This snapshot is built from CollegeWhale’s own scholarship database and planning tools. It shows how many awards are available for Social Work majors, how much money is on the table, and what early-career pay and typical college costs can look like.
We currently have 8 Social Work verified and active scholarships available in our database. These awards come from professional associations, nonprofit organizations, and private sponsors. We’re actively adding scholarships tied to Social Work. Check back often or use our main scholarship search to uncover more awards that fit your profile.
Across these listings, the total advertised award value comes to roughly $101,000. Many scholarships for this major list flexible or renewable award amounts. As we continue to add additional Social Work scholarships, this section will show an estimate of the total dollars currently available in our database.
Graduates with a Social Work degree commonly see early-career median pay around $61,000 per year, depending on location, employer type, and experience.
Social Work ROI Snapshot:
We estimate a typical 4-year net cost of college at about
$108,584.
First-year median earnings are roughly 56% of that total cost. At that pace, it would take about 1.8 years of early-career earnings to “earn back” your degree investment (before taxes and living costs).
The average cost of in-of-state college in the United States is $27,146 per student per year, including books, supplies, and daily living expenses. Out-of-state students pay $45,708 per year. Private, nonprofit university students pay $58,628. According to data provided by educationdata.org as of 8/2025. Our ROI calculation is based on in-state average tuition. Median pay statistics are provided by bls.gov
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The NASW Foundation offers multiple scholarship programs for students pursuing degrees in social work. These programs support diverse specialties within the field—such as commitment to underserved populations, health/mental-health practice, and macro social-policy work—and aim to cultivate future leaders in social
Award: $4,000 Deadline: February Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)
The Truman Scholarship supports college juniors who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential and are committed to a career in public service. Created by Congress in 1975 in honor of President Harry S. Truman, the award is the U.S. federal memorial to
Award: $30,000 Deadline: February Est. Application Time: Med (48 min)
The Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Education, supports applicants of superior academic ability, exceptional promise, and demonstrated financial need who are pursuing graduate degrees in selected fields of the arts, humanities or social sciences.
Award: $12,200 Deadline: September Est. Application Time: Med (88 min)
The Patricia Price Browne Prize in Biomedical Ethics honors an individual who demonstrates the highest professional standards in medical or professional ethics—especially through leadership, advocacy or scholarship on complex ethical issues in healthcare. The prize was established in honor of
Award: $10,000 Deadline: September Est. Application Time: Low (13 min)
The Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship is awarded to master's degree candidates in social work who have demonstrated a commitment to working with, or who have special affinity with, American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic/Latino populations, or in public and voluntary
Award: $4,000 Deadline: February Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)
The GSF Student Grant is designed to provide financial assistance to students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in fields related to the environment, social justice, or sustainability. Eligible candidates must be enrolled full-time in an accredited U.S. college or university
Award: $5,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: Med (63 min)
The Harry Truman Scholarship Award offered through the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation focuses on providing full financial funding to candidates who are seeking to attend graduate school in public service areas. The goal is to help undergraduates, who are
Award: $30,000 Deadline: January Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)
The National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. The National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship can award up to
Award: $20,000 Deadline: March Est. Application Time: Low (13 min)This comprehensive collection of Social Work scholarships and grants for the 2027 - 2028 school years, curated from our regularly updated databases. To explore all available scholarship matches, visit our Scholarship Database and Grant Database, which both offer easy-to-use filters, current deadlines, and detailed eligibility information to help you discover the best Social Work scholarship opportunities.
Students pursuing degrees in social work can access a wide variety of scholarships and grants designed to support careers dedicated to helping others. These programs are offered by universities, nonprofit foundations, and government agencies to assist students who are committed to social justice, community service, and mental health advocacy. Many awards are available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The NASW Foundation Scholarship offers financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing accredited social work degrees. Applicants must:
Scholarships typically range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the specific NASW program and applicant qualifications.
The Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial Scholarship is awarded to master’s-level social work students focusing on health and mental health services in African American communities. To qualify, applicants must:
Recipients receive $2,000 annually to support their education and fieldwork experience.
Several programs fund social work students specializing in child welfare and family services, including:
These scholarships strengthen the workforce serving vulnerable children and families across communities.
The New York State Social Work Education Consortium Scholarship supports students committed to child welfare careers. Eligibility requires:
Recipients may receive tuition assistance and living stipends in exchange for a post-graduation service commitment.
Several programs aim to increase diversity and cultural competency within the social work profession. Examples include:
These awards help ensure that social work professionals reflect and serve the diverse populations they advocate for.
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship, offered through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), assists social work students planning to serve in underserved areas. Benefits include:
This scholarship is ideal for students pursuing careers in clinical or medical social work in shortage areas.
Students planning to specialize in mental health or counseling can apply for targeted programs such as:
These awards help expand access to quality mental health care and strengthen the behavioral health workforce.
Many colleges and universities offer scholarships specifically for social work students. Examples include:
Students should check their institution’s financial aid office or department website for the most current scholarship listings.
To strengthen your application and improve your chances of receiving funding:
Applying to multiple scholarships — both national and school-based — maximizes your chances of funding your education while minimizing student debt.
Fact: While many social work scholarships consider financial need, there are also merit-based awards recognizing academic excellence, leadership, and service impact. Students specializing in areas like mental health, child welfare, community development, and social policy may qualify for targeted scholarships even without financial-need requirements.
Reviewed by CollegeWhale Editorial Team on November, 2025. Content is updated regularly to reflect current scholarship deadlines and verified data from official sources.
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