There are five social work schools in Maine offering degrees accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Although you do not need an accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) to begin your social work career in this state, earning a BSW may help you avoid additional steps during the licensure process. A BSW may also help you qualify for admission to a Master of Social Work (MSW) program and advance your career. In addition to traditional on-campus programs, the University of New England and the University of Maine offer fully online MSW programs.
Quick Facts
- 4 schools offering social work programs in Maine are in our database (see below)
- Of the social work schools in Maine, none offer associate’s degrees or certificates, 3 offer bachelor’s degrees, and 3 offer a master’s or advanced degree1
- No schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges
- 3 schools ranked in US News Best Graduate Social Work Programs
- 1 school ranked in Social Work Guide’s Top Online MSW Programs4
- Across 5 schools, 8 bachelor’s and master’s social work degree programs in Maine are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)5
Featured Online Programs in Social Work
Top-Ranked Schools with Social Work Programs in Maine
US News Best Graduate Social Work Programs
- University of Maine (#88 tie)
- University of New England (#128 tie)
- University of Southern Maine (#147 tie)
Social Work Guide’s Top Online MSW Programs
- University of New England
Schools with Social Work Programs Accredited by the CSWE
- Saint Joseph’s College
- University of Maine
- University of Maine at Presque Isle
- University of New England
- University of Southern Maine
Schools in Maine with Social Work Degree Programs
BSW and Other Undergraduate Programs
University of Maine at Presque Isle
The University of Maine at Presque Isle is a publicly-funded institution close to the Canadian border. UMPI’s School of Social Work offers a BSW program is CSWE-accredited and teaches the generalist model with a focus on rural social work practice. Students take liberal arts and social work classes that teach a broad range of theories and concepts relevant to social work practice. Social work electives help students focus on particular areas such as child welfare, gerontology, or crisis intervention. Students complete a minimum of 600 hours of supervised field education in two placements; 100 to 200 hours are completed in the junior year and 500 hours are completed in the senior year. In 2016 the university tied for 40th place among regional colleges in the North according to US News & World Report.
University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine is located on the Atlantic coast in the city of Portland. It is a public university with over 6,500 undergraduate students. The School of Social Work Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program is accredited by the CSWE and prepares students for micro, mezzo, and macro level generalist practice. Prospective students may declare the social work major at any time but must formally apply to the program after the sophomore year. During the freshman and sophomore years students take classes in English, statistics, psychology, and economics, among others, to establish eligibility for the major. The process is competitive and students should consult with their academic advisor before applying. Once admitted, students complete social work classes in policy, research, and practice and complete a field education placement in their senior year.
MSW and Other Graduate Programs
University of Maine
Centrally located in Orono, the University of Maine’s School of Social Work offers CSWE-accredited BSW and MSW degree programs. The MSW is based on an advanced generalist curriculum and offers optional certificate programs in Leadership in Rural Gerontological Practice, Interprofessional Gerontology, and Disability. The MSW program is offered in many ways to meet the needs of prospective students, who may attend the program on-campus through the traditional two-year, full-time format or through a four-year, part-time curriculum. The university also offers the program online or, beginning in Fall 2016, through a new online-hybrid program that includes online classes with limited weekend courses at the Belfast campus. Both online programs take three years to complete. Those who already have a CSWE-accredited BSW may be able to waive certain program requirements through advanced standing admission.
University of New England
The University of New England (UNE) is a private institution with campuses in Portland and Biddeford. The UNE School of Social Work’s MSW program is offered on campus and online, is accredited by the CSWE, and offers three concentrations in Clinical Practice, Community Practice, or Integrated Clinical/Community Practice. The on-campus program can be completed in as little as one year for those who already have a CSWE-accredited BSW degree or 16 months for those who choose the accelerated track for students without an accredited BSW. Two-year, full-time and three-to-four year, part-time paths are also offered on campus. With online degree completion, the advanced standing track takes a minimum of 16 months and the traditional path takes a minimum of three years. The online MSW is open to students from around the world. In 2016 US News & World Report ranked the school in a tie for 83rd place among regional universities in the North.
Accreditation Information for Maine Social Work Schools
| School | Graduation Rate1 | Transfer-Out Rate1 | Associate’s SW Program | Bachelor’s SW Program | Graduate SW Program | CSWE Accredited5 | US News Best Social Work Grad Schools Ranking3 | Net Price*1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maine | 60% | 25% | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | #88 tie | $16,505 |
| University of Maine at Presque Isle | 43% | N/A | No | Yes | No | Yes | Not Ranked | $10,374 |
| University of New England | 57% | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | #128 tie | $32,238 |
| University of Southern Maine | 32% | 38% | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | #147 tie | $16,484 |
*The net price is calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics by subtracting the average amount of aid (including grants and scholarships) from the total published cost of attendance for in-state/in-district students, which includes tuition, books, room and board, and other expenses. To gain a better understanding of how to interpret the statistics discussed in this table, see our list of important definitions.
Featured Online Programs in Social Work
Directory of Maine Social Work School Programs
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
Schools with an asterisk (*) have programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
University of Maine*
168 College Ave
Orono, ME 04469
(207) 581-1865
http://www.umaine.edu
University of Maine at Presque Isle*
181 Main St
Presque Isle, ME 04769-2888
(207) 768-9400
http://www.umpi.edu
University of New England*
11 Hills Beach Rd
Biddeford, ME 04005-9599
(207) 283-0171
http://www.une.edu
University of Southern Maine*
96 Falmouth St
Portland, ME 04103
(207) 780-4141
https://usm.maine.edu/
Student Review: “The University of Southern Maine’s social work program is challenging but rewarding all at the same time. This results in learning many things that will be helpful in my social work career. The professors and online discussion board systems make communication among the classmates and professor easy to be engaged in and adds to the learning. The program covers so many important aspects to prepare the student for future work. The fieldwork portion of the program was one of the more difficult aspects for me as I am not an outgoing type personality. The online course experience was a great one for me and I didn’t see much that I would recommend changing.” – Student at University of Southern Maine
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-private-colleges/index.php?table=all
3. US News & World Report Social Work Best Grad Schools Rankings: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/social-work-rankings
4.
Social Work Guide’s Top Online MSW Programs: /degrees/masters/online/
5. Council on Social Work Education: https://www.cswe.org/Accreditation/Directory-of-Accredited-Programs.aspx