For students earning a Bachelor of Social Work, there are many scholarship and fellowship opportunities that can help pay for the cost of education. Typically, the amount of financial support can vary from a couple of hundred dollars to a few thousand.
When searching for scholarships or fellowships, students should pay close attention to the following:
- Eligibility Requirements – Criteria for applying may include but is not limited to GPA, minority status, U.S. citizenship, full-time student status and other. Students must meet all eligibility requirements to be considered.
- Specialties – Since the field of social work covers many different disciplines, funding is often awarded based on specific area of service. For example, Limestone social work students can leverage their practicum experience to be considered for certain scholarships.
Organizations such as the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) offer several funding opportunities for social work students. In addition, students can research scholarships and fellowships offered by a wide range of civic and nonprofit organizations.
Here are a few examples:
Carl A. Scott Memorial Fund Book Scholarship
The Carl A. Scott Memorial Fund awards two scholarships in the amount of $500 to “students who have demonstrated commitment to equality and social justice in social work.” The 2017-2018 application cycle will open in late spring/summer 2017. Students can sign up to get notified once the application cycle is open. As this is a minority scholarship program, students must be African American/Black; American Indian/Alaska Native; Asian; Hispanic/Latino; or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. In addition, students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and be U.S. citizens.
Dr. Alma S. Adams Scholarship
This is a field-specific scholarship offered by Truth Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing teen smoking and encouraging cessation of tobacco use. Per organization’s website, this scholarship is meant for students who can demonstrate “evidence of tobacco related community service in support of an underserved population disproportionally affected by tobacco.” The award is $5,000 and the next deadline is April 30, 2017. For eligibility requirements, check out this scholarship flyer.
The Roothbert Fund
Is your interest in social work motivated by spiritual values? Is your permanent address located in North Carolina? If yes, then the Roothbert Fund Scholarship Program is worth considering. According to its website, the fund “seeks to provide support to persons motivated by spiritual values.” While the Fund has awarded grants to students entering a wide range of careers, some preference is given to those pursuing careers in education. The size of grants ranges between $2,000 and $3,000.