Financial Aid Resources

The Aging & Adult Services (AAS) MSW Training Program is a statewide, specialized training
initiative funded by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and coordinated by
San José State University (SJSU). The program prepares MSW students for careers in Adult
Protective Services (APS) and other public adult service systems that serve aging and
vulnerable adults throughout California.
The AAS Training Program provides financial support, specialized field training, professional
development, and a pathway to public service employment in California’s adult services sector.

Stipend & Participation Details (AY 2026–2027)

• Stipend Amount: $25,000 per academic year
• Disbursement: Two equal payments in week 6 of Fall and Spring semesters (contingent on continued eligibility) 
• Participation: Only available to MSW students at Cal Poly Humboldt in a qualifying placement. 
• Duration: Students may participate for up to two academic years (foundation and/or advanced year), but must reapply each year.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for the AAS Training Program, students must:

• Be enrolled full-time or part-time in the MSW program at Cal Poly Humboldt
• Be in good academic standing
• Be matched with an eligible practicum placement site
• Not be receiving funding from any other CDSS-administered stipend or training program in the same academic year

While the Aging & Adult Services (AAS) MSW Training Program at Cal Poly Humboldt does not
support part-time participation in the stipend program, all MSW students enrolled in either the Campus or Distributed Learning (DL/Online) program are eligible to apply. This includes students in extended-format DL programs.

Community Placement Criteria

All community placements must be publicly funded and specifically designed to serve aging and/or vulnerable adult populations.

Foundation Year:

Students must be placed in publicly funded agencies or programs that:

• Provide social work services specifically for older or dependent adults, and
• Operate within systems such as community-based case management, aging services, or public behavioral health

Advanced Year:

Students must be placed in:

• County or Tribal Adult Protective Services (APS) units,
• In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS),
• Public Guardian/Public Conservator offices, or
• Other qualifying public adult services agencies

Note: Medi-Cal reimbursement alone does not qualify a site as publicly funded.

Post-Graduation Service Commitment

For each year of stipend received, students must:

• Complete one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) employment in a qualifying California-based public or Tribal APS or adult services agency
• Begin employment within 12 months of MSW graduation
• Complete all service within 36 months

Graduates are responsible for securing their own employment. Repayment of the stipend is required if the service obligation is not met.

Additional Program Components

• Participation in a 1.5 unit APS-focused seminar and monthly training enhancements
• Completion of required virtual trainings, surveys, and program meetings coordinated by SJSU
• Ongoing mentorship and career development support

Application Process

Applications for the Academic Year 2026/2027 are now closed.

Applications typically open in late spring (March or April) for the following academic year. Students must complete the AAS program application, interview, and be verified in a qualifying placement prior to award notification. 

If you have any questions or would like to be notified of upcoming opportunities related to this training program, please let us know by filling out the Information Request Form.

Important Financial Aid Information

Please note that the AAS stipend is awarded as part of your overall financial aid package, not in addition to it. This means that receiving the stipend may impact your total aid eligibility for the academic year.

We strongly encourage all applicants to consult with the Cal Poly Humboldt Financial Aid Office to understand how receiving the stipend may affect other awards, including grants, loans, and work-study eligibility.

Contact

Jamie Jensen, MSW, PhD
Professor, AAS Program Coordinator
Department of Social Work
Cal Poly Humboldt

Email: jlk45@humboldt.edu Or schedule a meeting

Altruistic Behavior Institute

The Rural and Tribal Behavioral Health Distributed Learning Advanced Standing MSW Fellowship (RTBH DLAS) is committed to transforming behavioral health ecosystems to address structural inequalities, respond to intersections between culture, trauma, and colonization, and expansively represent equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in services, supervision, and the workforce. In doing so, the program enacts the Altruistic Behavior Institute’s purpose to seek out ways to enhance altruism and prosocial behavior in society. 

High debt burdens, living expenses, and requirements for internship/practicum/field placement hours are reported by students, educators, and employers as significant barriers to college affordability, persistence, and completion, especially for adult learners, low-income students, and caregivers. The RTBH Fellowship strengthens California's behavioral health workforce by providing financial, career, professional, and academic support to selected applicants for Cal Poly Humboldt’s Distributed Learning Advanced Standing MSW program who have a strong interest in working for behavioral health organizations in underserved rural and Tribal communities. 

MSW program applicants from underserved and culturally diverse populations—including individuals with lived experience as consumers of behavioral health services and/or family members of consumers—who are committed to seeking a career as a licensed clinician to serve individuals, families, and communities in an underserved area are particularly encouraged to apply for a Rural and Tribal Behavioral Health DLAS MSW Fellowship.

All tuition/fees for the Cal Poly Humboldt DL Advanced Standing MSW program will be covered for selected Fellows (about $26,000 total) plus $1,500/year for other program-related expenses. Fellowship recipients will be expected to secure an approved internship providing clinical services in a behavioral health setting before the beginning of the second year of the MSW program in order to receive full program funding. More details can be found in the program application.

Applications for a Rural and Tribal Behavioral Health Distributed Learning Advanced Standing MSW Fellowship for the Class of 2029 will open when applications for the Distributed Learning Advanced Standing MSW Program open in Fall 2026. The application includes a personal statement essay (about 1 single-spaced page) in response to the prompt: “Please describe why you are interested in behavioral health work that serves rural and Tribal communities and how this demonstrates the Fellowship's commitment to MSW graduates who seek a career as a licensed clinician to serve children and youth through ages 25 in an underserved area in California.” This is the same application period as admissions for the Advanced Standing Distributed Learning MSW Program which is completed through CSUApply. Selected applicants will be notified of a Fellowship offer at or around the time they find out about their MSW program application.

For more information contact:

Ronnie Swartz, Ph.D., LCSW
Behavioral Health Workforce Development Coordinator
Director, Altruistic Behavior Institute
swartz@humboldt.edu  707.826.4562

This program is funded thanks to a grant from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information.

Oliner Altruism Institute

The Rural and Tribal Behavioral Health MSW Campus Advanced Year Fellowship (RTBH CAY) is committed to transforming behavioral health ecosystems to address structural inequalities; respond to intersections between culture, trauma, and colonization; and expansively represent equitable, diverse, inclusionary, and welcoming services, supervision, and workforces. In doing so, the program enacts the Oliner Altruism Institute’s purpose to seek out ways to enhance altruism and prosocial behavior in society. 

High debt burdens, living expenses, and requirements for internship/practicum/field placement hours are reported by students, educators, and employers as significant barriers to college affordability, persistence, and completion, especially for adult learners, low-income students, and caregivers. The RTBH CAY Fellowship strengthens California's behavioral health workforce by providing financial, career, professional, and academic support to selected applicants entering Cal Poly Humboldt’s MSW On-campus Advanced Year who have a strong interest in providing behavioral health services in underserved rural and Tribal communities. 

There is a shortage of behavioral health professionals who are trained to provide integrated behavioral health care in high-need/high-demand areas of California, particularly with children, adolescents, and young adults. Locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally, the behavioral health workforce is not reflective of the population of people who receive services, including people from underserved communities and people with lived experience as consumers of behavioral health services and/or family members of consumers. MSW students entering the advanced year of the campus program who are committed to providing integrated behavioral health care in high-need/high-demand areas of the state and are interested in working with children, adolescents, and young adults are encouraged to apply.

RTBH CAY Fellows will:

• Receive $50,000 in stipend funding during the 2026-27 academic year,
• Join a monthly online behavioral health seminar on the first Wednesday of each month from 4:00pm-5:30pm,
• Complete an eligible internship, which is generally a setting that provides integrated, team-based behavioral health care in an underserved community,
• Commit to one year of post-graduate employment providing direct clinical services (on the path toward licensure) in organizational settings that receive public funding and are located in high-need/high-demand communities,
• Complete details can be found in the program application.

Applications for a Rural and Tribal Behavioral Health Campus Advanced Year MSW Fellowship for the Class of 2028, if the Fellowship is available, will be posted by February 2027. The application includes a personal statement essay (about 1 single-spaced page) in response to the prompt: “Please describe your interest in behavioral health work that serves rural and Tribal communities after you earn your MSW.”                                                                                                                                        

For more information contact:

Ronnie Swartz, Ph.D., LCSW
Behavioral Health Workforce Development Coordinator
Director, Oliner Altruism Institute
swartz@humboldt.edu  707.826.4562

Partial funding for this program is provided by the federal government. The Administrator for the funding organization, the Health Resources and Services Administration, has stated that HRSA is “firmly committed to protecting and improving the health and well-being of Americans, particularly those who are underserved, medically vulnerable, or live in areas where access to care is limited” and that “HRSA is emphasizing targeted investments that strengthen the nation’s core healthcare infrastructure, address pressing health challenges, and deliver real results for communities across the country." 

As a federally funded program, there is some level of uncertainty about program requirements and consistency. While Cal Poly Humboldt's Department of Social Work has many years of experience working with federal, state, and other funding sources, the university cannot guarantee program stability.

Oliner Altruism Institute 

The Rural and Tribal Behavioral Health MSW Campus Two-Year Fellowship (RTBH CTY) is committed to transforming behavioral health ecosystems to address structural inequalities; respond to intersections between culture, trauma, and colonization; and expansively represent equitable, diverse, inclusionary, and welcoming services, supervision, and workforces. In doing so, the program enacts the Oliner Altruism Institute’s purpose to seek out ways to enhance altruism and prosocial behavior in society. 

High debt burdens, living expenses, and requirements for internship/practicum/field placement hours are reported by students, educators, and employers as significant barriers to college affordability, persistence, and completion, especially for adult learners, low-income students, and caregivers. The RTBH CTY Fellowship strengthens California's behavioral health workforce by providing financial, career, professional, and academic support to selected applicants entering Cal Poly Humboldt’s MSW On-campus Two-Year Program who have a strong interest in providing behavioral health services in underserved rural and Tribal communities. 

There is a shortage of behavioral health professionals who are trained to provide integrated behavioral health care in high-need/high-demand areas of California, particularly with children, adolescents, and young adults. Locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally, the behavioral health workforce is not reflective of the population of people who receive services, including people from underserved communities and people with lived experience as consumers of behavioral health services and/or family members of consumers. MSW students entering the campus two-year program who are committed to providing integrated behavioral health care in high-need/high-demand areas of the state and are interested in working with children, adolescents, and young adults are encouraged to apply.

RTBH CTY Fellows will:

• Receive $50,000 per year in stipend funding during the 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years,
• Complete eligible internships each year, which are generally settings that provide integrated, team-based behavioral health care in underserved communities,
• Commit to one year of post-graduate employment providing direct clinical services (on the path toward licensure) in organizational settings that receive public funding and are located in high-need/high-demand communities,
• Complete details can be found in the program application.

Applications for a Rural and Tribal Behavioral Health MSW Campus Two-Year Fellowship (RTBH CTY) for the Class of 2029 are anticipated to open up in Fall 2026. The application includes a personal statement essay (about 1 single-spaced page) in response to the prompt: “Please describe your interest in behavioral health work that serves rural and Tribal communities after you earn your MSW.”

For more information contact:

Ronnie Swartz, Ph.D., LCSW
Behavioral Health Workforce Development Coordinator
Director, Oliner Altruism Institute
swartz@humboldt.edu  707.826.4562

Partial funding for this program is provided by the federal government. The Administrator for the funding organization, the Health Resources and Services Administration, has stated that HRSA is “firmly committed to protecting and improving the health and well-being of Americans, particularly those who are underserved, medically vulnerable, or live in areas where access to care is limited” and that “HRSA is emphasizing targeted investments that strengthen the nation’s core healthcare infrastructure, address pressing health challenges, and deliver real results for communities across the country." 

As a federally funded program, there is some level of uncertainty about program requirements and consistency. While Cal Poly Humboldt's Department of Social Work has many years of experience working with federal, state, and other funding sources, the university cannot guarantee program stability.

MSW School-Based Stipends

MSW students who have been accepted to the Humboldt Social Work Program are eligible to apply for School-Based Mental Health Stipends. These stipends are for students committed to a career in school-based social work and will support student preparation to complete post-graduate Pupil Personnel Services -School Social Work Credential program.

Stipend programs vary slightly based on district and program commitments. 

All stipends require: 

• Placement in regional schools and school-based mental health settings under supervision of PPSC-SSW
• Ability to complete CA Certificate of Clearance process
• Participation in supplemental training, professional development and seminar activities to prepare for PPSC-SSW requirements

See this link for more information regarding the PPSC-SW program at Humboldt.

Cal Poly Humboldt School-Based Mental Health Demonstration Grant:

• One-year term (with option to apply for second year).
• $15,000 stipend per year
• Placements in qualifying schools within Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino and Trinity counties.
• Participation in additional School Mental Health Seminar
• Potential availability of limited child care and mileage reimbursement for placement days
• Opportunity to apply for additional $3,000 scholarship towards Humboldt PPSC post-graduate program

 Northern Humboldt Union High School District:

• Foundation year students make 2-year commitment to complete placements within district or partnering schools: $16,000 stipend per year
• Advanced year students make 1-year commitment to complete placements within district or partnering schools: $10,000 stipend plus potential additional $2,000 linked to professional development goals.
• Individualized professional development plan created with LCSW clinical supervisor
• Year for year post-graduate employment-obligation

Del Norte Unified School District: 

• Available to BASW and MSW students.
• District determines eligibility for fund recipients, with priority for individuals residing in the district, with a history of school-based employment.
• Stipend varies based on student support needs, estimated tuition and program level.
• Undergraduate students are expected to meet steps towards Wellness Coach II Certification, as supported by the BSW Program.
• MSW recipients are expected to meet steps towards PPSC-SSW credential.
• MSW recipients have opportunity to apply for additional $3,000 scholarship towards Humboldt PPSC post-graduate program

For more information contact: 

Julie Slater North: julie.slater@humboldt.edu
School-Based Stipend Program Coordinator

BASW School-Based and School-Linked Certifications and Funding

All undergraduate social work majors have an opportunity to complete steps to become a Certified Wellness Coach II with California through our educational pathway, when completing an approved youth-serving (0-25) senior year practicum. This prepares BASW students to provide support related to youth behavioral health, and is a rapidly expanding school-based career pathway. 

State scholarships are available to fund your education if this is your professional goal, with some students receiving funding of up to $35,000 a year. There are also pathways for folks holding relevant Associates Degrees. Please contact our Wellness Coach Program Coordinator for more information or attend one of our school-based social work drop-in information sessions.  

Wellness Coach Program Coordinator
Yvonne Doble, MSW, EdD
ycd2@humboldt.edu

For students who are currently employed in tribal or county social services or plan to work in Child Welfare after graduation there are several stipends that may be available to you.  Under these projects, students receive financial support during their course of studies which must be paid back via post-graduation employment in the field. Learn more about CA Title IV-E Projects.

Cal Poly Humboldt Scholarships & Grants

Social Work Faculty Tribute Scholarship

The Social Work Faculty Tribute Scholarship is awarded to qualified candidates who will be pursuing a baccalaureate or master's degree in social work, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, be enrolled full time and be of junior standing or above. Preference is given to graduates of Humboldt County high schools who meet financial need. 

MSW Distributed Learning Scholarships

Offers several scholarships for the Distributed Learning MSW Program.  Applications will be sent out to current Distributed Learning students in the Spring semester.

Edith and Adolph Pederson Scholarship

Awarded to a resident of Humboldt County, and who is enrolled full time and is a participant in the Educational Opportunity Program . Apply through the Cal Poly Humboldt Scholarship Website.

Marion Diller Social Work Scholarship

The purpose of this scholarship is to help support a graduate student in the Social Work Department pursuing a degree with a public school based internship. Recipient must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA. Awards and amounts are estimated based on funding and are subject to change. Apply through the Cal Poly Humboldt Scholarship Website.

External Scholarships & Grants

Humboldt Area Foundation + Wild Rivers Community Foundation’s regional hub for scholarship

Scholarship Finder is Humboldt Area Foundation + Wild Rivers Community Foundation’s regional hub for scholarships. Scholarship Finder is home to not only the HAF+WRCF Universal Application, but highlights many additional scholarship opportunities for students. 

The HAF+WRCF Universal Application is one application for nearly 200 scholarship opportunities. The Universal Application opens in mid-January each year, with an early March deadline.

Women’s Re-Entry Scholarship

Cal Poly Humboldt women re-entry students (returning or have returned after a minimum of a 5-year absence). Must demonstrate financial aid and have a GPA of at least 3.0.

Enrolled full-time in upper division or graduate level courses and a resident of Humboldt, Trinity, or Del Norte County

Doris Buffett Independence Scholar Grant

To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, the applicant must be a woman who is a direct survivor of intimate partner abuse. While we abhor abuse from any source, our effort is in assisting those women who are survivors of partner abuse.

William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship for Minority Students

To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, the applicant must be a minority student and must be able to participate in a Hearst Fellowship internship. During the internship, the intern will undertake research, writing, logistical, and administrative support for PSI’s leadership activities, public programs, and convenings.

The Verne LaMarr Lyons Memorial MSW Scholarships

Awarded to master’s degree candidates in social work who demonstrate an interest in or have experience with health/mental health practice and have a commitment to working in the African American communities.

The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation

This award is for women 17 years of age or older. Women must be mothers with minor children, enrolled in school for skills training, ESL, GED, a technical or vocational career, an associate degree, a first bachelor’s degree, or a professional master’s or doctoral degree. They must be enrolled in an accredited program for the school year and be in a low-income bracket.

The National Association of Social Workers California Chapter

Offers multiple scholarships for Native American undergraduate and graduate students who are residents of California.

Must be a member of NASW, or join to apply.

Soroptimist Women’s Live Your Dream Awards

Soroptimist's Live Your Dream Awards program is a unique education award for women who provide the primary financial support for their families. The Live Your Dream Awards give women the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects. 

25 Scholarships for Social Work Students

This article on Psychology.org outlines 25 scholarships for social work students.

IHS Scholarship Program

The IHS Scholarship Program provides qualified American Indian and Alaska Native health professions students an opportunity to establish an educational foundation for each stage of your pre-professional careers.  

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund

The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund provides financial support for students who are active and emerging organizers in progressive movements for liberation, self-determination and social and economic justice in their communities. These need-based scholarships are awarded to students who are enrolled at a college or university or in a trade or technical program, and have financial need.

Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship

The Consuelo W. Gosnell Memorial Scholarship is awarded to master's degree candidates in social work who have demonstrated a commitment to working with, or who have a special affinity with, American Indian/Alaska Native and Hispanic/Latino populations. Candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to working with public or voluntary nonprofit agencies or with local grassroots groups in the United States are also eligible.  

To apply, students must be a member of NASW and have applied to, or have been accepted into, an accredited MSW program (payment of the award will be contingent on the full admission of the candidate into the program).  In addition, students must have the potential for completing an MSW program and have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or above. 

California Society for Clinical Social Work Jannette Alexander Scholarship

The Jannette Alexander Foundation for Clinical Social Work is looking for applicants in their second or final year of the MSW program with exemplary clinical skills/ aptitude. Selected students will be awarded with a scholarship and a one year free membership to CSCSW, and will be featured on the CSCSW website. 

Native Forward Scholars Fund Scholarship Finder

We provide financial support for American Indians and Alaska Natives seeking higher education, and support them in attaining undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. We partner with Tribes, the federal government, foundations, corporations, and individuals to ensure the growth and sustainability of scholarships. 

AAUW Fellowships and Grants

Since 1888, AAUW has been one of the largest funders of women’s graduate education, investing in women who go on to change the world. 

Fellowships

SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program

MFP fellowships are open to people pursuing graduate degrees in various fields of behavioral health. Through eight national behavioral health organizations selected by SAMHSA to administer the program, approximately 400 MFP fellows receive educational awards and training each year under the program. 

Internship Assistance for Social Work Students

Based on participation in social work field experience and status as a social work student who is not receiving a CalSWEC-related stipend.

Contact: Cal Poly Humboldt Social Work Department

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

This award is for 30 new Americans, immigrants or children of immigrants, who are pursuing graduate school in the U.S. Each fellowship supports one to two years of graduate study in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program in the United States.

Loans

Bill Raskob Foundation Educational Loan Program

Description: The Bill Raskob Foundation offers educational loans at no interest to U.S. citizens enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education for the upcoming school year. Repayment of loans begins six months after graduation.

Loan Repayment/Forgiveness

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program

Description: The NHSC Loan Repayment Program is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and works to offer loan repayment to social workers for a two-year commitment in a shortage area, and who are licensed in the state they plan to serve. The Loan Repayment Program offers funding based upon the need of the community in which a provider works.

California Department of Healthcare Access and Information

These loan forgiveness programs are only for people who are providing mental health services. The HCAI loan forgiveness programs have several options. 

Indian Health Services

The IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP) assists health professionals working as IHS clinicians repay their eligible health profession education loans — up to $50,000 — in exchange for an initial two-year service commitment to practice in health facilities serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities.