Social work is a rewarding and ever growing field! According to the US Department of Labor, the need for social workers will increase by 13 percent by 2029, which is much greater than most other occupations. A social work major has a number of career paths, including working in city/state agencies, school settings, substance abuse counseling, and geriatric settings. If you earn a master’s degree in social work, you can also become a licensed counselor. No matter what path you take, social work scholarships will help fund your education.

Jump ahead to:

• Top social work scholarships to apply for in 2021
• Financial aid for social work students
• Summary of social work scholarships
• Expired scholarships

Keep on reading to learn more about social work scholarships, as well as financial aid opportunities for students pursuing a degree in the subject!

Top social work scholarships to apply for in 2021:

$1,000 Fund Your Future No-Essay Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to college juniors & seniors in select STEM, Social Since, and Business majors
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: July 31, 2021

$500 Pay It Forward Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school and college students planning on careers in the social services, human services, or gerontology
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: August 31, 2021

Latino Social Work Coalition and Scholarship Fund

• Eligibility: The LSWCSF program provides scholarships to Latinx men and women in the New York metropolitan area. Applicants must have financial need and been accepted or are enrolled in a master’s level program at one of the universities listed on the website
• Amount: $1,000 to $2,500
• Deadline: May 30, 2021

SeniorCare.com Aging Matters Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to students that currently care for an aging loved one, work within the senior community, or intend to pursue a career that will have an impact on the elder population
• Amount: $1,500
• Deadline: May 31, 2021

Senior Planning Social Work & Eldercare Award

• Eligibility: US citizens and permanent residents who are high school seniors or undergraduates with less than 90 credit hours
• Amount: $900 (between one and five annual awards shall be made)
• Deadline: July 31st for Fall applications or December 15th for Spring applications

Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship

• Eligibility: Current high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate students who plan to enroll full-time in an accredited two-year or four-year college or university in the United States. This scholarship is open to students pursuing careers in health, wellness, or fitness. 
• Amount: $1,500
• Deadline: August 1, 2021

Melanie Foundation Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to students pursuing a doctoral/master’s degree in the field of mental health field, including social work
• Amount: $2,500
• Deadline: March 5, 2022

 National Association of Social Workers

• Eligibility: The Foundation offers two master’s level scholarships, the Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship and the Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial Scholarship. NASW membership ($60.00) is required
• Amount: $4,000 to $5,500 (18 in total awarded)
• Deadline: March 11, 2022

Financial Aid for Social Work Students

If you are a social work student, the scholarships search is just one way to pay for your degree! Current and prospective social work students can also access need-based financial aid, which includes grants like the FSEOG Grant and Pell Grant, federal student loans, and work study.

To access any of these types of need-based financial aid, students will need to actually apply for need-based aid. There are two major applications that you should know about:

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• CSS Profile

Every college’s financial aid process will vary and we always recommend that students consult with the college in question for details and deadlines.

Summary of social work scholarships

1. $1,000 Fund Your Future No-Essay Scholarship
2. $500 Pay It Forward Scholarship
3. Latino Social Work Coalition and Scholarship Fund
4. SeniorCare.com Aging Matters Scholarship
5. Senior Planning Social Work & Eldercare Award
6. Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship
7. Melanie Foundation Scholarship
8. National Association of Social Workers

Expired scholarships

ARC Scholarships

• Eligibility: A variety of scholarships open to students pursuing degrees in special education, physical or occupational therapy, or a field related to intellectual or other developmental disabilities
• Amount: $3,000
• Deadline: January 11, 2021

Social Work HEALS

• Eligibility: Five doctoral fellowships will be awarded to select NASW members annually
• Amount: $17,900
• Deadline: March 11, 2021