MSW Scholarships

Departmental Scholarship Opportunities:

All scholarship applications are processed through the University of Montana Scholarship Portal. Please visit this site for scholarship application due dates.

Bonnie and Phil Hamilton MSW Scholarship 

  • one or two awards totaling approximately $4,000 annually
  • successful applicants plan to work for the good of Native Americans on the reservation after his/her formal schooling is completed
  • scholarship renewable if student is making good academic progress as determined by the chair
  • preference to Native students
  • advertised to current students fall semester for a spring award (graduate students will receive application announcements and details during fall semester)
Srock Family MSW Scholarship
  • one or two awards totaling approximately $1,600 annually
  • priority given to students who demonstrate financial need and who are pursuing their degree while raising a family
  • advertised to current students in spring semester for fall award (graduate students will receive application announcements during spring semester)

Sydney Davidson Maxwell Scholarship 

  • one or two awards totaling approximately $1,600 annually
  • advertised to current students in fall semester for a spring award (graduate students will receive application announcements and details during fall semester

External Scholarship Opportunities:

Scholarships designated with an * are available to current MSW students only.

Bertha Morton Fellowship/Scholarships

  • one award of $3,000 and 10-15 awards of $2,000 annually
  • graduate program faculty nominate students
  • scholarship advertised early in the spring for award in the following academic year

Davidson Honors College Coordinated Scholarships

Montana Child Welfare Training Partnership

  • MSW second year students-$15,000 per academic year  
  • MSW students who are current CFSD employees with RA approval, $15,000 per academic for a total of $30,000.  CFSD MSW students must have RA approval. Employees can also take the stipend as a part-time student-$10,000 per academic year over three years for a total of $30,000.
  • Able to commit to employment with CFSD or Tribal Child Welfare after graduation. Twelve months of employment are required for each semester of receiving the stipend
  • In good academic standing with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the School of Social Work

Find out more >>

Montana Gerontology Society

  • one award of $1,000 academic scholarship
  • applicant must be a student at a Montana college or university
  • pursing a career in the field of aging
  • in need of financial assistance to achieve goals
  • scholarship announced at the annual Montana Gerontology society conference in the spring

Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)

  • multiple annual awards (in 2008 50% of MSW students received amounts that range between $1,000 and $3,000)
  • students become eligible by completing a FASFA form through UM’s Office of Financial Aid
  • applications made available at orientation; scholarships are distributed in the fall semester and amounts vary each year

Soroptimist Fellowship Award (for female Ravalli County residents)

  • one award of $1,500 and eligibility to compete for a $4,000 regional award
  • applicants must have an established professional career or own a business and conduct business competently and ethically
  • applicant must hold a bachelors or masters degree from an accredited institution and present a plan or post-graduate study
  • students will receive application announcements and details during fall semester

Loan Forgiveness & Repayment

Many of the School's program graduates are hired to provide services for organizations that are located within Montana communities that qualify as Health Professional Shortage Areas.  The National Service Corps will help to offset educational loans through the Loan Repayment Program for qualifying students who agree to serve in designated communities.  For more information contact:

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 established a new public service loan forgiveness program.  This program forgives any remaining debt after 10 years of full-time employment in public service.  The borrower must have made 120 payments as part of the Direct Loan program in order to obtain this benefit.  Only payments made on or after October 1, 2007 count toward the required 120 monthly payments.   For more information contact:

The following link will connect you to a list of potential state resources that can also assist with loan repayment:  

NASW Resources to Support Loan Forgiveness for Social Work Students and Graduates