External Scholarships

Institutional scholarships are a great starting point, but they are far from the only scholarships available to you. Thousands of organizations outside of Pacific Oaks College offer funding to graduate students every year, through foundations, professional associations, employers, community organizations, and more. This page is your starting point for finding them. The opportunities listed here represent a fraction of what is out there. We encourage you to search broadly, apply early, and treat external scholarships as a real and meaningful part of your funding strategy.

• You should never pay to apply for a scholarship. Legitimate scholarships are free to apply for. If an organization asks for a fee to submit your application or access a scholarship database, it is a scam—walk away.
• Report any outside funding you receive. Federal regulations require you to report external scholarships and awards to our financial aid office, as they may affect your overall aid package. This is a quick step and something we can help you navigate. Do not let it discourage you from applying.
• Apply early and apply often. External scholarship deadlines vary widely. Building a habit of searching and applying throughout the year, not just before the fall term, significantly increases your chances of receiving awards.
• Keep records of what you have applied for. A simple spreadsheet tracking scholarship names, amounts, deadlines, requirements, and application status can save you a lot of time and help you avoid missing opportunities.

Contact Financial Aid to Report an External Scholarship

Scholarship Search Engines

These tools let you search for scholarships based on your field of study, degree level, background, and other eligibility criteria. They are a great place to start if you are not sure where to look:

• FastWeb — fastweb.com — one of the largest free scholarship search databases, with millions of awards across all fields and student types
• Scholarship America — scholarshipamerica.org — connects students with scholarships and educational support programs
• College Board Scholarship Search — bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search — searchable database of scholarships, internships, and financial aid programs
• Scholarships.com — scholarships.com — broad search tool with filters for major, state, background, and more
• Fastweb — fastweb.com — matches students to scholarships based on a personalized profile

Discipline-Specific Resources for POC Students

• National Association of Social Workers (NASW) — scholarships and awards for social work students — socialworkers.org
• California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) — foundation grants and awards for MFT students — camft.org
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) — aamft.org
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) — scholarships for early childhood education students — naeyc.org
• California Teachers Association (CTA) — scholarships for teacher credential students — cta.org
• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) — minority fellowship program and other awards — cswe.org
• Student Veterans scholarships — studentveterans.org/programs/scholarships

Tips for a Stronger Scholarship Search
External scholarships reward students who are intentional and persistent. Here are a few strategies that can meaningfully increase your success:

Think beyond your field of study. Many scholarships are awarded based on background, identity, community involvement, financial need, or essay quality, not just academic majors. Cast a wide net.

Start local. Community foundations, local businesses,civic organizations, and state associations often offer scholarships with less competition than national programs. Search for opportunities in your hometown, your state, and your professional community.

Check with your employer. Many employers offer tuition assistance or scholarship programs for employees pursuing graduate education. If you are currently working, ask your HR department. This is one of the most overlooked sources of funding.

Check professional associations. Most health sciences and clinical fields have professional associations that offer scholarships to students, sometimes multiple per year. If you are a student member of any professional organization, check their website regularly for scholarship announcements.

Revisit this page and your search tools regularly. New scholarships open throughout the year. Setting a recurring reminder to search every few months keeps you from missing deadlines.

Featured External Scholarships
The following scholarships are currently available and may be relevant to students at Pacific Oaks College. This list is updated periodically. Check back regularly and verify all details and deadlines directly with each organization.

• Bridging the Dream Scholarship – Sallie Mae Fund The Sallie Mae Fund’s Bridging the Dream Scholarship for Graduate Students helps students access and complete their post-secondary education. Since 2021, in partnership with Thurgood Marshall College Fund, 40 scholarships totaling $400,000 have been awarded to graduate students. https://www.salliemae.com/landing/bridging-the-dream-for-graduates/
• Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund provides grants to students actively working for peace and justice. https://www.davisputter.org/

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

• American Psychological Association https://www.apa.org/about/awards/
• National Association of School Psychologists https://www.nasponline.org/membership-and-community/nasp-awards-scholarships-and-grants
• Psi Chi Honor Society https://www.psichi.org/page/awards
• Therapy.com Mental Health Scholarship — Up to $2,250 total (three awards) For U.S. students passionate about expanding access to mental health care. Essay-based, free to apply; no transcript required.
• Learn More (therapy.com/scholarship)

Counseling, Social Work, and MFT

• • American Counseling Association Foundation https://www.counseling.org/advocacy/resources/toolkit/article/advocacy-101/2025/02/27/federal-grants-for-counseling

• NASW Foundation Scholarships https://www.naswfoundation.org/Our-Work/Scholarships-Fellowships-Awards/Scholarships

Education and Teacher Preparation

• State-Level Teacher Scholarships
• Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) https://www.csac.ca.gov/golden-state-teacher-grant-program
• Cal Grant Program – Teaching Credential Option https://www.csac.ca.gov/financial-aid-programs
• California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/roadmap-to-teaching/tools-for-credentialing/teacher-candidate-funding-explorer
  Business and Leadership
• Society for Human Resource Management https://www.shrm.org/foundation/scholarships-grants-awards

Military & Veterans
Behan Law Group Military Veteran Scholarship — $1,000 Supports military veterans and their children pursuing higher education.
Apply Now (missduiarizona.com/military-veteran-scholarship)

LGBTQ+ Students
Point Foundation Flagship Scholarship Supports LGBTQ+ and ally students attending accredited colleges and universities in the United States. Awards available for community college, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.
Apply Now

Behavioral Health & Addiction Studies
Addictions.com College Scholarship Contest — $2,250 total (three awards) For full-time U.S. college students. Essay-based, focused on raising awareness about substance abuse and addiction.
Apply Now

Addicted.org DRS Scholarship — $1,000 For full-time college students. Essay focused on personal experiences with substance use and perspectives on addressing the drug epidemic.
Apply Now

General Graduate Scholarships
Ben Selling Scholarship A scholarship program supporting deserving students, administered by the Center for Scholarship Administration.

Apply Now 

Nicolet Law Scholarship — $5,000 (two awards annually) Awarded to students who submit an outstanding video essay. International students are welcome. Applications accepted year-round.
Apply Now 

Global Perspectives Scholarship — $1,000 For high school or college students attending an accredited institution.
Apply Now 

AdvertiseMint Scholarship — $1,000 For U.S. college students at accredited institutions. One-page essay required; winners selected based on writing quality, originality, and presentation.
Apply Now

Blankstyle Scholarship Fund — $1,000 (two awards annually) Merit-based scholarship for high school seniors and current college students. Funds paid directly to the institution.
Apply Now 

We Will Transport It Scholarship Fund — $1,500 (one award annually) Randomly selected from applicants enrolled at an accredited college or university.
Apply Now

Schwartz Injury Law Perseverance Scholarship — $1,000 Supports a student who has overcome a severe injury or medical challenge.
Apply Now 

Don't Stop Here
This list is a starting point, not a ceiling. The students who benefit most from external scholarships are the ones who search consistently, apply to multiple opportunities, and don't give up after a rejection. Every scholarship you receive is money you won't need to borrow. Over the course of your program, that adds up significantly. If you have questions about how an external scholarship affects your financial aid package, our team is here to help.
Contact Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid is here to help you explore your options, to answer questions, and to create a plan that works for you.

Contact the Office of Financial Aid at
[email protected]
[email protected]