Planning your investment
Explore tuition information, employment, financial aid, scholarships and other resources that may help support your MSW education.
Funding your degree
Students use a combination of work, aid, scholarships and emergency support to manage the cost of graduate education.
Students may work while enrolled in the BASW or MSW program. Positions in social service agencies can provide both valuable experience and financial assistance.
A limited number of paid opportunities may also be available within the School and University as graduate assistants, student assistants or members of project teams, including grant-funded research projects.
A range of loan programs may help students meet college and graduate-school expenses. Review options and eligibility information through the MSU Office of Financial Aid.
MSU may award scholarships, often based on financial need. The School of Social Work also offers a limited number of scholarships for BASW, MSW and PhD students.
School awards may be offered at admission, connected to certain field placements and learning experiences, or granted later based on merit and need. When an application is required, eligible students receive information by email.
Libraries, bookstores and online searches may provide additional leads for scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans, including opportunities intended for particular populations.
The Graduate School has limited emergency funding for unusual or unforeseen expenses. Students must be enrolled during the semester in which funding is received, and the support is intended as a one-time resource.
Important: If awarded, this fellowship does not provide student health insurance or tuition and fee waivers.
After graduation
Eligible licensed clinical social workers may qualify for programs that help repay educational debt in exchange for service at approved practice sites.
LCSWs working in primary mental or behavioral health care can receive up to $50,000 toward eligible health-profession student loans in exchange for a two-year commitment at an approved NHSC site in a health professional shortage area.
The payment is free from federal income tax and is made at the beginning of service. Approved sites are located in urban and rural communities across the United States. After completing an initial commitment, participants may apply for continued service and additional repayment assistance.
MSLRP assists eligible LCSWs with tax-free funds to repay educational debt. Participants compete for consecutive two-year service obligations at eligible nonprofit practice sites that provide primary mental health care in health professional shortage areas.
Participants must remain employed for at least 40 hours per week and no fewer than 45 weeks per year during the service obligation.
Graduate opportunities
Residence Education and Housing Services offers graduate assistant positions focused on areas that shape students' on-campus living experience. Graduate assistants can apply theory to practice while receiving ongoing training and professional development.
Graduate School funds may be available for degree-seeking graduate students to present their research at professional conferences. These funds do not support thesis or dissertation research projects or course work.
Requests for international meeting travel are considered jointly by the Graduate School and the Office of International Studies and Programs, so only one form is needed for consideration by both offices.
Funding limit: Requests are limited to $400, and usually only one request per student is considered during the student's degree program. These fellowships do not provide student health insurance or tuition and fee waivers.