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Contact UsFinding Your Funding
We encourage all social work students in both the BSSW and MSW Programs to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible to fund their education. This includes submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) (for undocumented, ASSET, DACA, or International student) even if you aren’t planning on taking out loans – this is what helps need-based funders find you!
We also encourage all students, both undergraduate and graduate, to submit the MSU Denver General Scholarship Application in addition to applying for social work specific scholarships and stipends listed below.
MSU Denver Earn & Learn Program
The Earn and Learn program at MSU Denver was designed to address equity barriers within experiential learning. This program provides funding support to both undergraduate and graduate students who are in need of financial assistance to participate in unpaid, off-campus internship opportunities.
If you will be in an unpaid field placement, we encourage you to apply for Earn & Learn funding. Any questions should be directed to [email protected].
MSW Program Scholarships
There are two types of scholarships in the MSW Program available to MSW applicants and continuing MSW students:
- Merit & Special Interest Based Scholarship Awards require an application and are awarded through a competitive process. Please read the eligibility criteria carefully. The application deadline for all merit & special interest based scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year is March 27st, 2026 at 11:59 PM (Mountain Standard Time). Application will open Spring 2026.
- Elevate Education Scholarship Awards require the submission of the FAFSA or the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) to be eligible. This scholarship requires completion of the MSU Denver General Scholarship Application.
Learn more about scholarship opportunities, eligibility requirements and how to apply in the drop downs below.
Merit & Special Interest Based Scholarship Awards
Commitment to Diversity Scholarship Application
2026-2027 Academic Year Application Deadline: March 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM (Mountain Standard Time)
The MSU Denver MSW Program invites applications for its Commitment to Diversity Scholarship awards. These awards were created by the faculty of the MSW Program to meet the community’s needs for social workers committed to serving those with diverse backgrounds. There are two awards each year. Half is awarded in Fall and the other half in Spring.
We are seeking applications from students committed to serving people with diverse backgrounds (persons from a historically underrepresented ethic or racial group, persons who identify as LGBTQ+, or persons with a disability) with a commitment to the profession and to our program’s mission and who are academically prepared for graduate-level work. Students may be either part-time or full-time and can be in either the Regular Program or the Advanced Standing Program.
Criteria:
- Acceptance to the MSW Program (MSW applicants are encouraged to apply, however only accepted students will be awarded)
- Commitment to working with diverse communities
- Commitment to profession (essay)
- Strong writing and analytical skills (essay)
- In good academic standing in the MSW Program at the time of application (if applicable) and remain in good academic standing while receiving funding.
To apply for the scholarship, follow the link below to fill out an application. You must also attach an essay to your application that addresses the following:
- Your interest and commitment to working in social work
- The skills and traits you will bring to the work
- How your commitment to serving diverse groups (persons from a historically underrepresented ethic or racial group, persons who identify as LGBTQ+, or persons with a disability) will inform and contribute the work you do
Please reference the academic literature to support your arguments where appropriate and use the APA format to cite. The essay should be between 500 and 600 words and conform to academic standards for writing and style.
Note: You will be entering your essay into a text box within the application. If you copy and paste into the essay box, please ensure the formatting looks correct. If you have issues, pasting with Ctrl + Shift + V is one way to paste from Word without formatting, and then you can use the formatting tools in the essay box.
Gerontology Scholarship Application
2026-2027 Academic Year Application Deadline: March 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM (Mountain Standard Time)
The MSU Denver MSW Program invites applications for its Gerontology Scholarship awards. These awards were created by the faculty of the MSW Program to meet the community’s needs for social workers in working with older adults. There are two awards each year. Half is awarded in Fall and the other half in Spring.
We are seeking applications from students who are interested in working in gerontological social work (i.e., working in a setting where you would have frequent contact with older adults and would require competence with older clients and their families) with a commitment to the profession and to our program’s mission and who are academically prepared for graduate-level work. Students may be either part-time or full-time and can be in either the Regular Program or the Advanced Standing Program.
Criteria:
- Acceptance to the MSW Program (MSW applicants are encouraged to apply, however only accepted students will be awarded)
- Commitment to working in gerontological social work (essay)
- Commitment to profession (essay)
- Strong writing and analytical skills (essay)
- In good academic standing in the MSW Program at the time of application (if applicable) and remain in good academic standing while receiving funding.
To apply for the scholarship, follow the link below to fill out an application. You must also attach an essay to your application that addresses the following:
- Your interest and commitment to working in gerontological social work
- The skills and traits you will bring to the work
- The rationale for gerontological social work’s importance to clients, the community or society
Please reference the academic literature to support your arguments where appropriate and use the APA format to cite. The essay should be between 500 and 600 words and conform to academic standards for writing and style.
Note: You will be entering your essay into a text box within the application. If you copy and paste into the essay box, please ensure the formatting looks correct. If you have issues, pasting with Ctrl + Shift + V is one way to paste from Word without formatting, and then you can use the formatting tools in the essay box.
Bilingual Scholarship Application
2026-2027 Academic Year Application Deadline: March 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM (Mountain Standard Time)
The MSU Denver MSW Program invites applications for its Bilingual Scholarship award. This award was created by the faculty of the MSW Program to promote our mission to educate professional social workers to serve diverse communities. There is one award each year. Half is awarded in Fall and the other half in Spring.
We are seeking applications from students who are bilingual (fluent in Spanish and English) with a commitment to the profession, to bicultural awareness and appreciation, and to our program’s mission and who are academically prepared for graduate-level work. Students may be either part-time or full-time and can be in either the Regular Program or the Advanced Standing Program.
Criteria:
- Acceptance to the MSW Program (MSW applicants are encouraged to apply, however only accepted students will be awarded)
- Bilingual fluency (written and oral) in Spanish and English
- Bicultural awareness and appreciation
- Commitment to profession (essay)
- Strong writing and analytical skills (essay)
- In good academic standing in the MSW Program at the time of application (if applicable) and remain in good academic standing while receiving funding.
To apply for the scholarship, follow the link below to fill out an application. You must also attach an essay to your application that addresses the following:
- Your interest and commitment to working in social work
- The skills and traits you will bring to the work
- How your bilingual skills will inform and contribute to the work you will do
- The key social work issue you hope to address in your work
- The rationale for this issue’s importance to clients, the community or society
Please reference the academic literature to support your arguments where appropriate and use the APA format to cite. The essay should be between 500 and 600 words and conform to academic standards for writing and style. The essay must be submitted in both English and Spanish.
Note: You will be entering your essay into a text box within the application. If you copy and paste into the essay box, please ensure the formatting looks correct. If you have issues, pasting with Ctrl + Shift + V is one way to paste from Word without formatting, and then you can use the formatting tools in the essay box.
Roadrunners Rising Scholarship Application
2026-2027 Academic Year Application Deadline: March 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM (Mountain Standard Time)
The MSU Denver MSW Program invites applications for its Roadrunners Rising scholarship awards. These awards were created by the faculty and staff of the Department of Social Work to meet the community’s needs for social workers from diverse backgrounds. There are five awards; each is for $3,500. Scholarship selection is completely separate from the admission review, raking, and decision process. The scholarship committee will only award Roadrunners Rising scholarships to applicants accepted in the Advanced Standing MSW Program.
We are seeking applications from students who have a commitment to working as a social worker in Colorado’s multicultural communities. Applicants must be graduates of MSU Denver’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work Program. The scholarship application is open to Summer 2024 applicants of the Advanced Standing MSW Program who have graduated, or will graduate, from the BSSW Program at MSU Denver.
Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to the profession and to our program’s mission. Students may be either part-time or full-time and must be in the Advanced Standing Program.
*The scholarship award is distributed across three semesters ($500 summer, $1500 fall, $1500 spring).
Criteria:
- Graduate (or pending graduation) from the Bachelor of Science in Social Work Program at MSU Denver
- Applied to the Advanced Standing MSW Program for a Summer 2024 start
- Commitment to profession (essay)
- Strong writing and analytical skills (essay)
To apply for the scholarship, follow the link below to fill out an application. You must also attach an essay to your application that addresses the following:
- Your interest and commitment to social work with culturally diverse and marginalized populations.
- The skills and traits you will bring to the work.
- How your diverse background and experiences will inform and contribute to the work you do.
Please reference the academic literature to support your arguments where appropriate and use the APA format to cite. The essay should be between 500 and 600 words and conform to academic standards for writing and style.
Note: You will be entering your essay into a text box within the application. If you copy and paste into the essay box, please ensure the formatting looks correct. If you have issues, pasting with Ctrl + Shift + V is one way to paste from Word without formatting, and then you can use the formatting tools in the essay box.
Need-Based Scholarship Awards
The Department of Social Work dedicates scholarship funds to the Elevate Education scholarship. The Elevate Education scholarship offsets tuition costs for MSW students whose FAFSA or CASFA data demonstrates a high financial need. This is typically determined by a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 1 or lower.
Elevate Education scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis during the fall, spring, and summer semesters as long as funds last. Individual students can receive up to $6,000 maximum from this scholarship during their MSW program.
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Those registered for 3-6 credit hours and approved to receive funds will receive a $1,000 award
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Those registered for 6-9 credit hours and approved to receive funds will receive a $2,000 award
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Those registered for 9-15 credit hours and approved to receive funds will receive a $3,000 award
Receiving other scholarships or stipends does not impact students’ ability to receive an Elevate Education scholarship, so we encourage you to apply for multiple forms of funding.
To apply for Elevate Education Scholarship, fill out the MSU Denver General Scholarship application. Feel free to enter N/A on the personal essay questions on the General Application as they aren’t required for the Elevate Education scholarship.
If you have questions, please contact the Office of Social Work Student Services, Operations and Finance at [email protected].
Colorado Child Welfare Scholars Consortium
The Colorado Child Welfare Scholars Consortium (CCWSC), formerly the Child Welfare Stipend Program, aims to grow and support a well-educated and prepared child welfare workforce through social work education and post-graduation professional development.
The ‘Scholars Consortium’ is designed for undergraduate and graduate social work students interested in pursuing a career in public child welfare in Colorado. The CCWSC also contributes to Colorado’s child welfare workforce through research, evaluation, and professional development opportunities for program graduates and partners.
The CCWSC is a partnership between the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Colorado county departments of human services and participating schools of social work throughout Colorado. The CCWSC is housed and led by the Department of Social Work at MSU Denver.
Visit the CCWSC website to learn more about the program and partners!
Learn more about MSU Denver’s program, eligibility, and specific requirements.
Front Porch Initiative Supervision Fellowship
The Front Porch Initiative (FPI) is a grant-funded venture dedicated to providing high-quality and culturally responsive professional development for emerging social work clinicians. Through mentorship and structured supervision, FPI aims to empower supervisees by fostering their growth, enhancing their clinical skills, and deepening their understanding of how their lived experiences inform the iterative work they do with their clients.
At the heart of the initiative is a commitment to supporting early career social workers that are committed to providing behavioral health services to underserved people and medically underserved communities. By collaborating with experienced supervisors, FPI seeks to create a supportive and transformative learning environment where both supervisees and supervisors engage in ongoing growth, reflective introspection, and the promotion of NASW value-based social work practice.
The 2025-2026 fellowship application will open on 5/1/25 and close on 6/1/25.
Social Work Student Travel Program
The Department of Social Work provides travel grants to social work students who wish to participate in conferences, workshops, and/or conventions locally, nationally, and internationally. All Social Work students, who are in good academic standing with the Department, are eligible to apply including Undeclared Seeking Social Work majors, Social Work majors, and Master of Social Work students. Grants typically range between $600 and $1200, however additional amounts will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Student must start the application process at least 60 days before travel. Exceptions will be reviewed on a case by case basis until 30 days prior to travel for out of state travel. Local conferences may require less lead time.
For more information, contact:
Bridget Douglas, Social Work Finance & Hiring Manager
[email protected] | 303-615-0555
Eligibility & Application Process
Eligibility Criteria
Declared Undeclared Seeking Social Work major, Social Work major, or accepted and/or enrolled in the Master of Social Work Program.
In good academic and professional standing with the Department of Social Work and the University.
Presenting, moderating, or volunteering at the conference and/or a clear and specific plan to share information learned with the campus community (department meeting, classroom, conference on campus, etc.)
Application Process
Submit the Student Travel Intent Survey
What Happens Next?
After the Student Travel Intent Survey is submitted, the Department of Social Work will assess the best course of action for eligible students to optimize funding opportunities.
In some cases, the applicant will be referred to MSU Denver’s Student Travel Program to optimize funding opportunities. In that case, the Student Travel Program will require an additional application and the Department of Social Work will partner with the Student Travel Program through the review process. In this case, the Department of Social Work may supplement funding offered by that Office.
If the applicant is not eligible for MSU Denver’s Student Travel Program, the Department of Social Work will guide the applicant through an internal application process.
In both cases, the student travel award amount is typically the same.