Earning your degree may look expensive on paper, but charts with tuition and fees don’t tell the whole story. Many financial aid resources and other opportunities are out there to help fund your degree. According to Think Impact, 58% of families and students used scholarships to help pay for college in 2020, with $8.8 billion awarded to students who demonstrated financial need.
Unlike student loans, scholarships and grants don’t need to be paid back, so they’re a great way to lower overall costs, reduce your debt, and make your online counseling degree more affordable. Finding and applying for scholarships takes time and effort though, so this guide will help make your scholarship search easier by outlining our top picks.
30+ Scholarships and Grants for Counseling Students
Starting on your journey toward a career in counseling is a noble pursuit, and funding shouldn’t stand in your way. Within this guide, you’ll discover over 30 scholarship and grant opportunities specifically to help fund your undergraduate online counseling degree. Each scholarship has different eligibility requirements, including a specified GPA, class standing, letters of recommendation, and deadlines. Discover scholarships and grants for national programs, school-specific programs, and research-based grants within the fields of psychology and counseling.
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General Scholarships for Online Counseling Students
Ab Irvine Scholarship Program
- Amount: $2,000
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to a student pursuing an undergraduate degree within the psychology and mental health fields with career aspirations to work with children with special needs (includes but is not limited to special education, learning disabilities, deaf/blind education, physical therapy, speech/language pathology, audiology, occupational therapy, psychology, counseling, social work, and art/music therapy). Students must hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher; reside in the Great Southwest District, which includes Colorado, New Mexico, or El Paso County, Texas; and be enrolled in a college in any of these states.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Children and Families Impact Scholarship
- Amount: $2,500
- Description & eligibility: The scholarship is awarded to 10 BIPOC students who are pursuing degrees in health and human services. Students must be members of the Minnesota Social Service Association (membership is free), identify as BIPOC, be enrolled in a degree-seeking program from a nonprofit accredited college, and have declared a major in the health and human services area, including counseling. Students should also have experience working or plan to work with children and families in Minnesota.
- Deadline: January 15, 2024
Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
- Amount: Up to $15,000
- Description & eligibility: The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund provides financial support for students who are active and emerging organizers in progressive movements for liberation, self-determination, and social and economic justice in their communities, including those studying counseling. These need-based scholarships are awarded to students enrolled at a college, university, trade school, or technical program.
- Deadline: April 1, 2024
Donovan Kayne Lujan Memorial Fund Scholarship
- Amount: $2,500
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to students aspiring to be mental health professionals who are passionate about helping others suffering from mental illness. Students must be enrolled in an accredited college or university program in the United States and have a declared major related to mental health. Students must also have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
GMiS California Health Sciences Scholarship
- Amount: $1,000
- Description & eligibility: Great Minds in STEM (GMiS) awards this scholarship to underrepresented students in California who are pursuing undergraduate degrees in health-related disciplines. To apply you must be a member of a traditionally underrepresented group in the health sciences field, including mental health, rehabilitation, geriatric medical specialties, or individuals with disabilities. Applicants must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- Deadline: April 30, 2024
James F. Reville Scholarship
- Amount: $3,000
- Description & eligibility: The scholarship is presented to a student who intends to pursue a career related to intellectual or other developmental disabilities, such as behavioral sciences, social work, nursing, healthcare administration and management, or psychology. Additionally, students must be New York State residents. Two scholarships are awarded.
- Deadline: January 12, 2024
Joseph James Morelli Legacy Foundation Scholarship
- Amount: $500 to $2,500
- Description & eligibility: Students must attend an accredited undergraduate school, technical school, or community college in the United States and be pursuing a degree in STEM, including counseling and/or psychology. Additionally, students must have demonstrated a learning challenge (disability) of dyslexia or similar reading and/or language-based disability. Multiple scholarships are awarded.
- Deadline: February 25, 2024
Josie Torralba Romero (JTR) Scholarship
- Amount: $1,000
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to Latino junior or senior undergraduate students pursuing a degree in a mental health–related academic area. Students must be U.S. citizens, legal residents, and/or DACA students who are residents of New Mexico and who commit to working in the field of behavioral health in New Mexico for two years after graduation.
- Deadline: May 1, 2024
MSSA Diversity Scholarship
- Amount: $2,500
- Description & eligibility: Students must be a member of the Minnesota Social Service Association (membership is free) and maintain active membership throughout the award period. Additionally, students must be enrolled in an accredited program at a nonprofit academic institution leading to a degree in a health and human service–related field, including counseling. Preference is given to applicants planning to work in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, or North Dakota. Two undergraduate scholarships are awarded.
- Deadline: January 15, 2024
MSSA Undergraduate Scholarship
- Amount: $1,500
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated a passion and commitment to working in the health and human services field. Students must be members of the Minnesota Social Service Association (membership is free) and maintain active membership throughout the award period. Additionally, students must be enrolled in an accredited program at a nonprofit academic institution and have declared a health and human services–related major, including counseling.
- Deadline: January 15, 2024
NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program
- Amount: Up to $20,000 per academic year
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science research. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, enrolled or accepted as full-time undergraduate students at an accredited four-year college, hold a GPA of 3.3 or greater, and demonstrate exceptional financial need certified by the school’s financial aid office.
- Deadline: March 29, 2024
Preventive Measures Legacy Scholarship
- Amount: $1,500
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to students entering or enrolled in an accredited college with a human services major, including psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, nursing, home health, public health, or public administration. Students must be residents of Pennsylvania, the D.C. metropolitan area; or Georgia; hold a minimum 2.5 GPA; and submit a 500- to 1,000- word essay.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Psi Chi Undergraduate Scholarship
- Amount: $3,000
- Description & eligibility: The International Honor Society in Psychology awards eight scholarships annually to exceptional undergraduate psychology majors. Applicants must be Psi Chi members and submit a CV, personal financial information, and a financial need essay.
- Deadline: June 24, 2024
Sharon Stephens Brehm Undergraduate Psychology Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship recognizes outstanding psychology undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. Students must be undergraduates majoring in psychology, counseling, or a similar field at an accredited college or university; have a minimum 3.5 GPA; and demonstrate financial need.
- Deadline: July 10, 2024
The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program
- Amount: $30,000 to $46,000
- Description & eligibility: Funded by the Department of Defense (DoD), the SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree within the STEM field, including cognitive, neural, and behavioral sciences (counseling). Students must be willing to accept post-graduate employment with the DoD and be in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Deadline: December 1, 2023
William White Scholarship
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is granted to help promote student addiction research and the importance of student research projects in programs accredited by the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission. One undergraduate student member of the NAADAC-The Association for Addiction Professionals will receive the scholarship based on the best student addiction research paper on the assigned topic. Students must have at least one full academic year of coursework remaining in addiction studies or an addiction-related field, with an emphasis on or concentration in addiction. Applicants must be current NAADAC members with a minimum GPA of 2.7.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
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School-Based Scholarships for Counseling Students
Alice Horn Bryant Psychology Scholarship – Arkansas State University
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to a full-time rising junior psychology student holding a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA. The recipient must have earned at least nine credits in the psychology program at Arkansas State by the end of the spring semester in which they apply, in addition to holding a 3.25 psychology GPA. Students must also submit a statement of professional goals.
- Deadline: April 1, 2024
Andy Reaves Memorial Award – The University of Alabama
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: This award was created to identify outstanding minority undergraduate students who show promise toward making a significant contribution to the field of psychology or related social science disciplines. Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and community service. Applicants must be junior or senior minority undergraduate psychology students and hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The nominating faculty member writes a brief letter of support to accompany the student’s application, and the student writes a description of their career goals.
- Deadline: January or February 2024
The Carol Smith Ripley Scholarship – East Carolina University
- Amount: $1,200
- Description & eligibility: This merit- and need-based scholarship is awarded to a rising senior with a commitment to the study of psychology who plans to pursue a career in the field. Nominations must be from a faculty member in the Department of Psychology who has worked with the applicant in a research capacity. In addition to the faculty nomination form, the student applicant submits a form describing their financial need.
- Deadline: January 15, 2024
The Dariel Overby Memorial Scholarship Award – Arizona State University
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: This award memorializes Dariel “Rusty” Overby’s spirit and dedication to education. Her life was tragically cut short just two days before graduation.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
The Earl and Norma Childers Scholarship – East Carolina University
- Amount: $300
- Description & eligibility: This merit-based scholarship is awarded to a psychology major with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a demonstrated commitment to a career in psychology.
- Deadline: January 15, 2024
Gussie L. Turner Memorial Scholarship – Arkansas State University
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Students must be incoming freshmen majoring in psychology or sociology. Applicants must hold a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 and submit an essay of 750 words or less describing how they plan to use their degree to serve and improve the community.
- Deadline: April 1, 2024
Jaishree Banal Memorial Scholarship – University of Kentucky
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Awarded to currently admitted/enrolled social work junior or senior undergraduate or master’s level students with a 3.0 GPA in their major and financial need. Preference is given to international students.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Martin Booth and Patsy Dills Tracy Scholarship – University of Kentucky
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Chosen by the scholarship committee based on financial aid applications, students applying for this scholarship must reside in a rural area of Kentucky with a county population of less than 100,000 and also be actively involved in research to enhance the quality of life of rural Kentuckians.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
The Marvin Feldman and Walter Cohen Award – University at Buffalo
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Each spring, the Department of Psychology recognizes the outstanding undergraduate honors thesis with this award. The award is named in honor of two of the department’s most distinguished faculty members.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
The Miller-Moore Undergraduate Scholarship in Psychology – East Carolina University
- Amount: $2,000
- Description & eligibility: This merit- and need-based scholarship is awarded to a rising senior psychology major who has demonstrated academic excellence and financial need.
- Deadline: January 15, 2024
The Murray Levine Award – University of Buffalo
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Each spring, the Department of Psychology recognizes both an undergraduate and graduate student for exemplary service that enhances a sense of community within the department and/or interactions between the department and the broader university community.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Outstanding Major in Psychology Award – The University of Alabama
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Applicants must be senior undergraduate students studying psychology, hold a 3.5 GPA, and demonstrate superior achievement in research, teaching, and/or community service The nominating faculty member writes a brief letter of support to accompany the student’s application, and the student writes a description of their career goals.
- Deadline: January or February 2024
Psi Chi Engagement Scholarship – East Carolina University
- Amount: $500
- Description & eligibility: This merit-based scholarship is awarded to a psychology major who is an ECU Psi Chi chapter member and plans to pursue a career in the field. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA both overall and in psychology.
- Deadline: January 15, 2024
The Psychology Foundation Account Award – East Carolina University
- Amount: $250
- Description & eligibility: This award goes to the senior psychology major who produces the best undergraduate research thesis. The award is given at the spring psychology department graduate recognition ceremony. Fall and spring graduates are eligible to apply. The student’s thesis advisor must nominate the student.
- Deadline: April 3, 2024
Psychology Scholar Awards – Arizona State University
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Six awards—two scholarships each for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors—are presented by the Department of Psychology in recognition of outstanding academic achievement, engagement in research activities, and/or the application of psychology in the community.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
The Smith Marshall Scholarship – Arizona State University
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship—awarded to one or two psychology majors each year—was created to enable underrepresented students with financial need to pursue a degree in psychology. The recipient must be a U.S. citizen who attended high school in Arizona; preference is given to applicants who attended K-12 in Arizona. Selection is based on criteria such as financial need, merit, adversity factors, geography, and other factors that are neutral as to race, ethnicity, sex, color, national origin, and other protected groups.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Social Work Evelyn J. Black Memorial Fund – University of Kentucky
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral social work student. To be eligible, you must be currently admitted and in good standing.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Wren Margaret Elam & Evelyn J. Black Scholarship in Children’s Mental Health – University of Kentucky
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: Applicants must be undergraduate or master’s level students who plan to work in education or mental health settings with children.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
The Zita M. Johnson Child Study Scholarship – Arizona State University
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to a psychology major with a demonstrated commitment and career plans in child psychology, early intervention, childcare, family counseling, social services for children and families, applied child development research, or social policy.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
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Grants for Counseling Students
APS Student Grant Competition
- Amount: $500
- Description & eligibility: To encourage student research in psychological science, the Association for Psychological Science (APS) Student Grant Competition provides small “seed grant” funding to support research in its initial development stages. Funds can be used for the purchase of research materials or other expenses incurred prior to data collection. Up to eight awards of $500 each will be given to APS student affiliates (graduates and undergraduates). Research proposals in all areas of psychological science are welcome. Research proposals are evaluated on clarity in the presentation of ideas, the ability of the project to explain psychological phenomenon, and the ability of the project to advance research in a specified area. Applicants receive copies of the peer reviews.
- Deadline: December 15, 2023
Division 20 Undergraduate, Graduate, and Postdoctoral Research Awards
- Amount: $500
- Description & eligibility: The award is open to undergraduate and graduate students. Division 20 focuses on adult development and aging.
- Deadline: April 15, 2024
Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Grant
- Amount: $1,500
- Description & eligibility: This grant is awarded to undergraduate psychology students serving as the first author and project director of an original research project. Applicants must be Psi Chi members and have at least one faculty member overseeing the project. Students must submit a proposal of a recent project, including methodology, anticipated results, and expected use of funds. Students must also provide documentation of approval by an institutional review board and endorsement from a faculty sponsor. Multiple grants are awarded.
- Deadlines: January 15, 2024; May 1, 2024; and October 15, 2024
Social Justice Task Force Research Grant
- Amount: Varies
- Description & eligibility: This award supports and stimulates research of underrepresented populations within the area of psychology of religion and spirituality.
- Deadline: TBD 2024
Social Justice Task Force Travel Grant
- Amount: $600
- Description & eligibility: Conference travel awards are intended to support students and early career professionals who advance research related to the psychology of religion and spirituality. Priority will be given to individuals who are presenting at the APA or Division 36 mid-year conference. Ten awards will be given based on the merit of the application, outside financial assistance, and the travel budget.
- Deadline: June 14, 2024
Key Ways to Increase Your Chances of Earning a Counseling Scholarship
Finding a list of eligible scholarships is just the first step. Because scholarships and grants are “free money” and don’t need to be paid back, applications take time. You’ll want your application to stand out to increase your chances of being awarded a scholarship or grant. Scroll down to read some steps to help you increase your chances of earning the scholarships you need to pay for school.
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Highlight Community Involvement & Extracurriculars
Demonstrating a genuine passion for giving back not only reflects a strong sense of social responsibility but also showcases practical skills in working with diverse populations. Detail your volunteer work, emphasizing specific roles and responsibilities, teamwork, and problem-solving. Describe community service initiatives and highlight the impact they had on your community or target population. Admissions committees value candidates who exemplify an unwavering dedication to making a positive impact beyond the classroom.
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Write an Impactful Essay or Personal Statement
To craft an impactful essay or personal statement, ensure it directly addresses the prompt and displays a clear understanding of what’s being asked. Use vivid examples and personal anecdotes to illustrate your points, providing tangible evidence of your experiences and insights. This not only adds depth but also makes your narrative relatable and engaging. Avoid generic language; instead, share authentic stories that reflect your character and aspirations. Ultimately, a well-written and thoughtful essay not only showcases your abilities but also leaves a lasting impression on the reader, making you a standout candidate.
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Showcase What Makes You Unique
In showcasing what makes you unique on a scholarship application, emphasize your passions and interests, whether it’s a love for animals, a dedication to children, or any other defining trait. Articulate why these elements are meaningful to you and how they’ve shaped your goals and aspirations. Be genuine and specific in illustrating your experiences and contributions related to these passions. Allow your individuality to shine through, letting the scholarship committee see the depth and breadth of what makes you unique. This personal touch leaves a lasting impression, increasing your chances of standing out in the selection process.
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Source Solid Letters of Recommendation
When seeking letters of recommendation for your scholarship application, carefully select individuals who can authentically speak to your character, abilities, and accomplishments. Choose those who have observed your strengths and can offer specific examples of your achievements. Provide them with comprehensive information about the scholarship, its criteria, and your aspirations. Share how the scholarship aligns with your goals to give your recommenders a clear understanding of what to emphasize in their letters. This guidance ensures that their recommendations will showcase your best attributes, present a compelling case on your behalf, and significantly enhance your chances of securing the scholarship.
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Follow Directions and Submit Early
To maximize your chances of success in a scholarship application, it’s crucial to meticulously follow directions and plan to submit your application early. Carefully review all requirements, ensuring every component is completed accurately and in full. Submitting a comprehensive application well before the deadline demonstrates your diligence and commitment. It also allows for any unforeseen technical issues or last-minute adjustments. This proactive approach sets you apart as an organized and dedicated candidate and ensures your application receives the attention it deserves.