Program Cost & Financial Aid

Applicants who are not PLU alumni are automatically considered for this one-time merit scholarship, which, if awarded, will be applied to the first term of the program.

The Graduate Assistantship program offers graduate students an opportunity to participate in academic and administrative activities that will enhance their graduate education experience, as well as provide financial assistance.

A limited number of positions are available during the academic year. In general, positions are for opportunities involving time commitments between five and ten hours per week.

These opportunities include:

• Graduate employees assigned to programmatic projects or on-campus clinic.
• Collaboration with faculty on research projects for professional publications.
• Clinic and Program Coordinator or Assistant Coordinator positions in the on-campus clinic.

Award amount: A limited number of paid assistantships are available during the academic year. In general, paid positions involve time commitments of five to ten hours per week, and a payment between $900 and $1,900 per semester, available only during the first two semesters. Students received payment based on their hourly work as student employees. Assistantships are considered taxable income.

Number of awards: Varied

Eligibility: To be eligible for a graduate assistantship, an applicant must be:

• admitted to the MFT program
• maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 graduate grade point average, and
• be enrolled full-time [4 credits or more except J-term] during the semester/term of the assistantship

Criteria: Criteria for awarding assistantships may include any combination of the following: (a) skills and abilities, (b) academic merit, (c) potential for success, and (d) contribution to the mission of the graduate program and university. In addition to the assistantship application and skills inventory, information in the applicant’s admission file may be assessed.

Application Deadline: June 1 is the priority application date for assistantship consideration for the coming academic year. Applications received after the priority date will be reviewed as funds are available.

How to Apply:

• Complete the online Graduate Assistantship Application by the June 1st deadline.
• Upload a current resume to the Graduate Assistantship application.

The Nordic Opportunity Grant is awarded to degree-seeking citizens of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. $7,500 is awarded for the first year of the program and $5,000 awarded for the second year (only for 2-year program options). (If awarded the Nordic Opportunity Grant, applicants are not eligible to receive PLU Alumni or Graduate Academic Scholarships.)

The International Grant is awarded to degree-seeking international students who do not qualify for the Nordic Grant. $7,000 is awarded for the first year of the program and $3,500 awarded for the second year (only for 2-year program options). (If awarded the International Grant, applicants are not eligible to receive PLU Alumni or Graduate Academic Scholarships.)

The Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship was created due to the lack of healthcare professionals, HB 1946 was designed to assist and encourage healthcare professionals to pursue and complete their graduate degree in the field. Upon degree completion, recipients are required to provide healthcare services for a minimum of three years. The program may provide up to $51,000 for graduate students in an eligible two- or three-year program; or up to $25,500 for those in one-year advanced programs. The award will be distributed over a maximum of three years for program completion. Award amounts vary depending on financial need.

Eligibility Criteria

• The Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship is designed for first-year graduate students in Master of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, and Marriage and Family Therapy programs.
• First year graduate students in the eligible program types will commit to working at an eligible behavioral health site in exchange for receiving the scholarship.
• Preference will be given to applicants that express interest in fulfilling their service obligation in an underserved community or tribal health center. Obligation may be extended if working part time. To search which sites are eligible to complete a service obligation, review under the Behavioral Health Licensures dropdown on the WA Health Corps Programs portal.

Application Process

• Apply for student financial aid through FAFSAⓇ/ WASFA.
• Create a WSAC account and apply here.

Deadline: February 25, 2027

Service Obligation

• To avoid repaying the conditional scholarship, participants must fulfill these service obligation requirements:
• The commitment will be no less than three years and no more than five years. Obligation is dependent on status as a full- or part-time employee.
• Provide services as a LMHC, MSW, or LMFT at an eligible site after earning their degree/license.
• Participants who do not fulfill their service obligation will have to repay the award, with interest and other fees.

The purpose of these scholarships is to provide tuition support and additional training to 6 second-year MFT students to increase the behavioral health workforce in Pierce County. $25,000 is awarded, split between two semesters in the second-year of the program.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for these scholarships, students must show a commitment to serving in behavioral health settings in Pierce County after graduation.

Application Requirements

Application details for this scholarship will be announced through the PLU Marriage and Family Therapy Department. The application will open each spring, as funding allows.

The PLU MFT Department is excited to provide ongoing opportunities for our Alumni of Color to become AAMFT and WA State Approved Supervisors. We are committed to supporting diversity within our profession and increasing the number of Supervisors of Color in our state.

Visit the Supervisor Scholarship for Alumni of Color page to see details and information about our recipients.