{
  "title": "Kentucky MSW True-Cost Census",
  "edition": "2027",
  "verified": "October 2026",
  "publisher": "MSWKentucky.com",
  "methodology": "https://mswkentucky.com/methodology/",
  "formula": "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD = publishedPerCreditUSD × credits (tuition only; excludes fees, books, living costs)",
  "programs": [
    {
      "name": "University of Kentucky",
      "shortName": "Kentucky",
      "city": "Lexington",
      "control": "Public",
      "csweStatus": "Accredited",
      "delivery": [
        "Campus (Lexington)",
        "Online (regular & advanced standing)"
      ],
      "tracks": [
        {
          "track": "Regular standing",
          "credits": 60,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": 47400
        },
        {
          "track": "Advanced standing",
          "credits": 30,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": 23700
        }
      ],
      "publishedPerCreditUSD": 790,
      "rateYear": "2025–26",
      "residency": "All online students (UK charges in-state tuition for all online social work students)",
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "UK online MSW program page (credits, accreditation)",
          "url": "https://socialworkonline.uky.edu/programs/master-social-work/"
        },
        {
          "label": "UK online social work tuition & financial aid (2025–26 rates)",
          "url": "http://socialworkonline.uky.edu/tuition/"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "University of Louisville",
      "shortName": "Louisville",
      "city": "Louisville",
      "control": "Public",
      "csweStatus": "Accredited",
      "delivery": [
        "Campus (Louisville)",
        "Online (MSSW)"
      ],
      "tracks": [
        {
          "track": "Regular standing",
          "credits": 60,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": 51000
        },
        {
          "track": "Advanced standing",
          "credits": 30,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": 25500
        }
      ],
      "publishedPerCreditUSD": 850,
      "rateYear": "current published",
      "residency": "Online students (standard rate; program exceptions apply)",
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "UofL Kent School of Social Work and Family Science",
          "url": "https://louisville.edu/kent"
        },
        {
          "label": "UofL online tuition (standard graduate rate)",
          "url": "https://louisville.edu/online/tuition"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Western Kentucky University",
      "shortName": "WKU",
      "city": "Bowling Green",
      "control": "Public",
      "csweStatus": "Accredited",
      "delivery": [
        "Hybrid (Bowling Green)",
        "Online"
      ],
      "tracks": [
        {
          "track": "Traditional",
          "credits": 60,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": 36420
        },
        {
          "track": "Advanced standing",
          "credits": 33,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": 20031
        }
      ],
      "publishedPerCreditUSD": 607,
      "rateYear": "Fall 2025 / Spring 2026",
      "residency": "Kentucky resident",
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "WKU MSW program page (accreditation)",
          "url": "https://www.wku.edu/school-of-health-and-social-services/programs/graduate/msw/index.php"
        },
        {
          "label": "WKU graduate tuition & fees, Fall 2025 / Spring 2026",
          "url": "https://www.wku.edu/billing/tuition_fees_2526.php"
        },
        {
          "label": "WKU MSW admissions application (delivery formats)",
          "url": "https://www-dr01.wku.edu/socialwork/msw/msw_application_revised2025.pdf"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Northern Kentucky University",
      "shortName": "NKU",
      "city": "Highland Heights",
      "control": "Public",
      "csweStatus": "Accredited",
      "delivery": [
        "Online (standard & advanced standing)",
        "Hybrid (advanced standing)"
      ],
      "tracks": [
        {
          "track": "Standard",
          "credits": 60,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": null
        },
        {
          "track": "Advanced standing",
          "credits": 30,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": null
        }
      ],
      "publishedPerCreditUSD": null,
      "rateYear": null,
      "residency": null,
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "NKU graduate catalog (accreditation, program requirements)",
          "url": "https://onlinecatalog.nku.edu"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Campbellsville University",
      "shortName": "Campbellsville",
      "city": "Campbellsville",
      "control": "Private nonprofit",
      "csweStatus": "Accredited",
      "delivery": [
        "Online (100% online advanced standing)",
        "Hybrid (advanced curriculum per university catalog)"
      ],
      "tracks": [
        {
          "track": "Traditional",
          "credits": 60,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": 38400
        },
        {
          "track": "Advanced standing",
          "credits": 30,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": 19200
        }
      ],
      "publishedPerCreditUSD": 640,
      "rateYear": "current published",
      "residency": "All students (single published rate)",
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "Campbellsville graduate catalog — MSW curriculum (credits)",
          "url": "https://catalog.campbellsville.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=1&poid=26&returnto=72"
        },
        {
          "label": "Campbellsville online advanced standing MSW (rate, credits)",
          "url": "https://online.campbellsville.edu/online-degrees/advanced-standing-msw/"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Brescia University",
      "shortName": "Brescia",
      "city": "Owensboro",
      "control": "Private nonprofit",
      "csweStatus": "Accredited",
      "delivery": [
        "Online",
        "Campus (Owensboro)"
      ],
      "tracks": [
        {
          "track": "Two-year",
          "credits": 60,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": null
        },
        {
          "track": "Advanced standing",
          "credits": 30,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": null
        }
      ],
      "publishedPerCreditUSD": null,
      "rateYear": null,
      "residency": null,
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "Brescia University — MSW program page",
          "url": "https://brescia.edu/program/master-of-social-work/"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Eastern Kentucky University",
      "shortName": "EKU",
      "city": "Richmond",
      "control": "Public",
      "csweStatus": "Accredited",
      "delivery": [
        "100% online"
      ],
      "tracks": [
        {
          "track": "Generalist (regular standing)",
          "credits": 48,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": null
        },
        {
          "track": "Advanced standing",
          "credits": 30,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": null
        }
      ],
      "publishedPerCreditUSD": null,
      "rateYear": null,
      "residency": null,
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "EKU graduate catalog — MSW program requirements",
          "url": "https://catalogs.eku.edu/graduate/letters-arts-social-sciences/social-work/msw/"
        },
        {
          "label": "EKU — MSW program page (accreditation)",
          "url": "https://www.eku.edu/class/social-work/master-of-social-work/"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "University of Pikeville",
      "shortName": "UPike",
      "city": "Pikeville",
      "control": "Private nonprofit",
      "csweStatus": "Accredited",
      "delivery": [
        "100% online"
      ],
      "tracks": [
        {
          "track": "Regular standing",
          "credits": 60,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": null
        },
        {
          "track": "Advanced standing",
          "credits": 30,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": null
        }
      ],
      "publishedPerCreditUSD": null,
      "rateYear": null,
      "residency": null,
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "UPIKE — MSW granted initial CSWE accreditation",
          "url": "https://www.upike.edu/upike-master-of-social-work-program-granted-initial-accreditation/"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Spalding University",
      "shortName": "Spalding",
      "city": "Louisville",
      "control": "Private nonprofit",
      "csweStatus": "Accredited",
      "delivery": [
        "Campus (Louisville)"
      ],
      "tracks": [
        {
          "track": "Advanced standing (advanced generalist)",
          "credits": 31,
          "estimatedTotalTuitionUSD": null
        }
      ],
      "publishedPerCreditUSD": null,
      "rateYear": null,
      "residency": null,
      "sources": [
        {
          "label": "Spalding University catalog — MSW (accreditation, curriculum)",
          "url": "https://catalog.spalding.edu"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}