Scholarships for Bachelor of Social Work Students
- American School Health Association
- John A. Hartford Foundation
- Bethesda Lutheran Communities Service Scholarship
- Carl A. Scott Memorial Fund
- Emma & Meloid Algood Undergraduate Scholarship
Social work is a career path that guarantees lifelong challenge and contribution to the greater social good. The most impactful and lucrative social work career paths require a bachelor’s degree. Many social work hopefuls neglect their dream due to rising costs of higher education. These five scholarships for BSW students are established to turn that dream into reality.
American School Health Association
Most aspiring social workers have an affinity for children, and will end up doing a large portion of their work with children and in school settings. The American School Health Association (ASHA) therefore offers annual scholarships to full-time undergraduate juniors and seniors who can demonstrate a commitment to school social work through their BSW program. Applicants must become student members of the ASHA, which in and of itself will provide valuable academic and career resources. They must demonstrate academic achievement, dedication to the field, and financial need. Awards total about $250.
John A. Hartford Foundation
On the other end of the lifespan, social workers seek to support aging individuals and their families in overcoming their unique challenges and meeting their unique needs. The John A. Hartford Foundation is set up to award BSW students dedicating a portion of their studies and future careers to this population. Applicants are invited to complete projects in one of the Foundations key focus areas: Age-Friendly Health Systems, Family Caregiving, and Serious Illness & End of Life. Annual awards total up to $300,000.
Bethesda Lutheran Communities Service Scholarship
Another goal of social workers is to provide resources to individuals with developmental disabilities. It is highly rewarding to contribute to the process of assisting these people in the the process of building self-sufficient and successful lives. The Bethesda Lutheran Communities Service Scholarship offers up to $10,000 for Lutheran students who demonstrate a commitment to understanding and serving the needs of this population through their studies and future social work careers. There are separate awards for seminary and college students.
Carl A. Scott Memorial Fund
Social workers strive to create social equity and justice. Through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the Carl A. Scott Memorial Fund provides financial support for BSW students entering their final year of studies, who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting this cause. Applicants must also be enrolled full-time and demonstrate academic achievement and financial need. Students who themselves have faced social inequity and injustice are especially encouraged to apply. Number and amount of awards vary annually. Submit a an email to cas@cswe.org to receive answers to questions and additional information. The CSWE offers several other scholarships to assist students throughout their academic journeys.
Emma & Meloid Algood Undergraduate Scholarship
The African-American community faces a particularly difficult set of challenges in achieving social equity and justice. The National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) offers the Emma & Meloid Algood Undergraduate Scholarship to address two issues at once. Applicants must be African American BSW student themselves and also demonstrate a commitment to research promoting social equity and justice for members of the African American community. Awards total $1000. The NABSW offers several other scholarships to assist students throughout their academic journeys.
Related Resource: Top 10 Affordable Master of Social Work Online (MSW) Degrees
Social work is often a field of irony. People enter the field of social work to create social equity and justice. Yet, as a result of rising education costs, the journey there often requires students to overcome social inequity and injustice themselves. These five scholarships for BSW students provide the very assistance to students that they will one day provide to the individuals and communities they will serve.