School of Social Work

Scholarships

School of Social Work students are eligible for several program-specific awards in addition to College of Health Sciences and university scholarships. These awards are made possible by the generosity of donors.

Scholarships may be need-based or merit-based or both and may be geared toward a particular academic level. Undergraduate students must be enrolled full time (12 hours).

Deadlines

Undergraduate students

  • Continuing or transfer students: Feb. 1

Graduate students

  • Fall/Summer awards: Feb. 15
  • Spring awards: Sept. 15

University scholarships and awards

Mizzou offers financial aid and scholarships.

Apply for scholarships

Complete the scholarship application and email it to ssw@missouri.edu.

Open to any Social Work student

One or more annual scholarship awards shall be given to students enrolled in the School of Social Work.

Preference given to students who have an interest in pursuing a career with a Community Mental Health Center providing social work services.

  • One or more annual scholarship awards may be given to students enrolled in the School of Social Work
  • Students who are interested in pursuing medical social work, especially in the area of pediatric and adolescent health, with special interest in the area of chronic health issues such as asthma and allergy
  • One or more annual scholarship awards shall be given to students enrolled in the School of Social Work
  • Preference shall be given to students with an interest in health care and behavioral health.
  • One or more annual scholarship awards shall be given to students enrolled in the School of Social Work.
  • Recipients shall have a demonstrated financial need as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid.
  • In order to assist the University in achieving the benefits of a diverse student body, awards shall be given to minority students.
  • Preference shall be given to students with a mental health social work focus.
  • One or more annual scholarship awards shall be given to students enrolled in the School of Social Work
  • To fund seminars for students, faculty and interested individuals
  • To fund travel assistance for current students to attend important social work conferences.
  • To fund degree completing assistance for students that apply, but do not receive such funds from the university or college
  • Approved expenditures from the fund shall include, but not be limited to, scholarship and/or student awards, lecture series, faculty awards, and general enhancement of the School of Social Work
  • One or more annual scholarship awards may be given to students enrolled in the School of Social Work
  • Preference given to social work students who demonstrate an interest in public health social work.  This includes but is not limited to students who are enrolled in the dual MSW/MPH program, or who are enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Public Health, or who are doing their practicum in a public heath setting.
  • One or more annual scholarship awards shall be given to students enrolled in the School of Social Work
  • Preference shall be given to students with an interest in International studies
  • One or more annual scholarship awards shall be given to students enrolled in the School of Social Work
  • Preference shall be given to students with a demonstrated financial need
  • Aid to worthy students in the study of social work
  • One or more annual awards to students in the School of Social Work
  • Recipients shall be students who are in good standing in the School and who have demonstrated financial need
  • Grade point average and test scores are not important in the selection process. The intention of the donor is to assist students with the greatest degree of financial need.

Undergraduate scholarships

  • One or more annual scholarship awards shall be made to undergraduate students in their Junior or Senior year who are enrolled in the School of Social Work.
  • Need-based scholarship program
    • Recipient will be in the high need category for financial aid.
    • Combined financial adjusted gross income of the student and the student’s family, as reported on FAFSA, must be less than or equal to $40,000/year and
    • the student must have financial need as defined by federal financial aid regulations.
  • One or more annual awards shall be made to undergraduate students in the School of Social Work
  • Must be Missouri resident
  • Preference shall be given to incoming freshmen and/or transferring students who have earned an AA degree prior to enrolling at MU.
  • Award is renewable for up to four years for incoming freshmen and up to two years for transfer students if the recipient continues to meet the criteria and is academically eligible to receive financial assistance.

Undergraduate and graduate student scholarships

  • One or more annual awards to students in the School of Social Work
  • The awards shall be available to undergraduate (preference) or graduate students (MSW)
  • With a preference given to students with disabilities who are pursuing a Social Work career working with individuals with disabilities.
  • One or more annual awards to single mothers who are pursuing bachelor’s or master’s degrees in the School of Social Work
  • One or more annual awards shall be made to undergraduate or graduate students in the School of Social Work
  • Selected recipients shall have an interest in mental health
  • Donors desire that grades, need, community service, extracurricular activities and potential for significant contribution to the field of Social Work be considered when selecting recipients for the scholarship award.
  • One or more annual awards shall be made to students majoring in Social Work.
  • The award shall be given on alternate years to an undergraduate who will receive a BSW and a graduate student who will receive an MSW.
  • The student receiving the undergraduate award shall have completed the first semester of the junior year to be eligible for the award.
  • If there is not a qualified recipient in the undergraduate program in the year designated for an undergraduate award, it may be given to a graduate student. If there is not a qualified recipient in the graduate program in the year that is designated for a graduate award, it may be given to an undergraduate student.
  • Selected recipients shall preferably be from small towns (less than 20,000 population) or rural areas. However, it shall not preclude students with an interest in practice, policy or research in rural areas from receiving this scholarship.
  • Recipients shall exhibit academic excellence and shall be motivated students.
  • One or more annual awards may be made to any undergraduate or graduate student in the School of Social Work who is a member of the MU Association of Christian Social Workers (MUACSW), and exemplifies the goals of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work (MACSW) in integrating Christian faith and professional social work.
  • For as long as the donors wish to be involved, no less than 3 candidates for the award shall be provided to the donors for their input in the ranking of the final recipient.
  • Should the MUACSW cease to exist or cease to be a recognized MU organization, the award may be made to any student in the School of Social Work who exemplifies the goals of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW)

Graduate student scholarships

  • One or more annual fellowship awards shall be made to students pursuing a graduate degree in the School of Social Work.
  • One or more annual scholarship awards shall be given to students enrolled in the Masters Program in the School of Social Work
  • Recipient must have a demonstrated commitment to peace making in all aspects of life, from interpersonal to international, and how alternatives to violence can be developed and maintained in civil society in the 21st century
  • One or more annual awards to graduate students in the School of Social Work
  • Recipients shall exhibit an interest in pursuing positions within the arena of policy, planning and administration related to social welfare and social services.
  • One or more annual awards to a gay or lesbian student in the doctoral program in the School of Social Work who is interested in conducting research on gay/lesbian issues.
  • If there are no gay or lesbian students in the doctoral program, the award shall be given to a gay or lesbian student in the masters program.
  • If there are no gay or lesbian students in either of these graduate programs, the award may be given to a non-gay/lesbian doctoral student who is interested in researching service delivery issues for the gay and lesbian population.
  • One or more annual awards to graduate students in the School of Social Work
  • First preference shall be given to non-traditional students
    • interested in working with children
    • who have shown dedication to helping families.
  • One or more annual fellowship awards to students pursuing a PhD in the School of Social Work with a research and scholarly interest in public service for the chronically mentally ill and/or mentally ill offenders.
  • Preference shall be given to doctoral students whose research focuses on public mental health services for the chronically mentally ill.
  • One or more annual scholarship awards shall be given to graduate students enrolled in the Masters of Social Work Program.
  • One or more annual scholarship awards shall be given to part-time or full-time graduate students enrolled in the School of Social Work.
  • Recipients must show a demonstrated financial need as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid.
  • Recipients must be in good academic standing and not be on academic probation.
  • Additional preference shall be given to students who are particularly interested in helping domestic violence, gun violence or other victims of abuse.

The Kelly Gross Memorial Scholarship was established by the Gross family and well-wishers in memory of Kelly Elizabeth Gross, a MU alumnus who graduated with two social work degrees, a bachelor’s in 2013 and a master’s in 2015.

Kelly was a member of Phi Alpha, the National Honor Society for social work students. She worked at the Neighborhoods by TigerPlace nursing facility and valued empowering her clients and helping them find meaning and dignity. She thought of others before herself, and her kindness and giving spirit was clear to all who knew her. Kelly suffered a debilitating stroke while out of the country in January 2016. Her therapists praised her ongoing positivity and determination, and her efforts were yielding remarkable progress toward regaining her speech and the use of her right hand and leg. She passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 18, 2017.

  • One or more annual awards shall be made to graduate students in the School of Social Work who have demonstrated financial need.
  • Preference shall be given to the non-traditional student.
  • One or more annual scholarship awards shall be given to graduate students pursuing a Masters Degree in Social Work with an interest in the area military social work
  • Preference shall be given to graduate students interested in obtaining the graduate Certificate in Military Social Work and/or doing their practicum in a setting that serves veterans, active military and their families.
  • Recipients shall be graduate students in the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Social Work
  • who have demonstrated academic promise for superior performance in graduate school and
  • who have documented financial need.