ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (May 6, 2026) — University of Massachusetts Global is introducing a 25% tuition scholarship for Massachusetts residents enrolling in its CSWE‑accredited online Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Massachusetts continues to confront persistent behavioral health workforce shortages, with social worker roles in the Commonwealth projected to grow by 8.3% between 2023 and 2033, outpacing overall occupational growth.1 This underscores the need for expanded graduate‑level pathways into these roles. The new scholarship is designed to lower tuition barriers for residents preparing for licensure‑eligible social work roles in clinics, schools, hospitals, and community‑based behavioral health settings.
UMass Global’s scholarship initiative aligns with broader statewide efforts, including the Healey‑Driscoll Administration’s multi‑year investments and scholarship programs aimed at strengthening the behavioral health workforce and reducing financial barriers for graduate‑level training. By offering its own tuition reduction to Massachusetts residents, UMass Global is helping to expand options for future social workers who need flexible online pathways to these roles.
“We are excited to offer this accessible opportunity to Massachusetts residents. Affordable and supportive pathways to careers in behavioral health are essential to well-being in the Commonwealth" notes UMass Global Chancellor David Andrews.
Designed for working adults, UMass Global’s MSW offers six start dates per year, small online classes, and robust student support services, including enrollment coaching, faculty mentoring, and dedicated advising. The MSW program is a fully online, advanced generalist degree that combines asynchronous coursework with supervised, in‑person fieldwork in students’ local communities, including placements within Massachusetts.
“As behavioral health needs rise across Massachusetts, we need more practice‑ready social workers who can step into high‑demand roles and make care more accessible — closer to home and grounded in dignity,” said Tobi DeLong Hamilton, Ph.D., director of the MSW program at UMass Global. “Our MSW curriculum, combined with this new 25% tuition scholarship for Massachusetts residents, is designed to honor the realities of working adults while preparing them for licensure‑eligible roles in community‑based, medical, and school‑based settings.”
Massachusetts‑based employers and their teams may also benefit from expanded partnership opportunities. Through strategic agreements, organizations can qualify their employees for enhanced MSW tuition discounts, up to 30%, helping health and human services agencies grow and retain behavioral health talent — ones that already understand their patients, workflows, and communities.
Prospective students interested in the Master of Social Work and the new 25% Massachusetts scholarship can visit umassglobal.edu/explore/msw-ma or speak with an enrollment coach. Organizations interested in exploring a partnership with UMass Global can learn more at umassglobal.edu/partner-with-umassglobal/industry-solutions/behavioral-health.
1 Department of Economic Research. (n.d.). Employment projections. Mass.gov. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/employment-projections.
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