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 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 purpose of these scholarships is to provide tuition support and additional training to 10 second-year MSW students to increase the behavioral health workforce in Pierce County. $25,000 is awarded, split between two semesters in the final 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 Social Work Department. The application will open each spring, as funding allows.

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, 2026.

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 Dr. Ellen K. Carruth Diversity & Inclusivity in Counseling Scholarship was named after a past beloved board member and fierce advocate of diversity and inclusion for all marginalized individuals.  All applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will be entered into a lottery, WMHCA is committed to providing eight $500 scholarships.

Applications must:

• Must be a Member of WMHCA (if this is a barrier email Shannon)
• Must reside and/or attend a graduate program in Washington.
• Must be currently enrolled in a graduate program.
• Must plan to apply for the LMHCA/LMHC credential.
• Must demonstrate financial need.
• Must demonstrate a connection to one or more of the scholarship categories.
• Must demonstrate a clear understanding and connection to WMHCA’s mission and values.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to providing culturally responsive services to identified client communities.

Scholarship Eligibility Categories

• Diversity and Equity: Students of historically marginalized identities with particular attention to BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTGEQIAP+, and disability identities.
• Rural: Students from rural areas who demonstrate a commitment to work in and serve an area designated as rural by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
• Military: Students who are active-duty service members, veterans, or spouses of active-duty service members or veterans.

Apply here. Applications are due October 31, 2024

Applicants will be notified of awards December 1, 2024

The Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) provides financial assistance to students receiving education or training in a direct or indirect health-care services discipline (Title 38 and Hybrid Title 38 occupations); and assists in providing an adequate supply of such personnel for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). HPSP helps the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) meet its need for qualified health care professionals for which recruitment or retention is difficult.

Eligibility Criteria

You must be currently enrolled or unconditionally accepted in an accredited academic program that will qualify for employment in one of the professional fields associated with the scholarship program prior to applying.

You must be full time enrolled in a eligible academic program unless you are a full-time VA employee.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 3.0 with 15 earned credit hours at the time of applying.

Applicants must be citizens of the United States. US Citizenship is defined as by birth or naturalization only. Those on Green Cards or Resident Alien status are not eligible for VA scholarship programs.

Applicants must not be delinquent on payment of federal debt.

Application Process

Student applicants are notified immediately after a tentative award decision has been completed. Students that have been awarded the scholarship are required to formally accept the award in order to complete the application process. Student applicants that have been awarded the VA scholarship are initially offered a tentative scholarship award.

Selected student applicants have 15 days to accept or decline the tentative scholarship award and are then required new tasks and forms for you to complete should you accept the tentative offer.

If selected for scholarship award student applicants have 15 days to accept or decline the final scholarship award.

Deadline: February 27, 2026.

General Scholarship Details

Full-time students:

• Tuition and Fees – The HPSP/Vet Center award pays a participant’s school tuition and approved fees through direct payment to the school. HPSP/Vet Center assistance includes topping off any existing grants and scholarship to ensure 100% of tuition and required/mandatory fees are paid.
  Required/Mandatory Fees are defined as those fees assessed by the college or university to all students in the academic program for which the scholarship was awarded. General Guideline: If the fee is optional, the fee is not required by all participants in the plan of study, or if the student at any time can opt out of the fee, they do not qualify for reimbursement.
• Monthly Stipend – HPSP/Vet Center will pay a monthly stipend directly to the participants. The payment is made for each month a participant is enrolled in coursework, beginning with the first month of the school year. The current stipend amount is $1,328 per month.
• Book Stipend – HPSP/Vet Center will pay an additional stipend to help cover books, paper, pens, pencils, computers, etc. This stipend is usually paid out annually during the July/August timeframe while under scholarship.

Full-time VA employees are not eligible for the monthly stipend.

Part-time and Intermittent VA employees can receive the monthly stipend.

Intermittent employees will be required to provide total hours worked at the end of each year to prove part-time status.

You must be full time enrolled in school unless a VA employee to be eligible for HPSP.

Service Obligation

Service obligations are year-for-year with a minimum requirement (2-Years) and will be automatically extended for individuals attending residencies and fellowships by half the period of the training. Therefore, a 1-year residency or fellowship will add 6 months to the minimum service obligation.

The 2K Annual Drug Rehab USA Mental Health Scholarship is a $2,000 award designed to support students pursuing degrees in mental health fields, such as social work. This scholarship addresses the growing shortage of mental health professionals in the United States by encouraging and empowering future leaders in the field.

Eligible applicants must be current university students in the U.S. with a valid .edu email and demonstrate a passion for improving mental health care. To apply, candidates must submit a creative piece—such as an essay, video, or artwork—that explains their motivation for pursuing a mental health degree and the positive impact they aim to achieve. Submissions are evaluated on clarity, creativity, originality, and the applicant’s passion for mental health.

You can learn more about the scholarship here: https://drugrehabus.org/mental-health-scholarship/

Applications are accepted until December 1, 2026, and the winner will receive $2,000 to support their educational journey. For more information or to apply, email scholarship@drugrehabus.org using your student email address.

The purpose of the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) is to improve behavioral health care outcomes for all by providing professional development and training opportunities for the behavioral health workforce. Contingent on funding, the CSWE MFP accomplishes this by providing monetary stipends, professional development training, mentorship, and other supports to MSW students who are completing their social work degrees.

The master’s MFP is a program designed to enhance the training of full-time, master’s-level social work students in their final year of study at a CSWE-accredited institution who are passionate about providing mental health and/or substance use disorder services. Applicants must identify mental health and/or substance use disorder service delivery as their focus and be committed to seeking employment in mental health and/or substance use disorder services or prevention immediately after graduation, for at least 2 years.

How to Apply: View for eligibility and other details.

To be notified of the 2027–2028 MFP MSW application opening, please complete the interest survey.