20 Scholarships for Psychology Students to Apply for in 2024
According to the American Psychology Association (APA), in 2013, almost 90% of PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) graduate students were in debt upon graduating from school, and over 60% of Ph.D. (psychology doctoral students) were graduate students.
The median average for PsyD graduate students’ debt was $120,000, which was over twice as significant as the median average for Ph.D. graduate students. This places psychology graduate students at the top of most graduate student debt jobs.
It’s only gotten more expensive in recent years, even though the income for those in private practices such as mental health professionals, counseling, or clinical psychology has stagnated. This is regardless of whether or not they have a psychology degree.
Because of this continuous rise in graduate students’ debt, it’s essential to recognize what psychology scholarships are available for psychology students. These psychology scholarships can relieve the financial stress being placed upon psychology students in the future.
The Challenges of Psychology Students Applying for College
Many graduate students, especially psychology students who apply to graduate programs, have a high amount of debt in student loans.
The main argument for aiming for a psychology degree is that these graduate students will receive degrees that allow them to get jobs that can comfortably pay off their student loans.
The US Department of Education suggests students shouldn’t borrow more than 8% of their projected gross income. However, this is not the case in the field of psychology. When exploring all the loan options, psychology students can have anywhere from $120,000 to $247,000 in average student loan debt.
Psychology Degree Job Wages vs. Loan Debt
That’s anywhere from 100% to over 200% of the average salary with a psychology degree, considering the average salary is between $60,000 and $70,000. This makes it so that the only option for psychology students to make more money and pay off their debt is to take more clients or work more hours. Maybe they could get a job that qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Or, they sign up for an income-driven repayment plan and make payments for the next 20 to 25 years. That seems to be the fate of these psychology students.
Types of Scholarships for Psychology Majors Pursuing Careers
One of the significant benefits of psychology scholarships is that they come from multiple sources—many different types of psychology scholarships. Psychology scholarships are vast and varied. The students pursuing a career in psychology can receive scholarship offers from your college’s psychology department as both undergraduate and graduate students try to obtain psychology scholarships.
Tips for Winning Scholarships for Psychology Majors
When it comes to scholarships that apply to psychology and mental disorders, a tip to winning these scholarships is being able to share your experiences with those disorders or issues. Whether it’s by discussing your mental health or if you have experience with a family member with mental health issues.
Other Scholarships for Psychology Students Pursuing Careers
While there aren’t an infinite amount of scholarships for psychology majors, college students can apply for more general scholarships that can also function as psychology scholarships. These psychology scholarships can be used by undergraduate and graduate students alike. They can apply for science, health, and social awareness psychology scholarships.
Psychology students are good candidates for scholarship awards, including essay scholarships or some other proof of concept, to receive the psychology scholarships’ award. They are also good candidates for community scholarship awards because this is where they discuss the possibility of helping their community with the knowledge they would obtain in college or show examples of them helping their community as undergraduate and graduate students.
Requirements for Scholarships for Psychology Majors
The requirements for the psychology scholarships typically involve the applicant’s GPA being above a certain threshold. In the case of undergraduate applicants, they must show proof of studying psychology majors. For scholarships branded or sponsored by the American Psychology Association (APA), the applicant also has to be a member of the student chapter of the APA.
For specific scholarships that focus on ethnicity or minority relationships, psychology major applicants must belong to an ethnic minority group.
The 20 Best Scholarships for Psychology Majors on Bold.org
Being a college student studying psychology majors and pursuing higher education can be stressful and challenging, especially when considering the financial need for scholarships for psychology and financial aid. Hopefully, with Bold.org‘s 20 psychology majors scholarship opportunities, that need can be a little less stressful.
Marcarelli Community Spirit Scholarship
This scholarship is for seniors in high school in Maryland who have committed to volunteer work. Anyone who has done community-related activities is eligible to apply for this scholarship.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: July 1st, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: July 1st, 2022
Lorraine Belcourt Love in the Community Scholarship
This scholarship applies to any high school or undergraduate students in North Dakota.
If the high school or undergraduate students have experience giving back to their community through volunteering, non-profit work, or other community services, they are eligible for this scholarship. Likewise, students may also qualify if they pursue a public service career involving psychology, such as clinical research or graduate study.
- Award Amount: $500
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: December 1st, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: December 31st, 2022
Bold Community Activist Scholarship
For all psychology majors who have experience conducting volunteer work on an active basis and are interested in helping their local communities, this psychology scholarship aims to offer financial support to college students who need financial aid. To apply, psychology majors must write a concise essay detailing how they have positively affected their local community.
- Award Amount: $500
- 150-300 Word Essay Deadline: July 13th, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: August 13th, 2022
WiseGeek Community Service no-essay Scholarship
A scholarship for those trying to help their communities and psychologists with experience conducting volunteer work.
- Award Amount: $500
- Deadline: August 16th, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: September 16th, 2022
“A Bold Mind” Psychology no-essay Scholarship
This scholarship is for psychology majors who are deeply interested in psychology and wish to pursue an education. The scholarship winner will not be announced until 2023, which makes this an excellent scholarship opportunity for current high school students or those partaking in a gap year.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: June 30th, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: July 30th, 2023
Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
This scholarship is for any educational level in any field as long as they have had some form of personal experience with mental health, whether it be their mental health or the mental health of a friend.
“Students applying to the scholarship will be required to write an essay about how their experience with mental health has influenced their beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations.”
- Award Amount: $500
- 500-1000 Word Essay Deadline: October 30th, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: November 30th, 2022
Jimmy Cardenas Community Leader Scholarship
This scholarship is for those in the state of Texas who are undergraduate students looking to pursue a career that will help them apply to serve their community.
- Award Amount: $500
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: November 22nd, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: December 31st, 2022
Mental Health Matters Scholarship
A scholarship is for students of any educational level that hold a 2.5 GPA or higher, have a history of combating mental health issues, and have proven themselves to be leaders within their communities despite these personal mental health challenges.
- Award Amount: $500
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: September 1st, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: September 30th, 2022
Bold Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
“The Bold Mental Health Awareness Scholarship will support one student who is struggling with mental health or is passionate about helping others who struggle with mental health.”
This does not require the applicant to take specific mental health and psychology courses or be a psychology major. Still, for any military veterans interested in the field, this is an excellent scholarship to apply for.
- Award Amount: $500
- 250-300 Word Essay Deadline: June 24th, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: July 24th, 2022
First-Year College Students: Jennie Gilbert Daigre Education Scholarship
This scholarship isn’t for admission but for undergraduate students who need financial aid to help buy textbooks that can help college students pursue careers.
“Undergraduate students at 2-year or 4-year institutions are eligible to apply.”
- Award Amount: $500
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: September 1st, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: September 30th, 2022
“A Daring Path” No-Essay Scholarship
This is a no-essay scholarship for qualifying students willing to take chances and won’t allow their fears to control them in pursuing their dreams. If the applicant is a bold person who wishes to get the most out of life, this is the scholarship.
“The scholarship is open to all students and non-students from any field of study.”
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: October 30th, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: November 30th, 2022
Rising Scholarship
Unlike other scholarship opportunities, this is for any female graduating high school senior in Illinois. The organization Her Rising Initiative, which funds this scholarship, wishes to help create an environment where young female students’ voices can be heard, and their ambitions can be met.
- Award Amount: $500
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: September 1st, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: October 1st, 2022
ESOF Academic Scholarship
This scholarship is for African American students looking to enter a historically black college or university (HBCU). Applicants need at least a 3.0 GPA to be eligible to apply for this scholarship.
“To apply, tell us about your future goals and commitment to public or civic service.” This type of scholarship is for outstanding graduate students pursuing a career in psychology or civic services.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- 500-1000 Word Essay Deadline: June 19th, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: July 19th, 2022
David L. Burns Memorial Scholarship
A memorial scholarship that is meant to support those in Missouri. Specifically to help those dedicated to helping those who have struggled with a sense of addiction. Students who are entering fields focused on assisting the physical and mental health of others are eligible to apply.
“These fields could be nursing, counseling/mental health, social work, or other similar careers.”
- Award Amount: $2,550
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: November 1st, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: December 1st, 2022
Peter T. Buecher Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is aimed at students within Minnesota who wish to use their knowledge to ‘enrich’ their community.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: May 1st, 2023
- Winners Announcement Date: June 1st, 2023
Francis “Slip” Madigan Scholarship
This scholarship is for first-generation students when it comes to college who are currently high school seniors and reside in Massachusetts. So, for any first-generation athletes whose families didn’t have the resources to attend college, this is an excellent scholarship to apply for.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: September 1st, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: September 30th, 2022
#FinancialFreedom No-Essay Scholarship
A scholarship that doesn’t require an essay to be submitted is for an ambitious graduate student who doesn’t have the financial means to pursue higher education even though they have the drive to do so. This scholarship opportunity will also help undergraduate, and graduate students pursue careers in their related fields.
“The scholarship is open to all high school, undergraduate, and graduate school students and non-students from any field of study.”
- Award Amount: $500
- Deadline: October 30th, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: November 30th, 2022
Texas Women Empowerment Scholarship
This is a scholarship based in Texas for Texas students in the hopes of creating a better balance for women in education.
It’s also trying to support the students’ educational goals by alleviating any financial burdens that graduate student and their families may be forced to bear while pursuing higher education.
Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be eligible for application, mainly for those who want to pursue careers in political science, public health, medicine, or any related fields.
- Award Amount: $4,000
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: October 1st, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: November 1st, 2022
Frantz Barron Scholarship
This is a scholarship for any low-income, male, Black, first-generation college student pursuing higher education. This scholarship supports those who need financial assistance to continue their education.
“Any first-generation, low-income, high-achieving, male, high school senior in New Jersey may apply for this scholarship.”
- Award Amount: $1000
- 400-600 Word Essay Deadline: September 1st, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: September 30th, 2022
ProjectGiveBack Scholarship for Black Women
This scholarship is designated for Black women. It’s about giving back to the Black community and minority students, so if the applicant has any volunteering or work experience, they have a good chance of earning the scholarship.
“…To apply, please submit a 2-minute video discussing how your goals/aspirations align with the spirit of ProjectGiveBack.”
- Award Amount: $2,000
- 500-1000 Word Essay Deadline: July 26th, 2022
- Winners Announcement Date: August 26th, 2022
FAQs About Psychology Scholarships
Scholarship programs, grants, and fellowships can offer financial aid to psychology doctoral students, graduate psychology students, and minority students are pursuing a doctoral or master’s degree in psychology.
Finding psychology scholarship programs, financial aid opportunities, and program awards that can help ease the financial aid needs of graduate-level students and college students can be a little confusing. Here are some frequently asked questions about college scholarships, financial aid opportunities, and where to find the best scholarships for psychology.
Are Psychology scholarships legit?
Psychology scholarships are legit, as are any scholarships that apply to mental issues, mental disorders, etc. These scholarships often are tied to those who either have mental health issues or have experience working with and being around those who have mental health issues.
How can I improve my chances of winning Autism scholarships?
You can improve your chances by taking your time with your essays. Psychology scholarships often require written sections, and taking your time with those written sections is essential. It convinces the scholarship managers that you will use the opportunity given to you effectively.
How many Psychology scholarships can you get?
As many as there are available, there is no limit to the amount of psychology or mental disability scholarships you can apply for or accept.
Are Psychology scholarships taxable income?
Yes, psychology and mental disability scholarships are taxable income. The general rule for scholarships being taxable income is that if the grants or scholarships are for research, teaching, housing, or food, they are taxable.
What’s the best way to apply for Psychology scholarships?
By checking the requirements for the scholarship and making sure that you have the best essays, do your research on who is funding the scholarship. If the person sponsoring the scholarship has specific preferences in who they give it to, that’s also something to account for.
