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Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship

Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship

The Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship provides financial support to eligible Ohio University graduate students preparing for careers in behavioral health. In exchange for scholarship funding, recipients commit to working after graduation for a qualifying behavioral health provider serving underserved communities in Ohio.

The scholarship is available for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 academic years, through Spring Semester 2028.

Scholarship Benefits

Eligible Athens campus students may receive funding covering full-time tuition and general fees for fall and spring semesters up to $15,000 per academic year not to exceed cost of attendance. Funding may be awarded for a maximum of two academic years. Additional funding may be available to support internship stipends through Health Impact Ohio.

Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship recipients will not be responsible for tuition or general fees covered by the scholarship.

  • Eligible Graduate Programs

    The scholarship is available only to Athens campus students enrolled in one of the following programs:

    • Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
      Major code: ME6278
      CIP code: 51.1508
    • Master of Social Work
      Major codes: MS6600 and MS6604
      CIP code: 44.0701

  • Student Eligibility

    To receive the Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship, a student must:

    • Be an Ohio resident.
    • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
    • Be accepted for enrollment or enrolled in an eligible Athens campus graduate program listed above.
    • Enroll nine or more graduate semester hours—each term (fall and spring) in which scholarship funding is received.
    • Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
    • Agree to work after graduation for a qualifying behavioral health provider serving an underserved community in Ohio.

    Note: The scholarship does not apply to summer enrollment.

Post-Graduation Employment Commitment

Recipients must work after graduation for one or more of the following qualifying employers in Ohio:

  • An Ohio Community Behavioral Health Center
  • A Federally Qualified Health Center
  • A child advocacy center
  • A school-based health clinic
  • A behavioral health provider participating in OhioRISE
  • A nonprofit behavioral healthcare provider for which Medicaid is the payor for the majority of its clients

The required employment period will equal the length of time the student receives scholarship funding. For example, a student who receives the scholarship for two academic years must complete two years of qualifying employment.

Recipients are expected to begin working for a qualifying employer within six months of earning their graduate degree.

Important: A recipient who does not complete the eligible degree program or fulfill the required post-graduation employment commitment will be required to repay the scholarship funds received.

Student Attestation

As a condition of receiving Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship funding, each applicant must attest to the following:

  1. I understand and agree to meet all student eligibility requirements described above.
  2. After completing my degree, I agree to work for a qualifying behavioral health provider for the required employment period. 
  3. I understand and agree that scholarship funds may be used only for the allowable expenses described above.
  4. I understand that if I do not complete the eligible behavioral health degree program in which I am enrolled or fail to complete the required post-graduation employment commitment, I will be required to repay the scholarship funds I received.

  • Apply for the Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship

    Eligible students may complete the Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship application and required attestation through the link below.

    Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and awards will be made to applicants who have submitted a complete application and meet all eligibility requirements.

    An application will not be considered final until all eligibility requirements are satisfied. For example, if a student does not currently have in-state residency but is eligible to request a residency change, the application will become final once the student submits the required documentation and Ohio residency is officially established.

    Apply Now

Questions about the Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship?

Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Major code: ME6278)

Master of Social Work (Major codes: MS6600 and MS6604)