BALTIMORE, Md. — The University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) is now the first accredited social work program in Maryland that offers eligible Washington, D.C., residents in-state tuition for the Master of Social Work (MSW) program.

Students and faculty gather outside of the entrance to the University of Maryland School of Social Work.

The in-state tuition is available across all three program locations: the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), and online. D.C. residents will now pay $676 per credit, a 48 percent reduction from the $1,307 per-credit cost for out-of-state students. This tuition change will make UMSSW a more affordable option for aspiring social workers in the D.C. area.

“As a school, our goal is to reduce the amount of debt our students carry while ensuring they receive high-quality training,” said Amanda Lehning, PhD, MSS, senior associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor at UMSSW. “We know our students are often balancing work, family, and financial obligations. By providing this tuition discount and continuing to expand access to fellowships, we can help them focus more on their education and less on how to afford it.”

This new in-state tuition rate is available immediately to all eligible D.C. students currently enrolled in or applying to UMSSW’s MSW program. The University has already contacted current D.C. students to inform them of their reduced tuition.

Convenient and Diverse Learning Opportunities

The MSW program offers a variety of learning options that can fit students’ needs. This includes select Saturday courses, a hybrid of in-person and online synchronous and asynchronous courses and a fully online option. With three locations, including the growing Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland — conveniently located for clinical social work training — students from the D.C. area have multiple options to choose from.

Whether D.C. residents want to learn and train in D.C., Rockville or Baltimore, each option is accessible through public transportation. The USG campus offers a shuttle connecting to the Red Line of the Washington Metro, and D.C. residents can ride the MARC train Camden and Penn lines then transfer to Baltimore Light Rail to commute to UMB.

The School’s Baltimore campus offers a Leadership, Policy, and Social Change concentration, which trains students in policy advocacy, organizational leadership, and community organizing. With existing field practicums in the District and a longstanding commitment to D.C. metropolitan communities, UMSSW is supporting students looking to lead in both clinical and macro-level social work.

Bundling Tuition Savings with Fellowships and Scholarships

UMSSW is committed to reducing student debt by offering several fellowship and scholarship opportunities that can be bundled with the D.C. tuition discount. For example:

• Behavioral Health Workforce Integration Service and Education (BWISE): Offers stipends, coursework in behavioral health and substance use, and hands-on training in real-world settings.
• Child Welfare Fellowship: Provides a stipend, seminars, and training for students who commit to working in Maryland’s public child welfare system, including placements in Montgomery County for USG students.
• School-Based Mental Health Fellowship: This fellowship addresses the mental health provider workforce shortage by recruiting, training and placing social workers in Central Maryland’s high-need K-12 school districts. This fellowship opportunity provides Advanced Standing/2nd Year University of Maryland MSW participants with $15,000/year tuition scholarship in addition to an $8,000 stipend along with other benefits. Coppin State University and University of Maryland Baltimore County Bachelor of Social Work fellows receive an $8,000 stipend in addition to other incentives, providing a pathway to the UMSSW MSW program. 

“With this tuition reduction, we hope to attract more students who want to make an impact in their communities but may have been deterred by cost,” Lehning said.

Be a changemaker and apply today to the UMSSW MSW program at www.ssw.umaryland.edu/admissions/msw-admissions. For more information about the MSW program and eligibility for in-state tuition, visit the School of Social Work Tuition and Fees website or contact the University of Maryland School of Social Work financial aid office at 410.706.7347 or ssw@umaryland.edu.

About the University of Maryland School of Social Work

The University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) is one of six University of Maryland, Baltimore professional schools and an interdisciplinary School of Graduate Studies dedicated to improving the human condition and serving the public good of Maryland and beyond. Nationally recognized by U.S. News and World Report, UMSSW is one of the largest and most respected schools of social work in the country. UMSSW educates the majority of social workers in Maryland with over 80 full-time faculty members and a strong focus on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion principles. In addition to the school’s academic side, UMSSW excels in translating research to practice through partnerships with state and local government agencies and organizations. The School’s Center for Restorative Change, Promise Heights, Family Connections, and The Institute for Innovation and Implementation are all very active in helping with the social work needs in Baltimore and beyond.