Social Work Scholarships 2025

Degrees can be expensive, but many financial aid opportunities are available to help college students. Some focus on specific types of degrees or career fields, like social work.

Many different social work scholarships are available to students in both undergraduate programs and in their graduate studies. Keep reading to discover ten social work scholarships for 2024.

Top 10 Social Work Scholarships for 2024

There are several different scholarships for social work students. Some are need-based, while others are on your area of focus or initiatives. We've featured ten social work scholarships below.

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund

The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund was founded in 1961 to provide funding for students who are 'active and emerging organizers in progressive movements for liberation, self-determination, and social and economic justice in their communities.'

Scholarship award: up to $15,000

Eligibility requirements:

• involved in movements for progressive social change and social justice
• enrolled in a degree, trade, or training program
• demonstrate financial need

Deadline: April 1 of each year

Patty Gibbs-Wahlberg Scholarship

Phi Alpha Honors Society offers the Patty Gibbs-Wahlberg Scholarship to social work students in bachelor's degree programs accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). Three scholarships are offered each year to students demonstrating outstanding scholarship, service, and leadership.

Scholarship awards: $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000

The first-place winner also receives an all-expenses-paid trip to present their work during the Student Session of the Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors conference held each spring.

Eligibility requirements:

• be a member in good standing of Phi Alpha Honor Society
• be attending an accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program
• demonstrate service, scholarship, and leadership in their communities

Deadline: May 31st of each year

The Roothbert Fund

The Roothbert Fund is a volunteer organization that provides scholarship opportunities to candidates whose daily actions are guided by spiritual motives, although no specific religion is required. Students must have completed one year of college, but no specific major is required.

Scholarship award: averages $5,000-$7,000

Eligibility requirements:

• must have a current or intended residency in one of the following states by March 1st of the year the student applies: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, or North Carolina
• must be pursuing graduate or undergraduate study at an accredited U.S.-based college or university
• be motivated by spiritual values

Deadline: February 1 of each year

The Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial Scholarship

The National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF) offers the Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship helps master's degree students pursue a focus on health or mental health practice in African American communities.

Scholarship award: varies based on projected annual earnings and contributions.

Eligibility requirements:

• NASW membership in good standing
• either be or plan to be enrolled in a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program
• demonstrate an interest in or have experience with health/mental health practice and have a commitment to working in African American communities

Deadline: not listed

National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW)

The National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) comprises people of African ancestry. The association is 'committed to enhancing the quality of life and empowering people of African ancestry through advocacy, human services delivery, and research.'

Scholarship award: $500-$2,500

Eligibility requirements:

• be a financial member of NABSW during the year of application
• be a social work major at an accredited school
• express social work interest in the Black community
• be enrolled for at least six credit hours
• have a cumulative GPA of 2.5

Some specific scholarships have additional requirements.

Deadline: January of each year

National Association of Puerto Rican Hispanic Social Workers (NAPRHSW)

The National Association of Puerto Rican Hispanic Social Workers (NAPRHSW) is an organization with the mission to strengthen, develop, and improve the resources and services offered to Puerto Rican and Hispanic families.

Scholarship award: not listed

Eligibility requirements:

• be a bilingual/bicultural Spanish-speaking student
• be a full-time graduate student completing their first year and entering the second year at any of the following universities: Adelphi University, Stony Brook University, Long Island University Post, Fordham University, and Columbia University
• need financial assistance

Students must also be available to represent the association and act as liaisons between the NAPRHSW and their university.

Deadline: February 9, 2025

Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship

The Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship is another scholarship offered by the NASWF. It's for MSW students who commit to working with American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic, and Latino populations.

Scholarship award: $4,000

Eligibility requirements:

• NASW membership in good standing
• either be or plan to be enrolled in a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program
• committed to working with or have an affinity with American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic, and Latino populations

Deadline: not listed

Patricia T. Barnes Memorial Endowed Scholarship

The Patricia T. Barnes Memorial Endowed Scholarship is a scholarship program for social work students at the University of Central Florida. It's available for both undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees.

Scholarship award: $4,000

Eligibility requirements:

• be a full-time undergraduate student or graduate student in the College of Health Professions and Sciences
• minimum GPA of 3.0
• must demonstrate financial need as determined by FASFA

There is a preference for graduate students who have taken two gerontology courses in the Gerontology Certificate program or specialize in Alzheimer's or dementia.

Deadline: March of each year

Council on Social Work Education Carl A. Scott Memorial Fund

The Carl A. Scott Memorial Fund is a scholarship offered by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). It provides funds to help students pay for textbooks. Two scholarships are available, one for BSW students and one for MSW students.

Scholarship award: $500

Eligibility requirements:

• be completing a bachelor's or master's social work program accredited by the CSWE
• be enrolled full-time during the period in which the grant gets awarded
• have a demonstrated commitment to promoting equity and social justice

Deadline: April of each year

Council on Social Work Education Minority Fellowship

The Minority Fellowship Program is a fellowship program offered by the CSWE. The program provides graduate fellowship opportunities to master's students and doctoral students to train them to work with underrepresented and underserved persons with or at risk for mental health and substance abuse disorders.

Scholarship award: not listed

Eligibility requirements:

• be a full-time student in the final academic year of an MSW program or be a full-time student in a doctoral program for social work
• be attending a CSWE school of social work
• have a focus on providing mental health or substance use disorder services to racial/ethnic minority populations

Deadline: not listed

Are There Social Work Scholarships for Graduate Students?

Multiple scholarships are available to social work students in graduate programs, including:

• the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
• the MSW Scholarship from the Phi Alpha Honors Society
• the Roothbert Fund
• the Verne LaMarr Lyons Scholarship
• NABSW scholarships
• the NAPRHSW scholarship
• the Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship
• the Patricia T. Barnes Memorial Endowed Scholarship
• the Carl A. Scott Memorial Fund

Some are specifically graduate scholarships, while others are available to undergraduate or graduate students.

When Do Scholarship Applications Typically Open?

In general, scholarship applications typically open at the beginning or end of the year for funding for the upcoming school year. Applications usually close in the spring.

Fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) soon. Completing the application will allow you to apply for all kinds of financial aid as soon as the applications open.