The University of Southern California (USC) offers many ways for you to fund your advanced degree in social work. Tuition cost is based on the number of units taken per semester and is calculated on a per-unit basis.
To determine your cost for the year, refer to the 2024-2025 unit charges and multiply the number of units you anticipate enrolling in by the per-unit rate. Please keep in mind the mandatory fees assessed in addition to tuition when calculating costs.
2024-2025 Unit Charges
$2,201 is the per-unit rate for students enrolled in 1-14 units.
$33,019 is the flat rate for students enrolled in 15-18 units.
2024-2025 Mandatory Fees:
Social Work Lab $225
This is a one-time charge for first-year MSW students. All units and fees are charged per semester. Mandatory fees do not include books or housing.
2024-2025 Student Health Insurance:
Fall 2024: $1,765
Spring/Summer 2024: $3,388
Students enrolled in six units or more will be automatically charged for health insurance. Health care fees are charged twice a year. Students may submit a request to waive the health care charges if they do not wish to participate. More information regarding the waiver criteria can be found here.
- Your cost of attendance will be determined by USC’s Financial Aid Office (FAO) and will reflect tuition, unit rate or flat rate, and all mandatory fees.
- Information on applying for federal student aid programs, including student loans and work study, can be found by visiting the USC Financial Aid page.
- You must apply for online MSW scholarships through the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. The school scholarships indicated will be determined separately from the USC FAO and may not be included on your initial financial aid award letter from the FAO.
- Tuition and fees are charged per semester; all aid is disbursed in halves per semester.
- A nonrefundable $280 commitment fee is due upon enrollment, and $200 is applied toward your first semester’s tuition charges.
- All financial aid amounts are subject to change.
Financial Aid
USC FAO will provide you with the details of applying for financial aid, understanding your financial aid award and properly securing all of your loans. Please visit the FAO website for detailed information regarding important dates and deadlines as well as downloadable forms to complete your financial aid application. Please note that FAFSA deadlines for students in the on campus program are not applicable to online students.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply for federal student aid. International candidates should explore funding options in their home countries. Many employers offer tuition benefits for online MSW students, including tuition reimbursement and low-cost loans. Based on country of residence, candidates may also have access to education loans through private lenders.
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