10 Social Work Scholarships for Students

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Pursuing a degree in social work can be a rewarding experience but may leave students with a hefty pile of debt. The high cost of education can be a significant barrier for many aspiring social workers, considering a bachelor’s degree in social work costs as much as $30,000 a year or more, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. 

Fortunately, there are many social work scholarships available to help ease the financial burden and make it easier for students to focus on their passion for helping others and their community.

Key points:

• Social workers can choose between various types of scholarships at all degree levels.
• Scholarship award amounts range anywhere from $500 to $48,000 or more, based on the scholarship data covered in this article.
• If there’s a scholarship you’re eligible for but it seems highly competitive, apply for it anyway!

10 Social Work Scholarships to Apply For

Out of the dozens of scholarships available for social work students and workers, there are a few different types of scholarships that you should know about. 

These include national, state and regional, university-specific, minority-focused, and specialized scholarships, all of which provide high-quality financial assistance for continuing education.

1. National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Scholarships

The NASW offers scholarships and fellowships to students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work. The foundation offers 4 scholarships with awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. 

Available scholarships and their award amounts are as follows:

• Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial Scholarship (for master’s degree candidates): To be announced
• Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship (for master’s degree candidates): $4,000
• Lawanna Renee Baron Scholarship (for bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates): $1,000
• Neysa Fanwick Memorial Scholarship (for master’s degree candidates): $5,000

The NASW also offers grants funded by the New York Community Trust (NYCT) to enhance social work education, research, practice, and policy related to health care services. These are offered under the Social Work Healthcare Education and Leadership Scholars (HEALS).

2. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Scholarships

The CSWE provides scholarships, grants, and fellowships for students and faculty enrolled in CSWE accredited social work programs. 

A few of their programs and award amounts are as follows:

1. Substance Use Disorders Education and Leadership Scholars Program (for bachelor’s and master’s students): $5,000 each year 
2. Carl A. Scott Memorial Fund (for bachelor’s and master’s students): $500 book scholarship

3. Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund ($15,000)

The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund provides need-based grants to students actively working for social and economic justice – social work students included. Students may receive grants of up to $15,000 if they are enrolled at a college, university, trade, or technical program, and are in financial need.

To apply, students must complete an application form with the following:

• A personal statement
• 2 letters of recommendation
• Transcripts of their most recent academic work
• Student aid report (SAR), state equivalent, or FAFSA worksheet

Application cycles open up in January of every year and have a deadline of April 1st.

4. National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program ($20,000)

The National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program is for undergraduate students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and are studying to enter careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science research. This also includes social work students.

Their scholarship awards amount to up to $20,000 per academic year. This is meant to cover tuition, educational, and living expenses. After the award for 1 year, it can be renewed for up to 4 years.

To apply, head to their website and make sure you have a list of your coursework, resume, personal statement, and references ready to supply in the application. Applications close on March 26, 2025.

5. Harry S. Truman Scholarship ($30,000 – high competition)

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship is one of the more well-known and competitive scholarship programs out there for public service leaders. Having said that, it’s still a great scholarship program to explore and apply to.

The scholarship foundation awards 55 to 65 scholarships annually with amounts of up to $30,000 for graduate school, in addition to scholar programming, priority admission and financial support, mentorship, and preferred hiring with the federal government. 

To apply, you will need to following:

• College transcripts
• A nomination letter from your educational institution
• A completed application with short essays on leadership, service, and your future career path in public service
• A policy proposal on a subject that interests you
• 3 letters of recommendation; 1 each for leadership abilities, commitment to a career in public service, and likelihood of academic success

To start the application process, go to the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation application page. Applications for 2025 scholarships are due on February 4th, 2025.

6. The Point Foundation LGBTQ Scholarship Fund (amount varies)

The Point Foundation LGBTQ Scholarship Fund provides financial support, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities to LGBTQ students pursuing higher education. They also provide tons of other resources to their scholars, including student, academic, ally, and financial resources. 

The foundation offers a total of 3 different scholarships:

• Flagship Scholarship (for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students): Financial support based on need
• Community College Scholarship (for associate’s degrees and students at community colleges): $4,800 per academic year
• BIPOC Scholarship (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who are LGBTQ+ and enrolled or intending to enroll at any college level): Up to $1,500

To be eligible for any of their scholarships, you must be enrolled or intending to enroll in an accredited U.S. higher education institution and pass an evaluation that considers merit criteria, financial need, and various other factors.

Head over to the Point Foundation Scholarships page to apply.

7. American Addiction Centers Behavioral Health Academic Scholarship ($2,500 – $5,000)

The American Addiction Centers Behavioral Health Academic Scholarship is designed to provide financial support to students who are passionate about raising awareness of addiction and its impact on society. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in an accredited academic program in social work, nursing, psychology, counseling, marriage/family therapy, or other curriculum focusing on mental health and substance use disorders.

Even though the scholarship was not able to be offered in 2024, their website indicates to check back in 2025 for a possible application cycle. Application requirements are a 500 word first-person essay.

8. EmPOWERED to Serve Scholars Program ($5,000)

The EmPOWERED to Serve Scholars Program is an initiative by the American Heart Association that supports students dedicated to promoting health equity and addressing health disparities in underserved communities. 

The program offers scholarships, mentorship, and other opportunities for students studying public health or health-related fields, including social work. Eligibility requirements include college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. 

Head over to the EmPOWERED to Service Scholars Program website to see when the next application cycle opens.

9. State-Specific Scholarships

Just like there are several national scholarships available to social work students, there are also quite a few state-specific ones as well.

Examples of state-specific and location-specific scholarships:

• Laurel House Social Work Racial Equity Scholarship (for Connecticut students ): $10,000
• Alice M. Yarnold and Samuel Yarnold Scholarship Trust (for bachelor’s students in New Hampshire): $1,000 – $5,000
• Ima Hogg Scholarships (for Texas-based graduate students): $5,000
• Carol Doman-Wilder Scholarship (specific to Saginaw County in Michigan): Amount varies

10. University-Specific Scholarships

To help ease financial burdens for students, universities also offer scholarship options for all degree levels.

Examples of university-specific scholarships:

• University of Denver Master of Social Work Scholarships (graduate students): Up to $46,000
• Fordham University’s Social Work Scholarships (graduate students): Amounts vary
• Hawaii Pacific University Scholarships (all degree levels): Amounts vary
• University of Wisconsin-Madison Social Work Scholarships (graduate students): Amounts vary

Tips for Finding and Applying for Social Work Scholarships

To find more scholarships for social workers, use scholarship search engines like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and Bold.org, and check with professional organizations like NASW, CSWE, and your university’s financial aid office for local opportunities.

As you fill out different scholarship applications, focus on your commitment to social work, your unique qualities, and how your mission in your line of work stands out. Letters of recommendation from professors and supervisors who are able to highlight your work in the best way possible may significantly help your application stand out.

Additional Financial Aid Resources for Social Work Students

Scholarships aren’t the only financial aid option available for social work students. There are also student loan forgiveness programs for social workers, such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, that offers loan forgiveness on the full loan balance after 120 qualifying payments are made. 

Paid internships may be another option available to students to help cover the cost of some of their education (I know these are few and far between though, but hopefully we see an increase over the next few years). Some employers also offer sponsored tuition assistance programs and student loan repayment assistance for social workers.

Looking through all of the possible funding options for your social work studies can be a little overwhelming. You also may be wary of getting your hopes up and afraid that you’ll end up wasting time applying to many of these. I assure you – you aren’t.

Don’t skip applying for any scholarship just because you think you won’t get it. If you’re eligible, always apply anyway! Any money toward your education can go a long way…and you deserve that.

If you found this post helpful, share it with a colleague or fellow social worker!