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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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:
- 10 Best Deals in Online Theology and Christian Studies Degrees
- 20 Best College Deals for Conservative Christians
- Top 20 Deals on Small Colleges in Texas
- Top 50 Best Colleges in Texas
- Top 50 Great Deals on Bachelor’s Degrees Online
- 20 Best Deals on Colleges that Don’t Require SAT