If you want a counseling master's degree to make a difference in people's lives but are discouraged by the costs of graduate school, that would make perfect sense.
Graduate school is expensive. Our research shows that, on average, graduate degrees cost nearly $44,000 per year. You not only pay tuition but also various fees — plus the lost income from being out of the workforce.
Fortunately, you can apply for scholarships to reduce the cost of your graduate education. Filling out the FAFSA is one way to apply for scholarships. You can also find internal or external scholarships at your school or via various independent organizations. Keep reading to find scholarship opportunities for master's in counseling students.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Scholarships for Master's in Counseling Students
CAMFT Educational Foundation Scholarships and Grants
Who's eligible? You must be a graduate student pursuing a family and therapy counseling degree. Other requirements vary between each scholarship and grant opportunity, but you must demonstrate financial need and have good academic standing in your program.
Deadline:April 1, 2026
Award amount: Varies
Vet Center Scholarship Program
Who's eligible? The Vet Center Scholarship Program is designed to fund two years of graduate studies for students pursuing a marriage and family therapist or mental health counseling degree.
Deadline:Rolling
Award amount: Varies
The Melanie Foundation Scholarship
Who's eligible? To apply for this award, you must be enrolled in an accredited graduate program in the mental health field in the United States.
Deadline:March 5, 2026
Award amount: $2,500
Harry and Susanne Clay Scholarship
Who's eligible? You must enroll in a graduate school counseling program to apply for this award. This annual scholarship is designed to contribute towards tuition or books.
Deadline:Varies
Award amount: $2,000
Naja Scholarship
Who's eligible? The Naja Scholarship requires you to be a graduate student in counseling or a related field. You must have plans to work with children.
Deadline:February 1, 2026
Award amount: Varies
APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology
Who's eligible? You must have experience serving an underserved population to qualify for this award. Alternatively, you can demonstrate that you've developed an innovative method for delivering psychological services to an underserved population.
Deadline:June 1, 2025
Award amount: $1,000
Services for Transition Age Youth Fellowship
Who's eligible? You must be a U.S. citizen committed to working with young people of color to apply to this fellowship program. Full-time enrollment in a master's in psychology program in the same department as an APA-accredited doctoral program is also an application requirement.
Deadline:January 15, 2026
Award amount: $13,000
Psi Chi Graduate Scholarships
Who's eligible? The Psi Chi Graduate Scholarship is open to graduate students who are members of the Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology.
Deadline:July 7, 2025
Award amount: $3,000
NBCC Minority Fellowship Program
Who's eligible? The NBCC Minority Fellowship is open to minority master's students in addictions and mental health counseling. After graduation, winners must commit to two years of service to their target population.
Deadline:September 30, 2025
Award amount: Varies
Cheryl Hamel School Counseling Scholarship
Who's eligible? You must be pursuing a master's in school counseling at West Chester University with a minimum 3.5 GPA. You must also have completed at least nine credits. You can apply for this scholarship as a full-time or part-time graduate student.
Deadline:April 13, 2025
Award amount: Varies
OSCA Graduate Student Scholarship
Who's eligible? This scholarship opportunity is open to Ohio-based master's school counselor program students. You must have completed at least six semester hours of graduate work and maintain an active student membership with the OCSA.
Deadline:April 30, 2025
Award amount: $1,000
Financial Aid for Graduate Counseling Students
As mentioned, you can complete the FAFSA to find various forms of financial aid, including student loans, grants, and scholarships. The FAFSA determines your eligibility for these awards as well as work-study programs.
While you'll have to pay back loans with interest, you won't need to repay grants or scholarships. And the money you earn from workstudy is yours to keep.
As a master's in counseling student, you should also explore field-specific grants and scholarships offered by the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American Psychological Association (APA), and similar professional organizations.
You can also apply for regional and demographic-based scholarships that match your cultural background. Ensure you apply early to meet deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling Scholarships
You can find general counseling scholarships open to most counseling students. These scholarship opportunities may, however, focus on certain specialties, like school or addiction counseling, or child or trauma therapy.
You may also be eligible for specific demographic scholarships, such as those targeted toward low-income students. Demographic scholarships may focus on individuals from a certain ethnic, gender, or veteran status group.
