9 Scholarship Opportunities for Psychology Majors

College tuition can be expensive, especially if you decide to continue your education with a graduate degree, as many psychology majors do. Even at a bachelor's level, that tuition can cost a pretty penny. Luckily, financial aid options are available to students, including psychology students. Read on as we break down scholarships and financial aid for psychology majors.

9 Types of Scholarships for Psychology Majors

Scholarships are a type of financial aid you don't need to pay back; it's a merit-based gift. There are several types of scholarships for psychology students, and we've broken them down below.

1. Sharon Stephens Brehm Undergraduate Psychology Scholarship

The Sharon Stephens Brehm Undergraduate Psychology Scholarship is a scholarship program that provides $5,000 to psychology students who are excelling in their program and meet the financial qualifications. To be eligible, you must:

• be an undergraduate student majoring in psychology at an accredited college or university
• have a minimum GPA of 3.5
• demonstrate financial need

To apply, you'll need to submit:

• personal statement that describes your past, current, and future involvement in the science and application of psychology on campus and elsewhere, academic achievements, and leadership activities
• CV
• transcript
• letter of recommendation from a psychology faculty member

You can apply for this scholarship here.

2. Grace Lynn Ross Memorial Scholarship

The Grace Lynn Ross Memorial Scholarship is a $500 scholarship for students pursuing a degree in criminal justice or child psychology/grief counseling. High school students and undergraduate students are eligible, and those who have lost a loved one to violence or murder are especially encouraged to apply.

In the application, you'll be asked to write a 400-600 word essay from the prompt 'Please tell us why you have decided to pursue a degree in your chosen field. How do you plan on using your degree to make an impact on the lives of others?' You can apply for this scholarship here.

3. Nurturing Hope Scholarship for Aspiring Mental Health Professionals

The Nurturing Hope Scholarship for Aspiring Mental Health Professionals is a scholarship that provides $500 to undergraduate and graduate students in the state of Washington who have experienced mental health struggles and are pursuing a degree to help others with their mental health.

Eligibility requirements for this scholarship include:

• be an undergraduate or graduate student
• be studying clinical counseling, social work, marriage and family counseling, or psychology
• have experience in navigating mental health struggles
• live in the state of Washington

To apply, you must submit a short essay or video from the prompt 'How has your experience with mental health shaped your goals and career aspirations? Who do you plan to serve and why?' You can apply for this scholarship here.

4. Jake Thomas Williams Memorial Scholarship

The Jake Thomas Williams Memorial Scholarship is a $2,000 scholarship for high school seniors who want to make a difference in mental health and suicide prevention. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

• be a high school senior
• plan to study social work, therapy, or psychology
• plan to work in the field of mental health or suicide prevention

To apply for this scholarship, you must submit a 400-600 word essay from the prompt 'Please share your personal experience with loss and how that has inspired you to enter the mental health field. How has your experience shaped your career aspirations? How do you feel you can make a difference in suicide prevention?'

The application for this scholarship is available here.

5. Harry and Miriam Levinson Scholarship

The Harry and Miriam Levinson Scholarship is offered through the American Psychological Foundation (APF) and the Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology (COGDOP) which offers $5,000 to psychology graduate students.

To be eligible, you must be enrolled in an interim master's program, doctoral program, or terminal master's program to enroll in a PhD program. For this scholarship application, you'll need to submit:

• a brief proposal of your thesis or dissertation project, even if in progress
• department endorsement
• CV
• transcript (an unofficial/student copy is acceptable)

This application is available here.

6. William and Dorothy Bevan Scholarship

The William and Dorothy Bevan Scholarship is another scholarship opportunity for psychology graduate students offered by the American Psychological Foundation and the GOGDOP. It has an award of $3,000 to help college students in graduate school fund their thesis or dissertation research.

The application requirements are the same as the Harry and Miriam Levinson Scholarship. You can apply here.

7. Clarence J. Rosecrans Scholarship

Another option for graduate students pursuing their psychology degrees is the Clarence J. Rosecrans Scholarship. The American Psychological Foundation and COGDOP offer this scholarship. They provide $2,000 to help graduate students with their dissertation and thesis research projects.

Like the two previous scholarships, students must submit:

• a brief proposal of their thesis or dissertation project, even if in progress
• department endorsement
• CV
• transcript (an unofficial/student copy is acceptable)

The application for this scholarship is available here.

8. Peter and Malina James & Dr. Louis P. James Legacy Scholarship

Also available for graduate students in psychology programs from the American Psychological Foundation and COGDOP is the Peter and Malina James & Dr. Louis P. James Legacy Scholarship. This offers a $5,000 scholarship award for graduate students to pursue their research in psychology.

Applicants must submit the items they need for the previously listed APF and COGDOP scholarships. You can apply here.

9. Dr. Judy Kuriansky Scholarship

Another of many scholarships offered to master's and doctoral students from the American Psychological Foundation and GOCDOP is the Dr. Judy Kuriansky Scholarship. Like the others, this scholarship provides funds to help psychology students with their graduate studies. The award amount is $2,000.

To apply for this scholarship and the variety of other APF/GOCDOP scholarships available, you must submit the items previously mentioned. All APF/GOCDOP scholarships are available here.

Other Types of Financial Aid for Psychology Majors

You may qualify for other financial aid options if you cannot get any of the scholarships mentioned. We've given a brief explanation of each below. Note that you must fill out the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) for all types of financial aid.

Federal Grants

Grants are similar to scholarships, in that they are gifts that generally don't need to be repaid, but grants are usually based on financial need instead of merit. Federal grants are those gifted by the federal government. The most common federal grant is the Pell Grant, which offers funds to students in undergraduate and graduate programs based on financial need. The current maximum award amount for the Pell Grant is $7,395 per year.

Work-Study Programs

Work-study positions are run through your college or university. These programs allow you to work on-campus or for a partnering business, and the money you make goes toward your tuition. A variety of jobs may be available depending on your school. These are not the same as fellowship or fully-funded doctoral programs. These programs run differently.

Institutional Aid

Institutional aid is financial aid offered by your college or university. Institutional aid is specifically for students within that college or university. Institutions commonly provide grants and scholarships. Contact your school's financial aid office to learn more about institutional aid. You may also be able to find information on the school website.

State Aid

State aid is government aid offered by your state rather than the federal government. Many states offer grants and scholarships to students. Availability varies by state. Visit www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html to find information about your state's financial aid agencies.

Student Loans

Student loans are the type of financial aid that you need to pay back. They can be expensive, so it's best to exhaust all your scholarship and grant options before taking out student loans. The federal government offers some student loans while private companies provide their own. Federal loans are usually the best option for students as they offer payment plans and don't require payments until you finish school.