Higher education can be expensive, and focusing in the classroom and on coursework is difficult for psychology students stressing over their finances. Students who can take advantage of the many financial aid and scholarship options available in psychology can reduce this stress and make the most of their educational experience. Read on to learn about the scholarships, grants and tuition reimbursement programs available specifically to psychology students, and start reducing the stress that comes with paying tuition.
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Psychology Financial Aid & Scholarships List
Scholarships are an excellent way gather the funds needed for a psychology degree. There are hundreds of scholarships available for psychology students with a wide variety of purposes; some are need-based, some merit-based, and more are a combination of the two styles. The American Psychological Association and psychology honor society Psi Chi are frequent sponsors of scholarships that undergraduate and graduate students can benefit from, but there are also many other scholarship sources to choose from. Explore the lists below.
First or early-second year graduate level students who are members of both the Psi Chi honor society and American Psychological Association are eligible to apply. The fellowship is intended to fund graduate level research, but may be applied to other projects. Applications are due by the end of June.
Members of the Psi Chi psychology honor society who present a poster of their relevant research at the annual American Psychological Association Convention are eligible for this scholarship. Four awards are available annually, two at the undergraduate level and two at the graduate level.
Students in their first year of studying psychopharmacology in APA-approved programs may apply. Eligible applicants are typically postdoctoral practicing psychologists continuing their education. Up to nine scholarships are awarded yearly. Applications are due at the beginning of December.
The American Psychological Foundation awards 21 scholarships annually, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 awards each. These scholarships are open to graduate level psychology students based on research proposals and student background. Applications for various scholarships are due at the end of June.
Psi Chi honor society members who present their research (typically in the form of a poster) at the annual Association for Psychological Science Convention are eligible for this scholarship. Awards are available at both the graduate and undergraduate level.
Graduate students who have completed their doctoral candidacy and are specializing in neuropsychology are eligible for this award. Two $2,500 awards are given out annually, with an application deadline of early June.
Supporting graduate research projects in the field of child psychology, these one-year fellowships are available to students who have completed their doctoral candidacy, demonstrated competence and commitment to research and have an institutional review board approval when using human research subjects. Applications are due mid-November.
Established by the Asian American Psychological Association to increase the number of Filipino-American psychology academics and researchers and increase service and involvement in the Filipino-American community. Awards are given to undergraduate students planning to pursue a master’s or doctorate in psychology, or graduate students in their first two years of psychology study. Applications are due in February.
Awarded by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, this scholarship is designed to assist a graduate student pursuing industrial and organizational psychology with dissertation costs. Applicants must be student affiliates of Division 14. The call for applications opens in May.
Psi Chi honor society chapter presidents, both graduate and undergraduate, are eligible for this award. Individuals must be nominated by faculty or a Psi Chi member in order apply. Applicants must demonstrate exceptional leaderships skills and dedication to Psi Chi. One winner is chosen annually.
Individuals pursuing a doctorate or master’s degrees in mental health fields are eligible for this scholarship. The application requires curriculum vitae, transcripts, letters of recommendations and a personal essay. The scholarship is eligible for renewal. Applications are due in early March.
Established to assist minority graduate students pursuing careers in school psychology, this scholarship is awarded annually at the NASP Annual Convention in February.
Open to former or current active-duty U.S. military service members or their spouses who commit to providing mental health services to military members or veterans for at least two years, and who apply for a National Certified Counselor certification. Five scholarships are awarded annually, with an application deadline at the end of October.
Available to students from disadvantaged communities who commit to studying behavioral health and have exceptional financial need. Scholarships are awarded each year, and are renewable for up to four years. Monies may be used for tuition, educational expenses and reasonable living expenses.
Graduate and undergraduate members of Psi Chi honor society are eligible for this award. Applicants must create and submit an educational video about a specific topic chosen by Noba and Psi Chi. Videos must be submitted by mid-May to be considered. Three tiers of award amounts are available.
Members of the Psi Chi honor society who have an article submitted to one or both of Psi Chi’s two publications are eligible for this award. The article must focus on diversity, such as LGBT topics, physical or mental disabilities, or economic and ethnic disadvantages.
Undergraduate Psi Chi members in need of financial assistance are eligible for this scholarship. The application requires transcripts, financial documents, a personal essay, a financial need essay, and a letter of recommendation from the honor society’s faculty advisor. Applications are due at the beginning of July.
Designed to fund graduate level psychology work that increases the public’s understanding of the psychological stigmas faced by adults living with physical disabilities. Applications are due at the beginning of October.
Awarded to students from underrepresented cultural backgrounds studying school psychology. Two $500 awards are given annually to master’s or doctoral level students in their first or second year of graduate study, and one $1,000 award is given to an advanced master’s or doctoral level student in year three or higher of graduate study. Application deadlines fall at the end of April.
With a total of four scholarships awarded each year, graduate students pursuing a doctorate in industrial and organizational psychology who are Division 14 affiliates are eligible for these awards. Monies are designated to assist students with the cost of dissertation work.
Graduate students studying at either University of Maine or University of Southern Maine are eligible for this scholarship, which gives students with financial need the opportunity to achieve graduate-level training in mental health fields. Interested students should contact the financial aid offices of either university for deadlines and application details.
Available to high school graduates of Shelby County, Ohio pursuing a certificate, associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree in a medical or associated health profession. Selection is based on financial need, GPA requirements, community or school service and recommendations. Deadlines for applications are in July.
This scholarship is for adult students in Sarasota County, Florida pursuing careers in medical or nursing fields. Financial need is taken into consideration. Funds may be used at any accredited college or university. Applications are due early April and must include a letter of recommendation, resume, and supporting financial documents.
Residents of DuPage County, Illinois who have completed undergraduate education are eligible for this scholarship. Applications are accepted from January to April and require a letter of recommendation, transcript, tax return, and proof of enrollment/acceptance to the health care program applicants intend to apply the funds to.
College seniors from Amarillo, Texas and surrounding counties who are preparing to obtain a medical certification or graduate degree are eligible for this scholarship. Applications must have maintained a 2.5+ GPA through college and received an undergraduate degree in a medically-relevant field. Applications are accepted from November to mid-February.
Open to minority PhD students studying industrial and organizational psychology. Students must be affiliates of Division 14, the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and must use the award to cover the cost of carrying out dissertation work.
The Groff Foundation scholarships are available to Monmouth County, New Jersey individuals who attended public high schools. The scholarships cannot be applied to undergraduate studies and are need-based. Scholarships are renewable up to four years. Applications are due at the start of April; transcripts and financial information are required.
The Boyce Scholarship can be applied to either graduate or undergraduate studies in a medically-related field. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and be residents of Hopewell, Virginia, or a neighboring locality. Applicants must also submit test scores, transcripts, financial information, three letters of recommendation, and maintain a 3.0+ GPA.
The Derickson Scholarship is a need-based renewable award for students in select Pennsylvania counties. Applicants must be attending or entering college or university with intentions to join a medical field. The application is due at the beginning of April and requires financial information, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and an essay.
Third-year undergraduate students or beyond attending West Texas A&M University are eligible to apply. Applicants must be African American or Hispanic, demonstrate financial need, major in nursing or allied health, and must maintain a 3.0+ GPA. The scholarship is renewable up to four semesters; applications accepted from November to mid-February.
Native Kuskokwim applicants who plan to enter health fields are eligible for this scholarship. The application requires recommendation letters, transcripts, and a personal essay. There are two application cycles; the first cycle ends mid-June and the second ends mid-November.
Awarded to psychology undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota, Mortensen Scholarships can be used for tuition, fees and books. Application deadlines fall in the early part of spring semester.
Awarding two scholarships to Florida students studying graduate level psychology, cognitive or behavior sciences. The deadline to apply falls in mid-April.
Open to University of Minnesota, Twin Cities undergraduate psychology students who demonstrate financial need and are involved in learning experiences or volunteer opportunities outside the classroom. Two $500 awards are distributed each semester, and the highest ranking applicant for the year receives a $600 Natalis Award.
Students seeking a professional or graduate degree in a medical or nursing field are eligible for these scholarships. Applicants must be members of a federally recognized tribe or submit a Tribal Eligibility Certificate. The application is due in early June and is awarded to applicants with demonstrated financial need.
American Indian and Alaska Native tribe members are eligible for this scholarship, which is primarily intended for individuals seeking degrees in STEM fields. Applicants are required submit a personal essay and seek out additional scholarship opportunities. Applications are available upon request; due dates vary depending on planned enrollment date.
Undergraduate and graduate who are members of American Indian tribes are eligible to apply. Applicants must be studying a field associated with health or science. The application includes a short essay and is due at the beginning of June.
A scholarship program for home care professionals in Vermont seeking an advanced degree, and associate or bachelor’s degrees in a health profession, including nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy or medical social work. The application deadline comes annually in mid-February.
Available for students pursuing advanced degrees in medicine, including psychology, who are commissioned military officers. Full tuition is covered, in addition to a $2,000 monthly stipend during school and officer’s pay during breaks. Service obligations are one year of active duty for every year of scholarship.
This scholarship is intended for students currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate, graduate, or other program with the intention of joining the medical field. The scholarship is eligible for renewal and the application, which includes a short personal essay, must be submitted by mid-October.
Pre-med and medical students who are members of the American Medical Women’s Association are eligible for this scholarship. The scholarship is merit-based. The application requires a letter of recommendation from a senior member of the American Medical Women’s Association and a short essay. Applications are due by the end of December.
This scholarship is intended for students currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate, graduate, or other program with the intention of joining the medical field. The scholarship is eligible for renewal and the application, which includes a short personal essay, must be submitted by mid-October.
The IHS provides three scholarships for American Indian and Alaska Native students pursuing degrees in health professions. One scholarship is designated for undergraduate students, the second is designated for undergraduate students pursuing pre-graduate degrees and the third is open to both undergrad and grad students who commit to a service obligation in clinical practice after graduation.
Medical students who are members of the American Medical Women’s Association are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants must submit a short essay responding to the supplied prompt. Submissions must be received by the end of January.
Members of specific minority groups who are experiencing a financial emergency are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants must be enrolled in a medical school. The application requires two essays, a letter of support from the program’s financial aid director, and additional financial documentation. Applications are accepted throughout the school year.
Awarded to Native American or Alaska Native undergraduate students who demonstrate a commitment to Native and Tribal policy and health care, including psychological studies. Scholarship deadlines fall during the beginning of March.
This scholarship is offered by the American Medical Women’s Association and Kaplan to undergraduate pre-med members of the Association. Financial need is not necessarily a determining factor but is taken into consideration. The awarded funds are intended to be used for Kaplan MCAT test preparation. Applications, which include essays, are due by the end of September.
African American college juniors studying biomedical fields are eligible for this scholarship. Applicants must be attending UNCF member schools and have a 3.0+ GPA. The scholarship is primarily merit-based, and the application deadline is the end of November.
Pay for School: Additional Aid for Psychology Students
For some students, psychology scholarships alone do not cover the entire cost of earning a degree. There are additional financial aid options, including programs that reimburse psychology students entering medical fields for the cost of their tuition in exchange for service, research grants, federal aid programs and more. No matter what psychology specialization a student chooses, many of the following financial aid options are broad-level to help a variety of psychology students complete their education.
School Payment Plans
Grants
Tuition Reimbursement Programs
Financial Aid & Scholarship Calculator
One of the common challenges of higher education is financing it. However, budgeting can help resolve that challenge by giving an idea of how much financial aid and scholarships will cover and what out-of-pocket financial obligation to expect. Using the calculator below, students can enter estimated tuition costs and other campus fees, and their expected scholarship or financial aid amounts to see their remaining out-of-pocket costs.
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Beyond Financial Aid & Scholarships: Student Loan Forgiveness
Covering the cost of earning a psychology degree isn’t always possible with financial aid and scholarships alone, which is why so many use student loans to help bridge budget gaps. The Institute for College Access and Success reported 69 percent of seniors who graduated from public and non-profit colleges in 2014 had student loan debt. The good news for psychology students is there are many student loan forgiveness programs that can reduce or even eliminate student loan debt. The following programs pay part or all of a student’s loan debt in exchange for service, so students gain career experience practicing psychology while paying down debt.
Who is Eligible? Licensed members of eligible psychology professions (chemical dependency counseling, clinical psychologists, counselors, counseling psychologists, and social workers) or individuals in final year of training for an eligible profession