Obtaining a social work degree accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) through an Oregon social work program will help you begin your career in this growing area. Oregon has four types of social work licensure and you must have at least an accredited bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) to be licensed and engage in social work practice. Social work schools in Oregon offer many options; programs are available at main campuses in large cities, satellite locations in smaller towns, and Portland State University offers a CSWE-accredited master’s degree in social work (MSW) online.
Quick Facts
- 11 schools offering social work programs in Oregon are in our database (see below)
- Of the social work schools in Oregon, 5 offer associate’s degrees or certificates, 6 offer bachelor’s degrees, and 3 offer a master’s or advanced degree1
- No schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges
- 1 school ranked in US News Best Graduate Social Work Programs
- 1 school ranked in Social Work Guide’s Top Online MSW Programs4
- Across 6 schools, 9 bachelor’s and master’s social work degree programs in Oregon 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 Oregon
US News Best Graduate Social Work Programs
- Portland State University (#38 tie)
Social Work Guide’s Top Online MSW Programs
- Portland State University
Schools with Social Work Programs Accredited by the CSWE
- Concordia University Portland
- George Fox University
- Pacific University
- Portland State University
- University of Portland
- Warner Pacific University
Schools in Oregon with Social Work Degree Programs
BSW and Other Undergraduate Programs
George Fox University
George Fox University is a private, Christian institution located in the northwest city of Newberg. US News & World Report ranked the university #28 among all regional universities in the West in 2016. The George Fox University School of Social Work has a BSW program accredited by the CSWE that teaches generalist social work skills using Christian and liberal arts philosophies. The social work major must be declared by submitting an application to the department after finishing prerequisite courses in psychology, sociology, and social welfare with at least a 2.25 cumulative GPA. A concentration in criminal justice is also offered within the social work major. The program includes two field education placements. One 150-hour placement is completed in the junior year and one 300-hour placement is completed in the senior year. In addition to local field placements, international internships are offered in Spain and South Africa through the Global Studies program.
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private, Catholic school offering a CSWE-accredited BSW. All students at the Dorothy Day Social Work Program must complete the core curriculum by taking courses in communication, metaphysics, a foreign language, and electives from the humanities and social science departments. In the sophomore year, students submit an application to declare social work as their major; the process is competitive. Once admitted to the social work major, students take classes in research methods, social welfare, social policy, diversity, and interviewing skills. Social work students have the option of participating in the university’s study abroad program offering summer, one-semester, or year-long programs around the world. The field education placement is completed in the senior year; students spend 16 hours each week at a local social service organization. In 2016, US News & World Report placed the university #7 among regional universities in the West.
MSW and Other Graduate Programs
Portland State University
The School of Social Work at Portland State University was tied for 33rd place among all social work graduate schools in the country by US News & World Report in 2016. Portland State University School of Social Work’s MSW program is offered full-time and part-time at the main campus in Portland as well as part-time in Ashland, Bend, Eugene, Salem, and online. The degree can be completed in as little as one year through the advanced standing program at the Portland campus for those who have a CSWE-accredited BSW. Students choose a specialization in the second year of the program from Clinical Social Work Practice; Practice and Leadership of Community Organization; Social Work with Children, Youth, and Families; or Health Across the Lifespan. The Portland campus also offers dual degree options as well as additional specializations in school social work, Peace Corps International work, gerontology, or public health. The university also offers a CSWE-accredited BSW program and a PhD in Social Work and Social Research.
Pacific University
Pacific University is a private institution that was ranked #25 among all regional universities in the West by US News & World Report in 2016. The Pacific University MSW program is available at the Eugene campus within the College of Arts & Science and offers small class sizes with equal attention given to urban and rural social work practice. Acceptance into the program is competitive; applicants must have an undergraduate degree with at least two courses from each of the following categories: natural science or math, social or behavioral science, and humanities or arts. The program takes two years to complete full-time. In the second year of the program, students choose between two areas of concentration: Health and Wellness or Latino Families & Culture. Students complete two year-long field education placements. The first placement includes at least 420 hours in a generalist practice setting and the second placement includes at least 500 hours in the student’s chosen area of concentration.
Accreditation Information for Oregon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemeketa Community College | 13% | 26% | Yes | No | No | No | Not Ranked | $7,103 |
| Clackamas Community College | 22% | 26% | Yes | No | No | No | Not Ranked | $5,008 |
| Concordia University-Portland | 55% | N/A | No | Yes | No | Yes | Not Ranked | $21,929 |
| George Fox University | 65% | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Ranked | $25,359 |
| Linn-Benton Community College | 18% | 16% | Yes | No | No | No | Not Ranked | $9,765 |
| Pacific University | 59% | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Ranked | $27,196 |
| Portland State University | 42% | 6% | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | #38 tie | $12,772 |
| Rogue Community College | 11% | 18% | Yes | No | No | No | Not Ranked | $9,639 |
| Treasure Valley Community College | 20% | 22% | Yes | No | No | No | Not Ranked | $13,937 |
| University of Portland | 80% | N/A | No | Yes | No | Yes | #33 | $31,342 |
| Warner Pacific College | 41% | N/A | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Not Ranked | $22,053 |
*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 Oregon 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).
Chemeketa Community College
4000 Lancaster Dr NE
Salem, OR 97305
(503) 399-5000
http://www.chemeketa.edu
Clackamas Community College
19600 Molalla Ave
Oregon City, OR 97045-8980
(503) 594-6000
http://www.clackamas.edu
Concordia University-Portland*
2811 NE Holman St
Portland, OR 97211-6099
(503) 288-9371
http://www.cu-portland.edu
George Fox University*
414 N Meridian St
Newberg, OR 97132
(503) 538-8383
http://www.georgefox.edu
Linn-Benton Community College
6500 Pacific Blvd SW
Albany, OR 97321
(541) 917-4999
https://www.linnbenton.edu
Pacific University*
2043 College Way
Forest Grove, OR 97116
(877) 722-8648
http://www.pacificu.edu
Portland State University*
724 SW Harrison
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 725-3000
http://www.pdx.edu
Reed College
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd
Portland, OR 97202
503/771-1112
http://www.reed.edu
Student Review: “Great instructors and professors overall. I had a really positive experience going to school there. The buildings and curriculum were a bit outdated, but otherwise, it was a solid experience. I wish the coursework had more address how regions and cities like Portland can experience rapid change over a short period of time and how that affects different groups living there. A few of the professors will even talk to you about Steve Jobs. And the campus is in a nice part of town that is near a really nice hike and a few small bars.” – Student at Reed College
Rogue Community College
3345 Redwood Hwy
Grants Pass, OR 97527-9291
(541) 956-7501
http://www.roguecc.edu
Treasure Valley Community College
650 College Blvd
Ontario, OR 97914
(541) 881-8822
http://www.tvcc.cc
University of Oregon
1585 E 13th Ave
Eugene, OR 97403
541-346-1000
https://uoregon.edu
Student Review: “The University of Oregon Family and Human Services was a great academic, professional, and personal experience. The staff is knowledgeable and personable, and each student had one or more advisors that they could go to whenever we needed support. My favorite part of the program was that I got to explore a variety of areas within the field of social work. In the first year of the program you complete three internships with various nonprofits around town, and then you choose one of the three for a year-long senior project. This allowed me to figure out which type of work I’m most suited for and passionate about. It also helped me rule out jobs that wouldn’t have been a good fit. Overall, the program is academically solid, well-rounded, and provides a solid foundation for anyone who wants to go into the field of social work. Many of my former classmates, including myself, found jobs in the field that we continue to enjoy. I recommend it!” – Student at University of Oregon
University of Portland*
5000 N Willamette Blvd
Portland, OR 97203-5798
(503) 943-8000
http://www.up.edu
Warner Pacific College*
2219 SE 68th Ave
Portland, OR 97215
(503) 517-1000
http://www.warnerpacific.edu
Schools with an asterisk (*) have programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
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