Scholarship Opportunities

School of Social Work
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School of Social Work Scholarships

A variety of scholarship opportunities are available to the School of Social Work students with outstanding academic achievement or financial need. For questions regarding scholarships, please contact Colleen Mastel at cmastel@ewu.edu or (509) 359-4244.

The EWU General Scholarship Application for academic year 2025-2026 has closed. The application for 2026-2027 will open in November 2025. .

Apply Here (closed for academic year 2025-2026)

External Scholarships

We maintain an updated list of scholarships provided by external organizations. If there’s a scholarship you would like for us to add to our list, please submit it using our form.

View External Scholarships

School of Social Work Scholarships

  • Must be a student of the Master’s in Social Work Program
  • Must be a student with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Preference will be given to a student with a commitment to working with a rural school district(s)
  • Preference will be given to a student from rural community

Requirements & Guidelines:

  • Student must be a Children’s Studies major
  • Preference given to non-traditional students who show financial need

Requirements & Guidelines:

  • Student must be enrolled/admitted in MSW (child welfare)
  • Student must show financial need
  • Preference given to 1st gen and/or foster youth

Requirements & Guidelines:

  • Be undergraduate or graduate students majoring in behavioral health programs including Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Addiction Studies, or earning a Behavioral Health Support Certificate.
  • Recipients must also meet at least one of these following requirements:
    • Demonstrated financial need, with preference to those with financial need outside of Pell Grant eligibility
    • First-generation college student
    • Non-traditional student
    • Come from an underserved or underrepresented community

Requirements & Guidelines:

  • Student must be a social work major
  • Student must be a graduate student
  • Student must demonstrate financial need

Requirements & Guidelines:

  • Must be an EWU graduate student in the social work program in field placement
  • Student must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Student must demonstrate financial need
  • Preference given to students with proven passion for social justice

Requirements & Guidelines:

  • Must be a Master of Social Work student
  • Must be a minority student of color

Requirements & Guidelines:

  • Student must be enrolled or accepted into the MSW program
  • Student must have a minimum 3.2 undergrad GPA

Requirements & Guidelines:

  • Student must be a female MSW student
  • Student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Preference given to non-traditional students

Requirements & Guidelines:

  • Student must be pursuing a degree in Social Work
  • Student must have a GPA of 3.0 or greater

There are many scholarships available to students who are enrolled in the School of Social Work programs.  The EWU General Scholarship Application for academic year 2025-2026 will open November 1st 2024 and close February 1st 2025.

External Scholarships

The Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship

The Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative
EWU’s School of Social Work is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative  (WDI or Ballmer Scholarship). This highly competitive scholarship supports master’s level students committed to serving individuals within eligible community-based behavioral health agencies in Washington State —while significantly reducing student debt.
Scholarship Details:
  • Created to address three behavioral health workforce development goals:
    • Increase the number and diversity of well-trained, master’s-level clinicians committed to working in community-based behavioral health agencies and tribal centers in Washington.
    • Reduce clinical staff turnover by significantly reducing student loan debt upon graduation.
    • Create better alignment between graduate training and behavioral health workplace demands.
  • Provides up to $51,500 in tuition funding for eligible master’s students
  • Requires completion of practicum training in an approved behavioral health agency
  • Up to a three-year post-graduation service commitment in a community or tribal-based behavioral health agency
Application Process:
Step 1: Submit the WDI (Ballmer) Scholarship application by 11:59 p.m., March 30, 2025. Late applications will not be considered.  Apply Here
Step 2: Register and attend one mandatory Information Session (failure to attend will disqualify applicants):
            Session 1: March 17, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Register Here
            Session 2: March 24, 4 p.m.-5 p.m.  – Register Here

To apply for the 2025-2026 Ballmer Scholarship, students must be a new MSW student admitted to the 2025-2027 Cheney Full-time program (including the full time Advanced Standing program), the 2025-2028 Spokane Part-time Hybrid program,  or the 2026-2027 Everett Part-time Hybrid Advanced Standing program.

For More Information or Questions Contact:

Sarah Featherly
Director of Field Education
sfeatherly@ewu.edu
509.359.6482

Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship (BHCS)

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) Behavioral Health Conditional Scholarship (BHCS), created by HB 1949, is designed to address behavioral health workforce shortages in Washington State.  The scholarship program can provide up to $51,000 in conditional tuition assistance to graduate students accepted into eligible programs which include Master of Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, and/or Marriage and Family Therapy. Students accepting the WSAC BHCS scholarship must commit to working at an eligible behavioral health agency for a minimum of 3 years post-graduation in exchange for scholarship funds. Preference is given to applicants who express interest in fulfilling their service obligation in an underserved community or tribal health center.  To learn more about the application process, service obligations, and awarding priorities, visit the WSAC BHCS website.

To apply to the 2025-2026 WSAC BHCS scholarship for Eastern Washington University, you must be a new MSW student admitted to the 2025-2027 Cheney Full-time program or the 2025-2028 Spokane Part-time Hybrid program.

Applications are now open for Fall 2025 and must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. March 31, 2025.

Apply Now

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