There are several social work schools in Vermont to choose from. A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is a great way to start your social work career; you will need to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and apply for licensure if you plan to offer clinical services in Vermont. This page summarizes Vermont social work programs where you can earn your degree and prepare for your career.
Quick Facts
- 3 schools offering social work programs in Vermont are in our database (see below)
- Of the social work schools in Vermont, none offer associate’s degrees or certificates, 3 offer bachelor’s degrees, and 1 offers a master’s or advanced degree1
- 1 school ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges
- 1 school ranked in US News Best Graduate Social Work Programs
- No schools ranked in Social Work Guide’s Top Online MSW Programs4
- Across 3 schools, 4 bachelor’s and master’s social work degree programs in Vermont 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 Vermont
Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges
- University of Vermont (#80 in-state, #93 out-of-state)
*Institution-wide ranking.
US News Best Graduate Social Work Programs
- University of Vermont (#88 tie)
Schools with Social Work Programs Accredited by the CSWE
- Castleton University
- Champlain College
- University of Vermont
Schools in Vermont with Social Work Degree Programs
BSW and Other Undergraduate Programs
Castleton State College
Located near the New York-Vermont state border, Castleton State College is a public liberal arts institution with fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students enrolled. The BSW program has a rural, generalist focus that reflects the practice realities in the state. In order to graduate, the general education requirements of Castleton’s social work program must be met, including courses in anthropology, statistics, and human biology. More focused social work courses introduce students to the foundational theories and concepts guiding practice. Students learn about human behavior, the history of the profession, and the social welfare system. Students complete a short 40-hour field placement in their freshman year to gain a better understanding of the profession and then complete 400 hours of supervised field education in their senior year to apply classroom learning to practice. Graduates have found employment in many different settings, including public health, family services, schools, and hospitals.
Champlain College
Located in Burlington on the northeastern shores of Lake Champlain, Champlain College is a private institution with additional international campuses in Montreal and Dublin. The Champlain College’s Social Work Major has a unique “Upside-Down Curriculum” structure, which means that students take courses in their major of choice throughout the entire four-year program rather than waiting to apply to their major in the sophomore year; appropriate field education opportunities are also offered each year of the program. The BSW program is CSWE-accredited and offers many courses related to global issues, social justice, and human rights. Students learn about professional identity and the guiding ethics and values that shape generalist practice with individuals, groups, and communities in Vermont and further afield. To complement the local-global concept, students may apply to study abroad programs at the campuses in Montreal or Dublin, or in programs with other international partners in countries like Italy, Morocco, and China.
MSW and Other Graduate Programs
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont is a large public university located in the state’s largest city, Burlington. The school’s Department of Social Work offers a CSWE-accredited BSW degree and the only MSW degree program in Vermont. The MSW degree is composed of a foundational year that exposes students without a social work degree to the philosophy, history, and ethics of the profession, followed by a concentration year that develops advanced practice skills to work with many different populations. Those who have earned a CSWE-accredited degree within the last seven years can apply for advanced standing to skip the foundational year. The program also offers a Transformative Social Work concentration; students learn how to critically analyze existing social issues and structures and facilitate meaningful change at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Students complete field education in both the foundational and concentration years of the program. In 2016, US News & World Report ranked the university in a tie for 89th place among national universities.
Accreditation Information for Vermont 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castleton University | 49% | N/A | No | Yes | No | Yes | Not Ranked | $16,168 |
| Champlain College | 57% | 7% | No | Yes | No | Yes | Not Ranked | $33,173 |
| University of Vermont | 76% | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | #88 tie | $17,075 |
*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 Vermont 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).
Castleton University*
62 Alumni Dr
Castleton, VT 05735
(802) 468-5611
http://www.castleton.edu
Champlain College*
163 S Willard St
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 860-2700
http://www.champlain.edu
University of Vermont*
85 S Prospect St
Burlington, VT 05405-0160
(802) 656-3131
http://www.uvm.edu
Student Review: “Overall, the program that the University of Vermont provided was fantastic. We were given plenty of opportunities to work out in the field and were fortunate enough to live and work in one of America’s more progressive cities, which gave us a variety of opportunities to work with non-profits and government programs. We were provided a variety of internship opportunities and a great career services department, which helped connect us with employers and professionals in the field. We were amply prepared for our professional careers and were provided with a very diverse pool of opportunities. The only down-side would be how overlooked the program is in the eyes of the university. We were provided limited funding for being a program at a public school and felt like we were often placed on the back-burner when we needed the school to help with research or internships or studies. Other than that, it was a phenomenal experience!” – Student at the University of Vermont
Student Review: “I really enjoyed my time at this school for my social program. Most of the teachers were very friendly and tried to help whenever I got stuck on an assignment or anything. I don’t really have any issues with this school I can think of other than the cafeteria. It really needs updating as the tables and serving area seem outdated. The program itself was not too hard just a lot of writing assignments. Students interacted very well with each other and it seemed to be a very diverse group of people. Most of the time we would be put in groups in the major courses to interact with each other based on various scenarios and situations.” – Student at the University of Vermont
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