Though there are plenty of well-paid careers in social work, getting the necessary education in order to land just the right job can be financially difficult. Luckily, there are a number of scholarships available for the aspiring and continuing social work student. We have compiled a list of 25 of the best scholarships available to students seeking social work graduate and undergraduate degrees. These scholarships are ranked by date of the application deadline; come from various public and private sources; and are intended for a mix of both regional and national audiences alike.
#1 The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Academic Scholarship
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago scholarship funds are available for Jewish college and graduate students. Approximately $500,000 is available each year for full-time students, predominantly those from the metropolitan Chicago area, who are identified as having promise for significant contributions in their chosen careers and intend to stay in the Chicago area. Assistance is available primarily for those with financial need who are pursuing careers in the helping professions.
Award Amount
$8,000
Awards Available
See Description
Deadline
February 1, 2018
#2 James M. & Erma T. Freemont Scholarship Program
The Freemont Foundation Scholarship Program is available to graduating high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students. Selected from a nationwide pool of applicants, qualified recipients will become Freemont Scholars. The student must be either: a graduating high school senior planning on attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU); an undergraduate student currently attending a HBCU; or a graduate student attending a HBCU.
Award Amount
See Website
Awards Available
See Website
Deadline
February 2, 2018
#3 Study & Internship Program (SIP) in Germany – UAS7
The SIP scholarship program from UAS7 offers undergraduates from U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities the possibility to experience the practice-oriented education of German universities of applied sciences. Internships typically last 5-6 months, but UAS7 research internships may run from 2-6 months, depending on the specifications of the project description. Recipients will receive a full tuition waiver for both semesters (enrollment is also required during the internship to maintain residency in Germany) and the benefits provided to exchange students at the host UAS. Applicants must be full-time sophomores or juniors in good academic standing and currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college/university, in a field represented on UAS7 campuses (social work is included).
Award Amount
See Description
Awards Available
See Description
Deadline
February 15, 2018
#4 Elizabeth J. Davis Scholarship
The Elizabeth J. Davis Scholarship was established to assist home care professionals with obtaining advanced degrees, as well as students seeking a bachelor’s or associate’s degrees in a health profession. The student must: attend an accredited college/university, or community college (does not have to be in Vermont); study nursing (RN or LPN), physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, or medical social work; demonstrate financial need; be a Vermont state resident; plan to work in home care in the state of Vermont after graduation; write two brief essays.
Award Amount
$3,000
Awards Available
See Description
Deadline
February 15, 2018
#5 Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarship
The Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial Scholarships are awarded to master’s degree candidate in social work who demonstrates an interest in or has experience with health/mental health practice and has a commitment to working in African American communities. Previous recipients now work in hospitals, medical clinics, and social services agencies that provide treatment and specialized services to African American patients. The objective of this grant is to strengthen the delivery of health care services in the United States by advancing the education and training of health care social workers at the BSW, MSW, PhD/DSW and post-doctoral levels to ensure health care practice excellence.
Award Amount
$5,500
Awards Available
4
Deadline
February 28, 2018
#6 Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial MSW Scholarship
The Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarships are awarded to master’s degree candidates in social work who have demonstrated a commitment to working with, or who have a special affinity with, American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic/Latino populations. Candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to working with public or voluntary nonprofit agencies or with local grassroots groups in the United States are also eligible. The Gosnell Scholarships are awarded based on the projected annual earnings to the fund and contributions. A panel reviews applicants and selects the award recipient.
Award Amount
$2,000
Awards Available
10
Deadline
February 28, 2018
#7 The Melanie Foundation Scholarship
The Melanie Foundation Scholarship is awarded to a candidate pursuing a doctoral or master’s degree in the mental health field. Students must: be currently enrolled or accepted into a graduate program majoring in the mental health field in the U.S.; provide evidence of past involvement in extracurricular, volunteer, research, and/or career-related activities; demonstrate experience and interest in one or more of the ideals to which Melanie Merola O’Donnell committed herself. The scholarship will be awarded to a candidate for one year. Candidates may re-apply for additional years.
Award Amount
$2,500
Awards Available
See Description
Deadline
March 6, 2018
#8 ISF National Scholarships
The Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF) is a non-profit entity founded in 2009 whose mission is to address the under-representation of American Muslims in the fields and occupations that influence public opinion and make public policy. Our belief is that fostering education and improving Muslim representation in all walks of life including media and politics will lead to full integration and better understanding of Islam and Muslims. ISF National Scholarships are open to all students who meet the following criteria: Muslim or active member of the Muslim community; Enrollment at an accredited university in the U.S. by August; Majoring in an ISF supported major; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; Current undergraduate (sophomore/junior/senior) or graduate student (including PhD students).
Award Amount
$5,000
Awards Available
50
Deadline
March 21, 2018
#9 The Hispanic Scholarship Fund College Scholarships
HSF/ General College Scholarships are designed to assist students of Hispanic heritage in obtaining a college degree. Scholarships are available on a competitive basis to graduating high school seniors, community college transfer students, undergraduate students and graduate students. Applicants must: be of Hispanic heritage and have a minimum of 3.0 GPA for high school students and a minimum of 2.5 GPA for college and graduate students; plan to enroll full-time in an accredited not-for-profit, four-year university or graduate school during the fall of the scholarship cycle year; and be a U.S. Citizen, permanent legal resident, DACA or eligible non-citizen.
Award Amount
$5,000
Awards Available
See Description
Deadline
April 2, 2018
#10 The Jackie Spellman Scholarship
The Jackie Spellman Scholarship is open to U.S. citizens who have been impacted in some way by leukemia or lymphoma, either as survivors, individuals diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma, or individuals who have a member of his or her immediate family who have or had leukemia or lymphoma while living in the same household. Eligible students include high school seniors or those attending community college, a four-year university, or graduate school. In addition to these criteria, this scholarship is available to: Students who plan to enroll full time at a nationally accredited college or university; Students with a minimum 3.0 GPA; Students who demonstrate financial need. Prior scholarship winners are eligible to apply.
Award Amount
$5,000
Awards Available
12
Deadline
April 15, 2018
#11 The Senior Care Scholarship
The Senior Care Scholarship, offered by A Place for Mom, is intended for students interested in the fields of aging and gerontology. As North America’s largest senior living referral service, we know the importance of supporting the training and education of our future senior care leaders. This scholarship will be awarded to a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec) who is enrolled and currently taking classes at an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). The student must be: enrolled in an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or graduate-level program in a medical, nursing, or social sciences related major; planning on pursuing a career that involves working with senior citizens; attending classes at an accredited college or university at the time of the spring deadline.
Award Amount
$3,000
Awards Available
See Description
Deadline
April 15, 2018
#12 StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes Scholarship
The FLASH Scholarship Program offers $1,500 graduate scholarships for students seeking academic degrees that underpin disaster safety and mitigation, including construction, engineering, wind analysis, financial services, risk communication, social sciences and more. The scholarship program was originally created as a higher education extension of StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes, the popular interactive severe weather experience at Epcot in Walt Disney World Resort. Students must: have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university; be accepted to a graduate program for social/behavioral science; be able to provide transcripts; provide a statement of appraisal from the graduate’s research program.
Award Amount
$1,500
Awards Available
5
Deadline
April 15, 2018
#13 Dr. Alma S. Adams Scholarship for Outreach and Health Communications
The “Dr. Alma S. Adams Scholarship for Outreach and Health Communications to Reduce Tobacco Use Among Priority Populations” is being offered by the Truth Initiative to qualified college and graduate students. The annual scholarship competition empowers and supports students eager to help Truth Initiative achieve a generation for whom tobacco use is a thing of the past. Applicants must: provide evidence of community service in support of a population disproportionately affected by tobacco (service activities may include activism, outreach, or peer counseling in tobacco prevention or control); submit documentation of financial need for scholarship funds (SAR report); be pursuing a course of study in public health, communications, social work, education, liberal arts; have a Grade Point Average of at least 2.0 (C average) in the most recent academic year.
Award Amount
$5,000
Awards Available
2
Deadline
April 30, 2018
#14 AWMF & Loreen Arbus Foundation Focus on Disability Scholarship
The Focus on Disability Scholarship, a partnership of the AWM Foundation with the Loreen Arbus Foundation, focuses on the achievements and contributions of citizens with disabilities. This journalist scholarship program consists of one $2,500 scholarship, made payable directly to the winning student’s educational institute. The winning applicant must also be able to attend AWMF’s Gracies Awards Luncheon in June in New York City to receive the scholarship.The scholarship is open to female undergraduate and graduate students studying media, journalism, English, communications and related fields. Applicants must submit a 750-1,000 word essay on a suggested topic.
Award Amount
$2,500
Awards Available
1
Deadline
May 1, 2018
#15 Bethesda Lutheran Communities Student Scholastic & Service Scholarship
Bethesda Lutheran Communities offers two scholarships to Lutheran students pursuing undergraduate degrees in any area of service to people with developmental disabilities. Students must: Be an active, communicant member of a Lutheran congregation; Be a freshman, sophomore, or junior at an accredited college/university; Have a minimum 3.0 GPA; Have a career objective in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Students must also provide: a 250-300 word essay; 4 letters of recommendation; official college/university transcripts.
Award Amount
$3,000
Awards Available
2
Deadline
May 1, 2018
#16 Presbyterian Student Opportunity Scholarship
The Student Opportunity Scholarship program serves Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) college students by providing need-based aid for sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are full-time, first-degree students attending accredited institutions in the United States. Student Opportunity Scholarship applicants will explore who God created them to be in a series of essay questions intended for students to explore with mentors and peers. This program requires that students maintain an active involvement in a worshiping community or campus ministry program while they are attending college. Preference in this program is extended to racial/ethnic students in order to promote diversity. Students must: be a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA); be a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior at an accredited college/university in the United States; have a minimum 2.5 GPA; demonstrate financial need.
Award Amount
$2,000
Awards Available
80
Deadline
May 15, 2018
#17 NFRW National Pathfinder Scholarship
The National Pathfinder Scholarship, established in 1985 in honor of First Lady Nancy Reagan’s efforts in the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, is awarded annually to women who are studying in a related field. Three scholarships of $2,500 each are given to the best candidate nominated by her state Federation president and chosen by the NFRW Executive Committee. Applicants must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program such as chemistry, sociology, psychology or pharmacology, with intended careers in chemical, biological, or medical research, or counseling of addicts and their families. Applicants must submit an application to their state Federation president by June 1st. Applicants are eligible to receive the scholarship once only.
Award Amount
$2,500
Awards Available
3
Deadline
June 1, 2018
#18 Marcus Raper Zimmerman Fund
The purpose of the Marcus Raper Zimmerman Fund is to provide post-secondary scholarship assistance to handicapped individuals, or to those persons preparing themselves to work with the handicapped. The scholarship may provide a non-renewable award for students who will pursue a first-time, two- or four-year degree, certificate, or diploma from accredited post-secondary institutions. Scholarships will be applied to the cost of undergraduate tuition, fees, room and board, and other college expenses. Students must: be residents of Forsyth County, N.C.; have a minimum cumulative unweighted GPA of 2.0; be enrolled a minimum of six credit hours/semester during the academic year in a program from an accredited institution that participates in the federal student aid program; be a U.S. citizen; be physically challenged or preparing to work in a profession related to serving the physically challenged.
Award Amount
See Website
Awards Available
See Website
Deadline
August 15, 2018
#19 AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability
The AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability is awarded annually to a deserving student with a disability who is pursuing undergraduate/graduate studies (must be at least enrolled as a junior in college) in an accredited university who is pursuing studies related to the health and disability, to include, but not limited to public health, health promotion, disability studies, disability research, rehabilitation engineering, audiology, disability policy, special education and majors that will impact quality of life of persons with disabilities.
Award Amount
$999
Awards Available
See Description
Deadline
November 15, 2018
#20 MIT Inspire Competition
MIT INSPIRE is the first national research competition for high school students in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The competition is organized by MIT undergraduates. Participating high school students, as individuals or teams of two will submit research reports in one of 13 fields, such as history, economics, or philosophy. Approximately 100 finalists with the most exceptional reports will be invited to the MIT campus to present their research and compete for awards. Graduate students, research scientists, and faculty members specializing in each discipline will evaluate both the essays and the poster presentations. Additionally, members of the public will vote for a favorite project for a community choice award.
Award Amount
See Description
Awards Available
100
Deadline
November 30, 2018
#21 Society For The Scientific Study Of Sexuality (Student Research Grant)
Each year two grants of $1,000 each are awarded by the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality to two students who are doing sexuality research. The purpose of the research can be a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation, but this is not a requirement. Applicants must be enrolled in a degree granting program and members of the SSSS. Additionally, applicants must: obtain IRB approval for your project; the Chairperson of your Department must submit an email stating your student status within the institution and the educational purpose of the research; prepare a 150-word abstract of the proposed research. Deadlines for submission of applications are February 1st and June 1st of each year.
Award Amount
$1,000
Awards Available
2
Deadline
See Description
#22 Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship
The Eileen Blackey Doctoral Fellowship Program provides partial support to social work doctoral candidates who are engaged in dissertation research in welfare policy and practice. The Blackey Fellowship is awarded based on the projected annual earnings to the fund and contributions. One fellowship will be awarded to a social work doctoral candidate whose dissertation focuses on welfare policy and practice. Dissertations that include a diversity component are encouraged. Diversity is taking on broader meaning and is to include race and ethnicity as well as the sociocultural experiences of people of different genders, social classes, religious and spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, ages, and physical and mental abilities.
Award Amount
$4,000-$6,500
Awards Available
1
Deadline
Varies
#23 Social Work HEALS
The objective of the Social Work HEALS grant is to strengthen the delivery of health care services in the United States by advancing the education and training of health care social workers. This grant will support 5 doctoral fellowships, including one Jane B. Aron Doctoral Fellowship, annually, during the anticipated 5-year funding period, in the amount of up to $17,900 each to applicants with demonstrated commitment to the field of health social work and engaged in dissertation research related to health care practice, policy or education. Eligible applicants must be NASW and CSWE members and be enrolled in a doctoral program in a social work education program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Applicants must demonstrate commitment to the field of health social work and be engaged in dissertation research related to health care social work education, policy or practice.
Award Amount
See Description
Awards Available
5
Deadline
Varies
#24 GRCF Jackie Klinesteker Minority Scholarship
The Jackie Klinesteker Minority Scholarship is awarded to students of color (African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander) residing in West Michigan with a declared major in a mental health-related field of student at an accredited college/university located in Michigan. Graduate level students will be given first preference. Must have financial need and a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
Award Amount
See Description
Awards Available
See Description
Deadline
Varies
#25 Maryland Graduate and Professional School Scholarship Program
To apply for the Maryland Graduate and Professional School Scholarship Program, you must be a Maryland resident and demonstrate financial need. You must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student, either part-time or full-time, and attend one of the following schools: University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Pharmacy, or Social Work; University of Baltimore School of Law; The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, or certain Maryland institutions offering a master’s degree in nursing or social work or a first professional degree in pharmacy. Eligible graduate/professional majors include dentistry, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, social work, and veterinary medicine.
Award Amount
$1,000-$5,000
Awards Available
See Description
Deadline
Varies