Scholarships for Psychology Majors: Find Funding for Your Degree
- Psychology Scholarships
- Where Else to Find Scholarships
- Scholarship Requirements
- Application Strategy
- Scholarships vs. Other Aid
- Discover scholarships for psychology majors, including undergraduate and graduate options, with details on eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines.
- Psychology scholarships may be merit or identity-based and require a strong GPA, psychology-related coursework, and membership to a professional organization.
- Strategically apply to scholarships you’re eligible for and thoroughly prepare supporting documents like transcripts, essays, and letters of recommendation.
Psychology scholarships can help make your degree more affordable. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), undergraduates received an average of $4,724 in state and local grants and scholarships and $13,050 in institutional grants and scholarships in 2023-2024.
Scholarship opportunities are available to students at all degree levels. Whether you’re pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree, scholarships can help reduce your reliance on student loans.
Keep reading to learn more about psychology scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students, including where to find them, how to apply, and what scholarships might be available to you.
Available Psychology Scholarships
The list below includes undergraduate psychology scholarships and graduate psychology scholarships. Although not exhaustive, this list provides a good starting point for psychology majors looking for scholarships for college.
8 Undergraduate Psychology Scholarships
Sharon Stephens Brehm Undergraduate Psychology Scholarship
- Eligibility: Awarded by the American Psychological Foundation, this scholarship goes to undergraduate students in pursuit of a psychology degree who possess a minimum 3.5 GPA and demonstrate financial need.
- Award Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: July
American Psychology-Law Society Award for Best Undergraduate Paper
- Eligibility: These scholarships go to applicants who submit the top research papers in a topic related to psychology and law. Eligible candidates must be the primary writer and researcher of the submitted work.
- Award Amount: Up to $500
- Deadline: June
Psi Chi Undergraduate Scholarships
- Eligibility: Applicants must be members of Psi Chi, the International Honors Society of Psychology, and in pursuit of an undergraduate degree in psychology.
- Award Amount: $3,000
- Deadline: June
Inez Beverly Prosser Scholarship for Women of Color
- Eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to members of Psi Chi who are women of color and in pursuit of a psychology degree at the undergraduate level.
- Award Amount: $3,000
- Deadline: June
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship
- Eligibility: The NIH awards this scholarship to undergraduate applicants in the biomedical, behavioral, and social science fields. Candidates must also attend university full time, have a minimum 3.3 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and commit to paid service at NIH if selected.
- Award Amount: Up to $20,000
- Deadline: March
Fund for Racial and Ethnic Diversity (FRED) Scholarship for Emerging Scholars
- Eligibility: The APA awards this scholarship to underrepresented undergraduate students of color who plan to pursue graduate study in clinical psychology or psychological research. Applications require proof of enrollment, a resume, and a personal statement.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: July
The “Hope for Healing” Scholarship
- Eligibility: FHE Health offers this scholarship for undergraduate students studying mental health or behavioral health. Application requires enrollment proof and a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Award Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: February
Mental Health Profession Scholarship
- Eligibility: Awarded by the Worldwide Mental Health Foundation, this scholarship is offered to a high school senior or undergraduate who has overcome or is working to overcome a mental health challenge, and who is pursuing a degree in a mental health related field. A 400-600 word essay is required.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: January
10 Graduate Psychology Scholarships
Psi Chi Graduate Scholarships
- Eligibility: Applicants must be members of Psi Chi, the International Honors Society of Psychology, and in pursuit of a graduate degree in psychology.
- Award Amount: $3,000
- Deadline: July
Inez Beverly Prosser Scholarship for Women of Color
- Eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to members of Psi Chi who are women of color and in pursuit of a psychology degree at the graduate level.
- Award Amount: $3,000
- Deadline: July
Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology Graduate Student Scholarships
- Eligibility: The American Psychological Foundation awards these scholarships to graduate students in the process of completing a thesis or dissertation project. Winners will be judged primarily on their research proposals.
- Award Amount: Up to $5,000
- Deadline: June
Navy Psychology Health Professions Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: The U.S. Navy offers a full tuition and stipend scholarship for clinical psychology doctoral students pursuing military service. It requires U.S. citizenship, full-time enrollment, and post-graduation service commitment.
- Award Amount: Full tuition plus a $2,999 monthly stipend
- Deadline: Rolling
Beth N. Rom-Rymer Scholarships
- Eligibility: The American Psychological Foundation awards applicants in a clinical psychopharmacology graduate program. Practicing licensed psychologists may also qualify, and preference goes to candidates working with underserved populations.
- Award Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: February
The Melanie Foundation Scholarship
- Eligibility: Candidates must be enrolled in an accredited doctoral or master’s program in mental health and demonstrate a commitment to the field outside of class, such as through volunteer, research, or professional work.
- Award Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: March
APA Ethics Committee Graduate Student Ethics Writing Competition
- Eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to a member of the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS). Entry requires submission of an empirical or theoretical paper that examines psychology and ethics – a maximum of 25 double-spaced pages, in publishable or near-publishable quality.
- Award Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: March
Association for Psychological Science (APS) Albert Bandura Graduate Research Award
- Eligibility: This award recognizes the best research among Psi Chi members and APS graduate student affiliates. Candidates must be the first author of a publication, have published or presented the publication at a psychology convention in the last calendar year, and have been a graduate student at the time of submission for publication or presentation.
- Award Amount: $1,200, plus a three-year membership in APS and subscriptions to all APS journals
- Deadline: February
Dr. Shuqiao Yao Memorial Scholarship
- Eligibility: Graduate students pursuing psychology or psychiatry may apply for this scholarship honoring Dr. Shuqiao Yao. Applicants of east Asian descent are preferred. Candidates must submit an essay discussing how their background has affected the decision to pursue their chosen field of study
- Award Amount: $2,000
- Deadline: December
Indian Health Service Health Professions Scholarship
- Eligibility: Applicants must be American Indian or Alaska Native graduate or undergraduate students enrolled in a health program. They also need a minimum 2.0 GPA and be committed to serving Indigenous people. Winners must complete a clinical practice commitment after graduation.
- Award Amount: Varies
- Deadline: February
Where Else to Look for Psychology Scholarships
Researching the thousands of scholarships from companies, individuals, nonprofits, and schools requires time and effort. Many candidates find that the best place to explore psychology scholarships is on the American Psychological Association (APA) search page, which lists dozens of opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. Other places to look include college financial aid offices and the U.S. Department of Labor’s free scholarship search tool.
If you’re a high school student, you can start the scholarship discovery process by talking to school counselors, who typically hold extensive knowledge about scholarships. Counselors can offer suggestions about where to find them, when to apply, and how to put together the best application.
Common Requirements for Psychology Scholarships
When applying for psychology scholarships, students usually need to meet several requirements to qualify. Sponsors often set eligibility criteria based on factors like academic achievement, identity, and membership in professional organizations.
The scholarship application process typically requires submission of supporting materials and documentation. Below are examples of possible eligibility and submission criteria.
Application Strategy for Psychology Scholarships
Filling out applications can be time-consuming and hard work, so applicants must strategize about how to apply for psychology scholarships. Degree-seekers can limit their search to scholarships for psychology majors or even those devoted to their specialization or concentration.
Psychology majors can also prioritize applying for scholarships based on aspects of their identity, such as gender, religion, or ethnicity. Other factors that impact which scholarships to apply for include deadlines, award amount, and the difficulty or ease of applying. Students may also want to consider the way scholarships can impact financial aid eligibility and vice versa.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for applying to psychology scholarships:
- Research Scholarships: Look for scholarships offered by educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, private companies, and government organizations.
- Determine Eligibility: Ensure you meet eligibility requirements, including degree level, GPA, field of study, geographic location, or minority status. Also make note of application deadlines.
- Gather Documents: Draft required essays, request recommendation letters, and gather transcripts, if needed. Be sure to proofread all materials.
- Submit Applications: Submit your required materials and required application forms by the deadline. Double check application information for accuracy and completion before submitting.
How Psychology Scholarships Differ from Other Aid
A variety of other types of financial aid for psychology majors can help pay for school, including federal and private loans, work-study, grants, and fellowships. Below, we explain other types of financial aid available for college besides scholarships.
