Tuition and Scholarships

To help address Washington’s persistent behavioral health workforce challenges, Seattle University's Clinical MSW Program is a partner in the Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative (WDI). With a generous gift from Ballmer Group, the WDI provides two-year grants to master’s students (and one-year grants to Advanced Standing MSW students) in accredited clinical mental health programs. 

WDI Components

Along with funding, the initiative provides:  

• Expert career placement and mentoring support 
• Placement in an approved behavioral health site for your specialized MSW year 
• A dedicated Seattle University social work faculty member advisor 

Award Detail

• Up to $51,500 for students attending Seattle University’s 2-Year MSW program (award amount is based on unmet need) 
• Up to $25,750 for students attending Seattle University’s Advanced Standing program (award is based on unmet need) 

Eligibility Criteria

• Demonstrated financial need as indicated by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year in which you are applying. 
• Enrolled in a master’s level counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work program at a partnering institution. Applicants who have applied and/or accepted admission to a relevant program at a partnering institution but have not yet begun their first term of study are still eligible to apply. 
• Ability to obtain employment post-graduation at an eligible community behavioral health agency in Washington state. 
• Ability to maintain legal residency in Washington state for at least 36 months post-graduation for students receiving a conditional grant for an academic program longer than one year (or at least 18 months post-graduation for students receiving a conditional grant for an academic program that is completed in one academic year). 

How to Apply

• For priority consideration, complete and submit your WDI application by 11:59pm PT, Friday, January 31, 2025. After the deadline, rolling applications are accepted as funds allow. 
• Submit your FAFSA application for the 2025-2026 academic year as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

• View WDI's FAQ website 

The Workforce for Student Well-being initiative (WSW) offers financial support, academic mentoring, and professional development opportunities for second year (or Advanced Standing) MSW students in Washington state who are committed to working as social workers in high-need public schools or tribal schools for at least two years following graduation.

WSW Components

• Placement in a high-need public or tribal school 
• Pre-service training inclusive of a 30-hour community of practice experience with peers 
• Attendance at a professional networking retreat with mentors 
• Training for students to receive their Educational Staff Associate certificate (ESA) 
• Career placement support to take a leadership role in a high-need public or tribal school after graduation.

Award Detail

• Up to $30,000 for specialized (2nd year or Advanced Standing) MSW students (based on unmet financial need: FAFSA is required). 

Eligibility Criteria

• Demonstrated financial need as indicated by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Enrolled in the final year of an accredited master’s level social work program in Washington state.  
• Ability to obtain employment post-graduation at a high-need K-12 public school or tribal school. 
• Ability to maintain legal residency in Washington state for at least 2 academic years post-graduation for students receiving a conditional scholarship for one academic year. 

How to Apply

• For priority consideration, complete and submit your WSW application by 11:59pm PT, Friday, January 31, 2025. After the deadline, rolling applications are accepted as funds allow. 
• Submit your FAFSA application for the 2025-2026 academic year as soon as possible. 

Seattle University's MSW Program offers an endowed scholarship created by Lee Scheingold, MA, MSW and Bill Etnyre, MSW, PhD.

The EtnyreScheingold Clinical Social Work Endowed Scholarship supports students who are pursuing their MSW education and are dedicated to working with society's most vulnerable citizens.

To be eligible for scholarship, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled as a full-time student at Seattle University
• Be enrolled in the MSW degree program
• Demonstrate a commitment to community-based clinical social work practice
• Demonstrate financial need

Endowed scholarship consideration may require additional documents and recipients may be notified after admission depending upon the selection criteria. Domestic and permanent resident applicants are strongly encouraged to complete a FAFSA to be eligible for any need-based endowed or external scholarships and/or graduate student loans.

In recognition of their invaluable service and commitment to positive impact in our communities, Seattle University offers the following benefits for AmeriCorps/PeaceCorps alums. All applicants to Seattle University Graduate Programs are eligible to apply for the AmeriCorps/PeaceCorps Alumni Scholarship.

Recipients of the scholarship receive a total award of $3,000 toward tuition, which is distributed over the first two years of the student's academic program. Eligible applicants must have successfully completed (or will have completed) an AmeriCorps term of service by the time of enrollment in their graduate program.

How to Apply

• Complete the online AmeriCorps/PeaceCorps Alumni Scholarship Application.
• Enclose Certification of Service letter to your AmeriCorps/PeaceCorps Alumni Scholarship Application.
• If currently serving, include a letter from your supervisor, uploaded to the AmeriCorps/PeaceCorps Alumni Scholarship Application.

Notice of Scholarship Award

Applicants who have been offered admission to their program are welcome to apply for the AmeriCorps/PeaceCorps Alumni Scholarship. Priority consideration is given to scholarship applications submitted before or on April 30. For applications submitted after April 30, Seattle University will notify applicants of scholarship decisions made on a case-by-case basis, depending on funds remaining. The AmeriCorps/PeaceCorps Alumni Scholarship Awards Committee meets in May of each year.

Additional Information

Students are strongly encouraged to explore other financial opportunities by contacting Seattle University’s Office of Student Financial Services at (206) 220-8020 or by visiting their website.

Graduate Assistantships (GA) in teaching, research and marketing/recruitment may be available to qualified students. These opportunities are generally sent to incoming MSW students in late summer.

Past GA Positions include:

• Project Research Assistant-Department of Social Work
• Clinical Practice Lab Assistant-Department of Social Work
• Recruitment & Marketing Graduate Assistant-Master of Social Work
• BSW Research Capstone Graduate Assistant-Department of Social Work
• Research Assistant (General)-Department of Social Work

Find out more about student employment.

This grant provides post-graduation support through a case management professional development model. In addition to their salary, participants will get an additional stipend and support for supervision and licensure prep with the end goal of obtaining your LICSW after 2 years post-graduation. More information coming soon.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) provides loan repayment programs for eligible, licensed social workers. Sign up for notifications of the next application cycle.

• NHSC Loan Repayment Program
• NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program
• NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program

The IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP) can help dedicated health professionals like you chart a course for a long-lasting and successful health care career. The LRP funds IHS clinicians to repay their eligible health profession education loans — up to $40,000 — in exchange for an initial two-year service commitment to practice in health facilities serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Opportunities are based on Indian health program facilities with the greatest staffing needs in specific health profession disciplines. As an LRP participant, you are eligible to extend your contract annually until your qualified student debt is paid. Many health professionals enter this program because of the financial benefits but find the cultural and professional rewards to be so great that they spend their entire careers working in Indian health.

Read about eligibility requirements and other important information.

The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer.

Read about eligibility requirements and other important information.