Great Scholarships for Marriage & Family Therapy

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Affording master’s or doctoral tuition after funding four undergraduate years can be tough without aid from MFT scholarships.

Degrees in marriage and family therapy are valuable. They help develop the counseling skills to resolve issues affecting relationships, such as:

  • addiction
  • anxiety
  • infidelity
  • child behavioral disorders

There are over 110 COAMFTE-accredited programs. They train mental health practitioners for the in-demand Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist credential. The BLS projects that 10-year job growth will surpass 15 percent for at least 5,000 LMFT new jobs nationwide. Marriage and family therapists can open private practices or work in:

  • hospitals
  • outpatient centers
  • clinics
  • residential care facilities
  • school systems.

Keep your vocational calling in reach financially by perusing the following 20 MFT scholarships for graduate school.

Ranking the Top MFT Scholarships for Marriage and Family Therapy Students

1. AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program

Deadline: January 31st

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Research & Education Foundation hosts the Minority Fellowship Program. The annual award provides stipends from $6,600 to $36,000 as well as lifetime mentoring to master’s and doctoral students of color. Eligibility criteria includes:

  • enrolling full-time or part-time for an accredited MFT degree
  • being U.S. citizens or permanent residents
  • having AAMFT membership
  • showing commitment to serving ethnic minority populations.
Contact

AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program

112 South Alfred Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 838-9808

foundation@aamft.org

Scholarship Link

2. Clinton E. Phillips Scholarship Fund

Deadline: January 5th

The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists offer the Clinton E. Phillips Scholarship Fund. It gifts $4,000 yearly in honor of a therapy pioneer who led the American Institute of Family Relations. Qualified members must:

  • be U.S. citizens living in California
  • attend a COAMFTE-accredited graduate school
  • pursue a master’s or doctorate in marriage or family therapy
  • display high academic achievement
  • participate actively in community service.
Contact

Clinton E. Phillips Scholarship Fund

7901 Raytheon Road

San Diego, CA 92111

(858) 292-2638

scholarships@camft.org

Scholarship Link

3. Courtland C. Lee Multicultural Excellence Scholarship

Deadline: December 5th

Valued at $2,500, The Courtland C. Lee Multicultural Excellence Scholarship is awarded yearly by the American Counseling Association Foundation. It’s valued at $2,500. It recognizes graduate students majoring in clinical mental health, school, or marriage and family counseling for counselor education. Eligible current or prospective PhD candidates must:

  • be affiliated with accredited U.S. colleges
  • have academic merit
  • display excellence in multicultural practice

There’s also the Tomorrow’s Counselor Essay Competition.

Contact

Courtland C. Lee Multicultural Excellence Scholarship

6101 Stevenson Avenue

Alexandria, VA 22304

(703) 823-9800

membership@counseling.org

Scholarship Link

4. Eugene R. Bonynge Memorial Scholarship

Deadline: July 31st

The Woodland Center sponsors the Eugene R. Bonynge Memorial Scholarship. The $1,000 award  supports graduate students from west-central Minnesota. They must be studying behavioral sciences, including marriage and family therapy. Applications are only accepted from the counties of:

  • Chippewa
  • Kandiyohi
  • Lac Qui Parle
  • Meeker
  • Renville
  • Swift

Other criteria includes:

  • enrolling full-time in accredited master’s or doctoral training
  • carrying a 3.0 GPA or better
  • being dedicated to rural mental health practice.
Contact

Eugene R. Bonynge Memorial Scholarship

517 North 17th Street

P.O. Box 187

Montevideo, MN 56265

(320) 269-6581

Scholarship Link

5. Future Counselors of America Scholarship

Deadline: June 30th

Marriage and family majors are ideal candidates for the $1,000 Future Counselors of America Scholarship. It’s gifted by the website DatingAdvice.com yearly. It’s designed for United States bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral students. They must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater and plan to practice relationship counseling. Online application instructions include submitting an original essay between 500 and 900 words about psychological issues unique to online dating.

Contact

Future Counselors of America Scholarship

15 SE First Avenue Suite B

Gainesville, FL 32601

(888) 217-5962

contact@datingadvice.com

Scholarship Link

6. Gallagher Health Careers Scholarship

Deadline: May 5th

The Gallagher Health Careers Scholarship receives over 300 applications yearly for the competitive $7,500 prize. Qualified candidates must:

  • be college seniors entering their final two semesters
  • attend accredited U.S. colleges on-campus
  • have a 3.0 GPA or higher
  • work towards a bachelor’s degree in healthcare fields

Previous winners have majored in:

  • music therapy
  • child development
  • psychology
  • marriage and family therapy
  • nursing
Contact

Gallagher Health Careers Scholarship

500 Victory Road

Quincy, MA 02171

(617) 770-9889

info@gallagherstudent.com

Scholarship Link

7. Heartland Counseling Center Scholarship

Deadline: July 1st

The Heartland Counseling Center offers a $1,000 scholarship to master’s-level students. They must be attending Missouri universities full-time for CACREP-accredited education in:

  • mental health counseling
  • marriage and family counseling
  • community counseling

Accepted schools include:

  • Missouri State
  • Southeast Missouri State
  • Truman State
  • Central Methodist
  • Webster

For consideration, submit an original essay between 1,500 and 2,500 words about how social media affects relationships.

Contact

Heartland Counseling Center Scholarship

2909 Independence Street

Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

(573) 803-1246

info@HeartlandCounselingCenter.com

Scholarship Link

8. Jewell L. Taylor Graduate Fellowship

Deadline: January 9th

The American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences awards the Jewell L. Taylor Graduate Fellowship for $5,000. It’s to help fund full-time, graduate-level study in family and consumer sciences or closely related fields. This includes as marriage and family therapy. Interested AAFCS members must:

  • be U.S. citizens or nationals
  • attend accredited graduate schools
  • excel academically with a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • display leadership capacity
  • attach at least two recommendations
Contact

Jewell L. Taylor Graduate Fellowship

400 N. Columbus Street Suite 202

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 706-4600

awards@aafcs.org

Scholarship Link

9. Josie Torralba Romero Scholarship

Deadline: April 1st

The Josie Torralba Romero Scholarship is named after the National Latino Behavioral Health Association’s first President. It provides $1,000 for Hispanic students from New Mexico who are studying behavioral science majors like:

  • psychology
  • substance abuse
  • marriage and family therapy

To qualify, Latinos must:

  • engage in full-time study with 12+ credits
  • attend accredited U.S. colleges
  • complete at least 24 volunteer hours
  • file the FAFSA form
  • submit two academic references
Contact

Josie Torralba Romero Scholarship

1155 University Blvd. SE

Albuquerque, NM 87106

(505) 980-5156

admin@nlbha.org

Scholarship Link

10. Lindsey Hoskins & Associates Scholarship

Deadline: January 1st

Lindsey Hoskins & Associates is a Maryland-based couples therapy clinic. It presents a $500 scholarship yearly to inspire the next generation of mental health practitioners. Eligible U.S. bachelor’s or master’s students must be enrolled full-time in:

  • marriage and family therapy
  • counseling
  • art therapy
  • pastoral counseling
  • clinical social work
  • or related majors

Emailed applications must include three 250-word short answer responses detailing your career goals and interests in relational therapy.

Contact

Lindsey Hoskins & Associates Scholarship

4905 Del Ray Avenue Suite 301

Bethesda, MD 20814

(240) 752-7650

hello@lindseyhoskins.com

Scholarship Link

11. NBCC Foundation Rural Scholarship

Deadline: November 15th

The National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation offers nine potential scholarships for marriage & family therapy. These include the $8,000 Rural Scholarship. This merit-based program selects graduate students who:

  • are pursuing CACREP-accredited master’s degrees
  • live in rural communities identified by the HRSA
  • are committed to earning board certification
  • are building careers with under-served rural populations

Also consider the Foundation’s Military Scholarship, GDCF Scholarship, and Minority Fellowship.

Contact

NBCC Foundation Rural Scholarship

3 Terrace Way

Greensboro, NC 27403

(336) 232-0376

foundation@nbcc.org

Scholarship Link

12. Paul L. Walker Merit Scholarships

Deadline: May 1st

As one of the few MFT full tuition scholarships, the Paul L. Walker Merit Scholarships are awarded to six incoming students at Richmont Graduate University. They must be earning the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. Eligible M.A. applicants must:

  • carry a minimum undergrad GPA of 3.5
  • present GRE scores of 1200 or better
  • exhibit maturity in Christian service
  • have research competence
  • study full-time in Atlanta or Chattanooga
Contact

Paul L. Walker Merit Scholarships

1900 The Exchange SE

Atlanta, GA 30339

(423) 648-2668

rshellabarger@richmont.edu

Scholarship Link

13. Roy Scrivner Memorial Research Grant

Deadline: November 1st

Worth $11,500 total, the Roy Scrivner Memorial Research Grant is offered by the American Psychological Association. It’s awarded annually to post-graduates conducting empirical research applying to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender family therapy. Chosen behavioral science students must:

  • be endorsed by accredited U.S. institutions
  • have academic and research merit
  • show strong commitment to LGBT relational issues

A maximum seven-page proposal is required with:

  • a budget
  • advisor reference
  • IRB approval
Contact

Roy Scrivner Memorial Research Grant

750 First Street NE

Washington, DC 20002

(202) 336-5843

foundation@apa.org

Scholarship Link

14. Ryo and Jean Komae Scholarship

Deadline: February 20th

The Asian American Christian Counseling Service offers the Ryo and Jean Komae Scholarship. It honors two second-generation Japanese-Americans who owned Gardena Pharmacy and taught in the LA Unified School District. Eligible are graduate applicants earning a COAMFTE-accredited marriage and family therapy degree in the counties of:

  • Los Angeles
  • Orange
  • San Bernardino

Other requirements include:

  • having Asian heritage
  • attaining a minimum B average
  • professing the Christian faith
  • agreeing to 15+ volunteer hours
Contact

Ryo and Jean Komae Scholarship

2550 W. Main Street Suite 202

Alhambra, CA 91801

(626) 457-2900

scholarship@aaccs.org

Scholarship Link

15. Sandra Koscielniak Graduate Scholarship

Deadline: September 22nd

The Sandra Koscielniak Graduate Scholarship awards $1,000 from the Association of Illinois Township Committees on Youth. The annual award is help master’s students studying:

  • social work
  • psychology
  • counseling
  • family therapy
  • recreation

Accepted applicants must:

  • enroll at least half-time in graduate education
  • choose careers focused on youth
  • have previous work experience with children or families
  • display leadership attributes
  • provide a 100-word personal essay
Contact

Sandra Koscielniak Graduate Scholarship

313 Gale Street

Aurora, IL 60506

(630) 859-7501

scholarships@aitcoy.org

Scholarship Link

16. Stella Harper McNeil Scholarship

Deadline: February 15th

The College of Education and Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi offers the Stella Harper McNeil Scholarship. It’s for $500 to $1,500 annually to full-time female undergrad or graduate students. Women should be earning the:

  • B.S. in Child and Family Studies
  • B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences
  • M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy
  • or M.S. in Early Childhood Intervention

They must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better and show good citizenship.

Contact

Stella Harper McNeil Scholarship

118 College Drive #5035

Hattiesburg, MS 39406

(601) 266-4679

Scholarship Link

17. Sweeney LeBlanc Scholarship Fund

Deadline: February 1st

The College of Health and Social Sciences at San Francisco State University manages the Sweeney LeBlanc Scholarship Fund. The annual $1,000 award is for students pursuing the Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health or Marriage, Family & Child Counseling. Suitable applicants must:

  • enroll for 7+ units per semester
  • maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA
  • have verifiable counseling/human services experience
  • be dedicated to serving African American communities.
Contact

Sweeney LeBlanc Scholarship Fund

1600 Holloway Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94132

(415) 338-2005

rwill@sfsu.edu

Scholarship Link

Marriage and family therapy made CNN Money’s list of the “100 Best Jobs in America.” The  median salary is $56,800 and top pay is $120,000. Graded A for benefit to society, MFT is a gratifying, in-demand “helping” profession devoted to keeping families strong through trying times. Managing your own stress with 6+ years of tuition bills can be hard though. Aspiring therapists need to create broad financial aid packages with free funds to navigate around debt. Along with these 20 scholarships for marriage & family therapy, consider the NHSC Loan Repayment Program.

GCD Staff

Related:

This concludes our listing of the top MFT scholarships available.

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