Psychology

Scholarship and Awards

Department Scholarships and Awards

The Department of Psychology is pleased to offer several scholarship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to those described below, funds are available to support students in other ways, including travel to professional conferences for peer-reviewed presentations. The Department also recognizes students annually with its “Outstanding Undergraduate Psychology Student” award. Scholarships, funding, and awards are given by the Faculty of the Department.

NOTE: Undergraduate scholarship applicants should ALSO complete the current Scholarship Application for Continuing Students.

Important note regarding scholarships: Students who are awarded institutional scholarships, including University Freshmen and Transfer awards and Honors and Athletics awards, and who subsequently are awarded an academic department scholarship may have one of their scholarship award amounts adjusted. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more details.

Dr. James M. Schuerger Endowment Fund Scholarship

Dr. Schuerger was a valued member of the Faculty of the Department of Psychology at CSU until he retired in 2003 and earned the title of Professor Emeritus. Dr. Schuerger passed away on January 7, 2021. The Dr. James M. Schuerger Endowment Fund Scholarship was created to honor his legacy. Two awards will be given each year; undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the College of Sciences and Health Professions at CSU are eligible. According to the Fund Guidelines, there is a preference for the recipient of the Dr. James M. Schuerger Endowment Fund Scholarship to be a member of an under-represented student group; to demonstrate financial need; and to be an undergraduate major or graduate student in the Department of Psychology. Recipients will receive a credit toward tuition (applied by CSU to their account) for the upcoming academic year. The amount of the award varies each year. The annual application deadline is March 15.

Schuerger Scholarship Application  (download form to fill in editable fields, save and email as indicated on form)

Eileen C. and Carlos F. Cortes Endowment Fund Scholarship

Mr. Carlos Cortes was a School Psychologist in the Cleveland schools and a supporter of CSU’s School Psychology program. To honor Mr. Cortes’ memory and support the CSU community, Eileen Cortes established this fund with the intention of awarding scholarships to deserving students.  The recipient of the Eileen C. and Carlos F. Cortes Endowment Fund Scholarship must be a psychology major or graduate student (in good standing) in the Department of Psychology. According to the Fund Guidelines, preference will be given to students with interest in the profession of School Psychology, and to minority students. The recipient will receive a credit toward tuition (applied by CSU to their account) for the upcoming academic year. The amount of the award varies each year. The annual application deadline is March 15.

Cortes Scholarship Application  (download form to fill in editable fields, save and email as indicated on form)

Joyce A. and Ronald H. Zabor Endowment Scholarship

Upon her departure from Cleveland State University with 45 years of service, Joyce Zabor and her husband Ron established this scholarship to provide support to Psychology majors demonstrating financial need and academic promise. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible. The annual application deadline is March 15.

Zabor Scholarship Application  (download form to fill in editable fields, save and email as indicated on form)

 To learn more about past award recipients, please visit our Department of Psychology Awards page.

If you are interested in supporting student scholarships and travel scholarships, please visit our CSU Foundation website and consider designating "Psychology".

More scholarships offered at Cleveland State University

The Hopkins Family Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is available to Psychology and pre-vetinary medicine students at CSU.

Additional scholarships administered by the College of Sciences & Health Professions

Several scholarships are listed on the College of Science & Health Professions page for which students of Psychology might be eligible.  Please read the qualifications and application instructions carefully.

Additional CSU scholarships

A variety of scholarships for students at various stages in their education are offered through Cleveland State University.  Please search the University's Scholarships page carefully for qualifications and application instructions.


External Scholarships and Opportunities

American Indian College Fund for Graduate Students
Application deadline is May 31 every year
Amount: $1,000 - $2,000
AIGCS, a non profit organization, was established in 1969. Founders Robert L. Bennett (Wisconsin Oneida) and John C. Rainer (Taos Pueblo) created a program to assist American Indian college graduates to continue their educations at the master's, doctorate and professional degree levels. AIGC was founded to help open doors to graduate education for American Indians and to help tribes obtain the educated Indian professionals they need to become more self-sufficient and to exercise their rights to self-determination.
American Psychological Association
Search these two sites carefully. There are a number of scholarships available in different demographic and sub-discipline categories  (e.g. organizational psychology, clinical, etc):
http://www.apa.org/apags/programs/scholarships/index.aspx
http://www.apa.org/about/awards/index.aspx
Cleveland FoundationThe Cleveland Foundation website hosts a wide variety of locally funded scholarships.  Deadlines and eligibility varies.
College Now for Adult Learners (for undergrads only)
College Scholarships.org
The College Scholarship Guide
Cleveland Psychological Association
COGDOP Graduate Research Scholarships in Psychology
In conjunction with the Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology, scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 are available to graduate students who are currently enrolled in an interim master's program or doctoral program, to assist with research costs. Eligible scholarships include: the Clarence J. Rosecrans Scholarship ($2,000), the Ruth G. and Joseph D. Matarazzo Scholarship ($3,000), and various $1,000 scholarships. Students who are currently enrolled in a terminal master's program must intend to enroll in a Ph.D. program.
Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Education Graduate Scholarship Program
Application deadline is June 6 every year. 
Amount: Varies
Esperanza
Scholarships for Hispanic students
Fellowships/Scholarships for minority and women students
www.grants.gov: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is proud to be the managing partner for Grants.gov, an initiative that is having an unparalleled impact on the grant community.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund- General College Scholarship Fund for Graduate Students
Application deadline is December 15 every year. 
Amount: $1,000 - $5,000
HSF is the nation's leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education. HSF was founded in 1975 with a vision of strengthening the country by advancing college education among Hispanic Americans-the largest minority segment of the U.S. population. In support of its mission to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees, HSF provides the Latino community with more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. Headquartered in San Francisco, HSF has opened regional offices in Southern California, the Southwest, the Southeast, the Northeast and the Midwest. In addition, HSF launched the Washington, DC-based Hispanic Scholarship Fund Institute to create public partnerships in support of its work. During its 31-year history, HSF has awarded more than 78,000 scholarships totaling $195 million to Latinos from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. HSF scholars have attended more than 1,700 colleges and universities.
Institute for Diversity in Health Care Management (degree earned in MBA, MPH, MHA, MPA, MSN, or BSN but Diversity Management may be allowed) Application deadline is January 31 every year.
  • Cathy L Brock Scholarship, Amount: $1,000
  • Diversified Investment Advisors Leaders in Healthcare Scholarship, Amount: $5,000
  • Elliott C. Roberts Sr. Scholarship, Amount: $1,000 
Japanese American Citizens League Scholarship for Graduate Students
Application deadline is March 1 every year.
Amount: Varies.
Kosciuszko Foundation Tuition Scholarships for Graduate Students of Polish Descent
Application deadline is January 5 every year.
Amount: $1,000 – 7,000.
2021 OnlinePsychologyDegrees.com $1,000 Thought Leaders in Psychology Scholarship: Whether you’re trying to get a new career off the ground or taking your existing career to the next level, we’re thrilled that you’ve chosen a degree in psychology to get you where you want to go. We want to help getting there just a little bit easier by offering you a chance at the 2021 $1,000 Thought Leaders in Psychology Scholarship!
Applications are now being accepted. You could be our next $1,000 scholarship winner!

Submission Deadline

The application window is open until September 1, 2021. We will accept and consider any qualifying submission that comes in by midnight on this date.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Any recently accepted or currently enrolled student in a bachelor’s, or master’s degree program in psychology from an accredited university, as well as doctoral students enrolled in or accepted to a PhD or PsyD program accredited by the American Psychological Association.

All current undergraduate and graduate students who have completed at least one semester/quarter must provide proof of having a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in their program so far.

All recently accepted first-year students must provide proof of being accepted into a qualifying program and meet the following GPA requirements:

  • Bachelor’s students must provide proof of having a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.0, or 3.5 in undergraduate studies if transferring from an associate’s degree program
  • Master’s students must provide proof of having a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in their undergraduate studies
  • Doctoral students must provide proof of having a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in their master’s program, or in their undergraduate studies if accepted to a professional doctorate on the basis of a bachelor’s degree

Scholarship Application Requirements

You will need to submit just four things to meet the scholarship application requirements:

  • Complete application form with verifiably true and accurate information
  • 100% original essay that addresses the topic described below (2,500 words or less)
  • Proof of enrollment or acceptance in a qualifying undergraduate or graduate degree or certificate program (letter of acceptance or another verifiable document with university letterhead)
  • Proof of meeting minimum GPA requirements (transcript summary or another verifiable document with university letterhead)

The application form, required documentation, and essay must all be submitted at the same time.

Any false or inaccurate information on the application form or plagiarized content on the essay would be grounds for immediate disqualification.

Essay Topic

“These are interesting times…” it’s a well-worn cliché at this point, but one that’s undeniably true in a lot of ways. Though many of the problems plaguing the world right now are deeply systemic in nature and don’t have any simple solutions, it is our belief that everything that takes place on a societal level, whether good or bad, has some psycho-social component to it. Even if psychology by itself can’t solve the world’s problems, we believe that it can, at the very least, give us a sense of what questions we need to ask in the search for solutions.

In 2,500 words or less, we want to get your thoughts on the role psychology should play in dealing with the problems of the day– take your pick. Maybe you see an opportunity for psychology to play a role in de-escalation training for law enforcement… maybe you’re curious about the idea of behavioral psychology being put to work to encourage the behaviors that reduce disease spread… perhaps issues of societal inequity have you thinking about how psychology influences fiscal policy and tax code.

Apply here for the 2021 $1,000 Thought Leaders in Psychology Scholarship!

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans.

Point Foundation Scholarship
Scholarship for LGBTQ students. Application deadline is January 19 every year.

Amount: Varies.

Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Foundation

United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
As the nation's oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization, the UNCF's mission is to provide financial support to its 39 member institutions and increase minority degree attainment by reducing financial barriers to college. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 25 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 300 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship programs, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 65,000 students at more than 900 colleges and universities across the country.