Where will a career in psychology take you?
Marriage and family therapy scholarships range from $500 to $36,000 annually, with major opportunities through the AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program ($6,600-$36,000), state association awards ($500-$5,000), and university-specific scholarships. Graduate assistantships, employer tuition assistance, and loan forgiveness programs offer additional funding paths for MFT students facing typical program costs of $40,000-$130,000.
Mental health counseling students can access $1,000 to $51,000+ in scholarship funding through federal programs (NBCC fellowships: $10,000; SAMHSA: $12,000), professional organizations, state-specific aid (some states offer up to $51,000 conditional scholarships), university assistantships offering tuition remission plus stipends, and loan forgiveness programs (NHSC: up to $50,000). Most major federal opportunities require enrollment in CACREP-accredited programs.
A PhD in psychology opens doors to diverse, high-paying careers, including clinical psychologist ($98,940 median), industrial-organizational psychologist ($139,280), forensic psychologist ($85,000-$120,000), research psychologist ($102,900), and neuropsychologist ($103,400). These roles require 6-8 years of doctoral study, supervised clinical hours, state licensure, and offer job growth projected at 6-11% through 2033.
Psychology students can access scholarships ranging from $250 awards to multi-year research grants up to $135,000. Start by filing FAFSA, then explore merit-based, need-based, and research-specific awards from organizations like the American Psychological Foundation, APA divisions, and university-specific programs. Many require at least a 3.0 GPA and demonstrated interest in psychology.
