One of the most important questions for prospective graduate students can also be one of the most daunting: figuring out how to pay for the education that’s intended to launch your future career. Indeed, for many students, this can be a paralyzing challenge that can threaten to stymie the application process altogether. Fortunately, thanks to the numerous independent scholarship opportunities available to support those getting their Master’s in Psychology, there may be ways to fund your grad school goals than you’d previously realized.
Motivated Master’s of Psychology applicants can find a wealth of opportunities to get funding support for their degree programs.
These can be game-changing avenues to make your education possible, and in turn, to realize your future career path as a psychology professional. For this reason, it’s imperative for current Master of Psychology applicants to do their research on the scholarships and grants that they might be eligible for.
This guide provides an index of independent scholarship and grant opportunities available to graduate students in California, with information about national-level programs as well. Deadlines are provided when possible, but it’s advised to do your own research and to think through your personal application scheduling timeline as you consider pursuing these programs to ensure that you don’t miss out on any funding opportunities.
Scholarships and grants can make your career dreams possible
One of the primary reasons people choose to enroll in graduate programs is to make their career goals a reality. However, the high cost of school can lead some students to despair, worrying that the debt they accrue while in school will overshadow the increased income they will generate with their newfound credentials.
Scholarships for future psychologists can be a tremendous relief for such students, ensuring that you graduate college with fewer debts owed to your academic institution (or in some cases, not at all). This can mean that you’ll take home more of the money you earn as a therapist or counselor right away, setting yourself up for a prosperous career that you can sustain in the long term.
Beyond scholarships, financial aid can help you pursue your academic goals
As this article explains, scholarships, fellowships, grants, and awards can be an excellent avenue by which graduate students can offset the high costs of pursuing their degrees. But they are not the only way you can procure assistance in paying for your education.
Most if not all schools offer financial aid packages to help worthy students invest in their education without taking on severe debt, and federal programs like FAFSA can provide additional support.
There are several different primary types of financial aid offered by schools. These include:
- Scholarships: Beyond the independent or state-backed scholarship opportunities listed below, many schools offer their own scholarship packages exclusively to their own student body. These can be merit-based, department-focused, or based on students’ demographic backgrounds.
- Work-study programs: These programs set students up with on-campus jobs, providing an opportunity to make money while in school. Typically, the money students earn from these jobs can help offset cost-of-living expenses and other extracurricular spending, but don’t typically cover the cost of tuition.
- Student loans: Unlike scholarships and grants, student loans are just what they sound like – loans – and must be repaid over time. Typically, these offer much lower interest rates than many other types of loan, making them a more appealing option for those who can’t afford paying for tuition up front. Federal programs are an excellent first place to start when looking into loans.
If you are considering enrolling in a graduate program but aren’t sure how you’ll be able to take on the cost of your education, don’t despair. By looking into these school-provided resources as well as the outside funding opportunities included in this article, you have numerous opportunities to find the financial support to make your career goals possible.
Scholarships and Grants: An Index For Aspiring Psychologists
Below is a list of prominent scholarship opportunities for students pursuing graduate degrees in the field of psychology. They are organized in two categories – statewide and national. It is worth noting that many of these awards are designed for specific applicants – such as those pursuing a particular area of psychology specialization or students from underrepresented backgrounds – meaning it’s crucial to read the fine print to be sure you are a candidate for the scholarships that interest you.
Statewide Scholarships:
CAMFT offers several different scholarships to support graduate study, each with a different focus. Some of these are specifically designed for students pursuing degrees in a particular type of psychology-related work (such as marriage & family therapy), while others are focused on supporting students from underrepresented or underserved communities.
- Eligibility: Open to graduate students pursuing a degree in marriage and family therapy (MFT) or psychology.
- Award: $2,500 – $4,000 (varies by program)
- Deadline: Typically in the spring
The California Association of School Psychologists’ scholarship opportunities are devoted to supporting mental health specialists working in schools and with children. They offer several school and child psychologist scholarships specifically for graduate students in California, making this a perfect choice for those who are pursuing these areas of concentration while pursuing their master’s degrees.
- Eligibility: Graduate students studying school psychology. Some awards are bilingual psychologist scholarships (The Cultural & Linguistic Diversity [CLD] Scholarship) and some are for any students studying school psychology (the Paul Henkin Scholarship).
- Award: Varies
- Deadline: Typically June
If you are pursuing a Psychology degree at a Cal State University school, the California Graduate Equity Fellowships are an excellent first stop when tracking down funding support. This program is open to all graduate students at CSU schools, though applicants must be California residents or hold AB540 affidavits. Applicants must also have submitted FAFSA or California Dream Act (CADAA) applications.
- Eligibility: Available to economically disadvantaged students who are pursuing graduate degrees, including psychology, at California State University campuses.
- Award: $1,000–$5,000
- Deadline: Varies by campus
National Level Scholarships:
The APF offers a huge number of scholarships to help support graduate students in psychology pursue their degrees. Stipulations for each program can vary: some are focused on students studying a particular field of psychology (such as clinical psychology scholarships), while others are focused on supporting students from underrepresented demographics, and still others are designed for students researching particular topics. Take a look at their extensive list of program offerings linked above to find the ones that you are eligible for.
- Eligibility: Open to graduate students studying psychology (there are a variety of options – specifics depend on individual program)
- Award: $1,000 – $25,000 depending on scholarship
- Deadline: Varies by program
If you are a psychology graduate student who has taken your interest in mental health beyond the classroom, you are a candidate for the Melanie Foundation’s annual scholarship. This memorial scholarship aims to support aspiring psychologists who are committed to putting their work toward alleviating societal ills. Awards are for a single year, but recipients are permitted to reapply each year.
- Eligibility: Graduate students in the mental health field across the United States who have demonstrated an extracurricular involvement in their pursuits, including volunteer and research opportunities.
- Award: $2,500 for one year.
- Deadline: March 5th (annually)
Students from minority backgrounds studying school and child psychology are eligible for the National Association of School Psychologists’ Minority Scholarship Program, which awards numerous scholarships twice a year. In addition to receiving $5,000 in tuition funding, the program also offers students a year of NASP membership, paid convention registration and travel funding to receive their awards publicly, and direct memberships from psychology professionals.
- Eligibility: Full-time and part-time school psychology students from minority backgrounds.
- Award: $5,000
- Deadline: Fall and Spring
This highly competitive fellowship, offered exclusively to immigrants and children of immigrants, is awarded to thirty applicants per year. It offers up to $20,000 of tuition coverage for two years as well as stipends of up to $25,000 per year for two years, making it a game-changing opportunity for those who are wrestling with taking on the cost of graduate school.
- Eligibility: Graduate students who are immigrants or children of immigrants in the U.S., pursuing degrees in any field, including psychology, in California.
- Award: Up to $90,000 over two years
- Deadline: Typically in November
The scholarships offered by the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation are exclusively geared toward mothers ages 17 or older from low-income backgrounds. This is to support the organization’s mission of putting a quality education on the table for a demographic for whom such opportunities have not always been possible. If you are a woman with children who hasn’t been sure how you could invest in your education while raising kids, this can provide an excellent source of support for you.
- Eligibility: Low-income women with children who are pursuing a graduate degree, including psychology.
- Award: Up to $5,000
- Deadline: Typically in August
The Pat Tillman Foundation is a veterans-focused organization that provides opportunities specifically for veterans and their families to pursue their education. This includes scholarships, loans, and grants to become a military psychologist (or to pursue any other psychology concentration). Exclusively open to military members and their families, it is an excellent choice of scholarship for veterans to apply for.
- Eligibility: Military veterans and spouses pursuing graduate degrees, including psychology.
- Award: $10,000 annually
- Deadline: February