office for a time period equal to the time they received financial assistance. Your first step is to apply to the UW School of Social Work MSW Program. After submitting an MSW application, applicants will receive an email invitation to CWTAP information sessions. International students are not eligible for the CWTAP traineeship.

Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative: WDI’s mission is to recruit diverse community behavioral health workers committed to serving individuals and families with mental health and substance use challenges. Students participating in WDI receive a grant that offsets master’s degree tuition by agreeing to serve in a Washington state community behavioral health agency or tribal health center following their graduation. International students are only eligible for the WDI traineeship if they have guaranteed work authorization after their education visa has expired.

Workforce for Student Well-being: WSW’s mission is to recruit and train skilled school social workers. Students participating in WSW receive up to $30,000 in grants during their specialized field placement and agree to serve for two years in a Washington high-needs public school or tribal school. See more information on the application process and timelines here. International students are only eligible for the WSW traineeship if they have guaranteed work authorization after their education visa has expired.

Carol LaMare Endowed Fellowship in Integrative Oncology and Palliative Care Social Work: This traineeship/fellowship program supports 2nd year Day and 3rd year EDP clinical students interested in oncology social work. Recipients may receive up to $5,000, mentoring, specialized seminars, and practicum placements in local oncology, palliative care, or hospice centers. This traineeship is part of UW’s Center for Integrative Oncology and Palliative Care Social Work, which takes a social justice approach to oncology and palliative care. The Center aims to prepare culturally adept researchers and practitioners who are dedicated to addressing disparities in cancer and end-of-life care based on race and ethnicity, disability, gender and sexual identity, geographic location, income and education. Information session details are sent to eligible students in December and applications open in late winter. See more information here.

Also known as scholarships, fellowships are competitive awards that are intended to fund academic study. The School of Social Work awards several types of fellowships to incoming and continuing MSW students, including international students. The UW Graduate School also offers fellowships.

School of Social Work Fellowships:

Prospective Students: all admitted students who complete the FAFSA/WASFA and submit the Funding Consideration Form, as part of the admissions application, by the listed deadlines will be considered for departmental fellowships. Please note that notification of most awards will generally occur after an offer of admission. The FAFSA/WASFA should be submitted by January 15th (the School of Social Work’s priority deadline) for priority consideration, however it can be submitted after this date as well. Late FAFSA/WASFA submission may result in no funding or less funding. International students are waived from the FAFSA/WASFA requirement. Fellowships are awarded based on merit and need as demonstrated through your MSW application, the FAFSA/WASFA, and Funding Consideration Form. MSW fellowships are typically $7,500 for one academic year, although there are some specialized funds that may offer more or less.

Current Students: all students continuing in their MSW for the following academic year will be sent a Funding Application in spring. Students who complete the FAFSA/WASFA and submit the Funding Application by the listed deadlines will be considered for departmental fellowships. The FAFSA/WASFA should be submitted by January 15 (UW’s priority deadline) for priority consideration, however it can be submitted after this date as well. Late FAFSA/WASFA submission may result in no funding or less funding. International students are waived from the FAFSA/WASFA requirement.

View a list of School of Social Work Fellowships here.

Graduate School Fellowships:

The UW Graduate School maintains a list of fellowships open to UW grad students. Please note that some of these require the applicant to apply, while others require departmental nominations. For those that require departmental nominations, if you submitted a FAFSA/WASFA and Funding Form, you will automatically be considered. See a list of UW Grad School Fellowships.

Assistantships are a form of paid academic employment in which students receive tuition reimbursement for the tasks they perform for faculty members, departments, or colleges. International students are eligible for assistantships. The School of Social Work offers several assistantships and additional graduate assistantships are typically available through other departments at UW.

UW Assistantships: At the UW, Academic Student Employees (ASEs) are hired directly by the employing department. Each department conducts its own individual hiring process and many departments (like the School of Social Work!) hire their own students. Other departments will recruit widely for positions from relevant degree programs across campus. Learn more about assistantships outside of The School of Social Work here.

School of Social Work Assistantships: The UW School of Social Work has historically offered three competitive graduate assistantship opportunities, open to current and incoming MSW students:

Student Information Specialist: This is an outreach/ambassador position, responsible for supporting the Admissions Office in supporting and recruiting diverse applicants to the UW School of Social Work and providing technical assistance to BASW and MSW applicants throughout the application process. Successful candidates are expected to have strong skills in public speaking, written communication, and multitasking. Current students as well as incoming MSW Day, EDP, and Advanced Standing students are eligible to apply; please note that this position requires 20 hours per week of office hours (primarily weekday, daytime hours). The SIS position may not be available every year; one or two positions may be available in a given year, depending on staffing needs. This is a graduate student assistantship that includes a tuition waiver, stipend, and benefits as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement. Applications for the Student Information Specialist position for the 2025 – 2026 academic year will open in February 2025.

Social Work Writing Tutor: Would you like to provide writing support to fellow students at the UW School of Social Work? The social work writing team generally hires 2-3 new peer writing tutors each year. Tutors provide writing support services to all social work students. These yearlong positions require flexible schedules in both remote and in-person settings. Funding varies by quarter and may include a tuition waiver, a partial tuition waiver, and health insurance coverage in some quarters, and hourly pay in other quarters. Eligible students must be entering the MSW advanced curriculum in Autumn 2025. Priority consideration is given to current EDP and Day students. Application details here.

Student Computer Consultant: Responsible for supporting the School of Social Work computer labs help desk support to students, faculty and staff of a variety of software and other computing related inquiries. Provides funding for graduate students in the UW School of Social Work which may be offered as a tuition waiver, partial tuition waiver, health insurance coverage, stipend, or a combination of all. Candidates must be a UW School of Social Work MSW student and eligible to qualify for a Graduate Student Assistantship (this is not work – study and is not based on financial need). Current students as well as incoming MSW Day, EDP, and Advanced Standing students are eligible to apply; please note that this position requires weekday, weeknight, and weekend coverage and a commitment of 20 hours per week is necessary (support times shared across all four consultants). Applications for the Student Computer Consultant position for the 2025 – 2025 academic year will open in February 2025. Application details here.

The School of Social Work offers more than 600 practicum sites. While the majority of these practicums are unpaid, some paid opportunities are available. Additionally, students have the option to arrange a practicum at their current place of employment

Paid Practicums: Some practicum agencies offer a stipend for our students. Availability of paid practicums is dependent on the agency’s capacity and stipend amounts range based on agencies’ budgets and policies. 

Agency of Employment: An Agency of Employment (A of E) placement is a practicum placement based in the student’s place of employment. This is an excellent opportunity for a student who would like to deepen and expand their knowledge base and skill set related to their current practice at work, while managing the financial demands of school. Students keep their current paid employment and complete the requirements for practicum placement simultaneously, with careful education assessment and planning.

Summary of A of E Requirements:

Students must submit an A of E application and have it approved by the Field Office.

All A of E placements must be with an Affiliated Agency.

Students must have the full support of their supervisor, Program Manager, and Executive Director or other appropriate leadership.

The agency must provide a Field Instructor (FI) for the student’s required FI supervision. The FI must have an MSW and at least two years post-MSW professional experience. It is highly recommended that the student’s work supervisor and the Field Instructor are two different people.

The student must have access to substantive learning opportunities that will build their knowledge, values, and skills related to the nine Social Work Competencies and must submit a learning contract linking their planned work tasks/learning activities with the competencies.

Students may not start accruing practicum hours until the first day of the quarter, unless they are attending a required training. UW SSW does not require students to work over and above their full-time work schedule of 40 hours when accruing their required 24 practicum hours.

Loan Forgiveness Programs

By choosing a career in social work, you may qualify for special forgiveness initiatives that acknowledge your commitment to community welfare and service. While the list below isn’t exhaustive, it outlines certain programs designed to relieve the financial burden of student loans for those committed to working in underserved communities.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This federal program forgives loans after 120 monthly payments. You must be on an income-driven repayment plan, work for the government or an eligible nonprofit, and submit an eligibility form each year.
National Health Service Corps: This federal program offers LICSWs between $25,000 and $100,000 in loan repayment in exchange for 2-3 years of service at an eligible jobsite.
Washington Health Corps: This state program offers LICSWs up to $75,000 in loan repayment in exchange for 3-5 years of service at an eligible jobsite.
Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program: This federal program offers LICSWs up to $25,000 per year in loan repayment in exchange for up to 2 of service at an eligible jobsite.

External Funding

There are also additional funding programs without specific ties to UW that may offer financial support to MSW students. This list is not exhaustive, but provides a selection of relevant programs.

International Student Services provides resources for University of Washington international students so that they may reach their educational goals.
eduPASS: This is a list of scholarships available to international graduate students.
Database of Grants and Fellowships for Graduate Students: The very helpful Illinois database of scholarships for graduate and professional studies has a filter that will show scholarships open to international students (and the database is not limited to scholarships for study at Illinois).

UW Office of Student Veteran Life is a place for veterans to connect with other veterans. In addition, the center provides access to university resources specifically designed for veterans. It provides a place where veterans can find and build their community within the university.
- They also have their own Veterans Education Benefits Office.
- Tuition Waivers: You may be eligible to receive a waiver of your tuition and fees.
Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) provides financial assistance to students receiving education or training in a direct or indirect health-care services discipline and assists in providing an adequate supply of such personnel for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). HPSP helps the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) meet its need for qualified health care professionals for which recruitment or retention is difficult.

Admissions