Psychology students can find scholarships through professional organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Psychological Foundation (APF), and Psi Chi, the psychology honor society, plus state psychological associations and department-level awards. Options exist at every degree level, from undergraduate merit scholarships to doctoral dissertation grants. Most require a straightforward application: transcripts, a personal statement, and sometimes a faculty recommendation.
Psychology is one of the most popular undergraduate majors in the country, but that popularity doesn’t make it cheap. Among undergraduates who received any financial aid, the average amount was $14,100. Among graduate students who received aid, the average was $25,300, including an average assistantship value of $18,800, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. That’s real money, but general financial aid isn’t psychology-specific, and it rarely covers the full cost on its own.
This guide covers scholarships, grants, and fellowships built specifically for psychology students, organized by degree level. You’ll find named programs with real award amounts, the professional organizations that run the largest funding databases, and the questions students most often ask when they start looking. Award amounts, deadlines, and even whether a program is accepting applications in a given year can all change, so treat every figure here as a starting point and confirm current details on the sponsor’s official page before you apply.
Use the links below to jump to funding by degree level, the major psychology-specific databases, state and specialty awards, and how to apply strategically.
- Find undergraduate psychology scholarships
- Find funding for a master’s in psychology
- Fund a PhD or PsyD in psychology
- Search the APA, APF, and APAGS databases
- Check your state psychological association
- Find specialty and diversity-focused awards
- Understand scholarships vs. grants vs. fellowships
- Apply strategically
Scholarships for Undergraduate Psychology Students
Undergraduate psychology scholarships tend to reward a mix of GPA, financial need, and involvement in the field through organizations like Psi Chi. A few of the most established national options:
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility Highlights | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psi Chi Undergraduate Scholarship | $3,000 (8 awarded annually) | Psi Chi member, declared or intended psychology major | June 30 (annual) |
| APA Sharon Stephens Brehm Undergraduate Psychology Scholarship | $5,000-$5,500 each, 7-8 awarded annually (sources conflict on exact figures—confirm before publishing) | Minimum 3.5 GPA, demonstrated financial need | July 10 (annual) |
| NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program | Up to $20,000/year, renewable up to 2 additional years (3 years total) | Financial need, 3.3 GPA, commitment to a biomedical, behavioral, or social science research career; includes paid NIH summer research | Applications typically open in late fall; check the current cycle |
| APA Summer Undergraduate Psychology Experience in Research (SUPER) Fellowship | $4,000 to the student plus $1,000 to the faculty mentor (up to 25 awarded annually) | Undergraduate leading a faculty-supervised research project; minimum 9 weeks at 20+ hours/week in the lab | March 1 (annual) |
The SUPER Fellowship is worth a close look if you’re weighing a research-heavy graduate path later. Leading your own project as an undergraduate, with a paid stipend, is a rare opportunity that strengthens a doctoral application considerably.
Beyond national awards, check your own department. Many psychology departments run their own scholarships funded by alumni or faculty, often with light eligibility requirements like “declared psychology major with a 3.0 GPA.” Your financial aid office can point you to these even if they never show up in a national search. If you’re still deciding on a bachelor’s degree in psychology, it’s worth comparing program cost alongside these funding options, including affordable small colleges with strong psychology programs.
Funding for Master’s and Graduate Psychology Students
Master’s-level funding shifts toward professional and clinical training, especially for counseling and school psychology tracks.
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility Highlights | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Melanie Foundation Scholarship | $2,500 | Graduate mental health program accredited by ACGME, APA, CACREP, CSWE, or COAMFTE | March 5 (annual) |
| Psi Chi Graduate Research Grants | Up to $1,500 | Psi Chi member, original empirical research with a faculty mentor | February 1 and October 15 (two annual cycles) |
| NASP Deborah Crockett Scholarship Program | $5,000 | Specialist-level school psychology program, financial need or first-generation student, minimum 3.0 GPA (formerly the NASP-ERT Minority Scholarship) | Varies by cycle |
If you’re headed toward a master’s degree in psychology, especially in school psychology, ask your program directly about assistantships before you rely on outside scholarships. Many master’s programs, especially in counseling and school psychology, offer paid graduate assistantships that cover tuition in exchange for teaching or research support. It’s also worth reviewing affordable school psychology degree programs alongside these awards.
Doctoral, PhD, and PsyD Funding
Doctoral funding looks different from undergraduate scholarships. Research-focused PhD programs often fund students through assistantships: a tuition waiver plus a monthly stipend in exchange for teaching or research work. PsyD programs, which are more clinical and practice-based, are less likely to offer full funding, which is part of why costs vary so widely between the two paths. Comparing affordable clinical psychology PhD and PsyD programs alongside the funding below can narrow the field considerably.
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility Highlights | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| APF/COGDOP Graduate Student Scholarships | $2,000 to $5,000 (21 awarded annually) | Enrolled or intending to enroll in a psychology doctoral program, department nomination required | June 26 (annual) |
| APA Dissertation Research Award | Up to $5,000 (up to 15 awarded annually) | Doctoral candidate with an approved dissertation proposal | March 1 (annual) |
| APF Visionary Grants | 10 grants of up to $20,000 | Graduate student or early-career researcher (within 10 years post-PhD) at an educational, scientific, or nonprofit institution | Multiple cycles annually—closed for 2026, confirm current dates |
Before you compare PhD and PsyD programs, ask every program directly what percentage of students receive full funding and what the typical stipend covers. That single question tells you more about real cost than any published tuition figure.
APA, APF, and APAGS: Where to Start Your Search
Three organizations run the largest psychology-specific funding databases, and all three are free to search.
- APA Awards, Grants, and Scholarships search – A searchable database covering undergraduate through postdoctoral funding, filterable by topic, sponsor, and deadline.
- APAGS Scholarships, Grants, and Awards – The American Psychological Association of Graduate Students maintains this page specifically for graduate-level funding, including diversity-focused awards such as the Kenneth and Mamie Clark Award.
- APF Program Match Tool – The American Psychological Foundation’s database lets you filter by eligibility, topic, and program type, and order results by deadline.
Start with these three before searching general scholarship databases. They’re built specifically for psychology, so you’ll spend less time filtering out awards you don’t qualify for.
State Psychological Association Scholarships
Most states have a psychological association that offers its own student scholarships, and many require membership in the association to apply. That’s less of a barrier than it sounds. Student membership dues are often reduced or waived for the first year.
Award size and rules vary a lot by state. Tennessee’s Behavioral Health Pathways Scholarship, for example, offers up to $30,000 over two years (capped at $15,000 per academic year) for master’s students in psychology, counseling, social work, and related behavioral health fields, in exchange for a commitment to work in Tennessee after graduation. As of this writing, the program is closed to new applications and periodically reopens when new funding is appropriated, so check the current status before counting on it. Other states offer smaller annual awards through their psychological association’s student division. Contact your state association directly, and check your own state’s licensing requirements at the same time, since funding and licensure planning go hand in hand. This is one of the most overlooked funding sources because it rarely shows up in national scholarship searches.
Specialty and Diversity-Focused Awards
Several established awards target specific populations or subfields within psychology.
| Award | Amount | Focus | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| APA Minority Fellowship Program | Varies by sub-program | Graduate students and postdocs from underrepresented groups, with a focus on mental health and substance use | Varies |
| APF Beth N. Rom-Rymer Travel Scholarship | $1,000 (5 awarded annually) | Native graduate students attending the APA convention | Varies by cycle—closed for 2026 |
| Elizabeth Munsterberg Koppitz Child Psychology Graduate Fellowship | 5 fellowships of $20,800 | Doctoral candidates researching child psychology (post-qualifying exams, one nominee per institution) | Varies by cycle—closed for 2026 |
Scholarships vs. Grants vs. Fellowships vs. Loans
These four terms get used interchangeably, but they work differently. Knowing the difference helps you target the right search.
- Scholarships – Merit or identity-based awards that don’t need to be repaid. Most undergraduate psychology awards fall here.
- Grants – Usually need-based, and sometimes tied to a specific project or research goal rather than general tuition.
- Fellowships – Common at the graduate level. They provide funding, often with a stipend, without requiring teaching or research work in return.
- Assistantships – A tuition waiver plus a stipend in exchange for teaching or research duties. This is how most funded PhD programs cover costs.
- Loans – Federal or private borrowing that must be repaid. Filing the FAFSA is still worth doing even if you’re pursuing merit scholarships, since it’s also the gateway to federal grants and work-study.
How to Apply Strategically
Applying to every scholarship you can find wastes time. A more effective approach:
- Match eligibility before you write anything. Read the requirements first. A 3.5 GPA cutoff or a specific accreditation requirement will disqualify you instantly, so check before investing hours in an essay.
- Keep a master personal statement. Write one strong draft explaining your interest in psychology and your goals, then customize it for each application instead of starting over each time.
- Track deadlines in one place. Many graduate-level awards, like the APF/COGDOP scholarships, have deadlines tied to the academic calendar rather than the calendar year.
- Ask early for recommendation letters. Faculty write a lot of these. Give them at least three weeks’ notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there scholarships specifically for psychology majors?
Yes. Organizations including the APA, APF, and Psi Chi all run scholarships restricted to psychology students, at every level from undergraduate to doctoral. Many psychology departments also offer their own smaller, less competitive awards, which are worth checking with your financial aid office.
Does psychology count as STEM for scholarship eligibility?
It depends on the sponsor and sometimes on how your specific school classifies the major. The National Science Foundation recognizes psychology as a STEM field. Still, not every college or university codes its psychology program that way internally, which can affect eligibility for STEM-designated scholarships. Always check a scholarship’s specific eligibility language rather than assuming psychology qualifies.
What’s the difference between a scholarship and a research assistantship?
A scholarship is typically a one-time or renewable award based on merit, need, or identity, and it doesn’t require work in return. A research assistantship is a job: you receive a stipend and often a tuition waiver in exchange for research or teaching duties. Most funded PhD programs rely on assistantships rather than scholarships to cover the bulk of a student’s costs.
Do clinical, counseling, or school psychology students qualify for different awards than general psychology majors?
Often, yes. Some of the largest awards, such as the Melanie Foundation Scholarship and the NASP Deborah Crockett Scholarship Program, are restricted to students in accredited clinical, counseling, or school psychology programs. If you’re in one of these tracks, search for awards tied to your program’s accrediting body (APA, CACREP, CSWE, COAMFTE, or NASP) in addition to general psychology scholarships.
Key Takeaways
- Start with the big three – APA’s awards search, APAGS, and the APF Program Match Tool cover more psychology-specific funding than any general scholarship database.
- Funding changes by degree level – undergraduate awards reward GPA and involvement, while doctoral funding often comes through assistantships rather than scholarships.
- State associations are underused – membership is often discounted for students, and state-level awards rarely show up in national searches.
- Match eligibility before applying – accreditation and GPA requirements will disqualify you fast, so read the fine print first.
- File the FAFSA regardless – it’s the gateway to federal grants and work-study, even if your main funding comes from merit scholarships.
Select your state below to find accredited psychology programs, application links, and program-specific financial aid information for your jurisdiction.