
Financial Aid Resources
The CSUSM Master of Social Work (MSW) program serves approximately 150 students each year. In 2020-2021, tuition and fees for CSUSM MSW were approximately $16,650 per year for one and two-year students, and $7,668-$13,806 for three-year students. The Department of Social Work is committed to finding opportunities for our students to obtain scholarships and stipends to ease the financial burden of higher education.
FINANCIAL AID
The CSUSM Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will provide you with the details of applying for financial aid, understanding your financial aid award and properly securing all of your loans. Please visit the CSUSM Financial Aid & Scholarships website or call 760-750-4850 for detailed information regarding dates and deadlines, as well as downloadable forms to complete your financial aid application.
- To apply for federal student loans and grants (FAFSA), visit www.fafsa.ed.gov or call 1-800-433-3243. The CSUSM school code for the FAFSA is 030113.
STIPEND PROGRAMS
The Department of Social Work has offered various stipend programs for MSW students that have ranged from $9,250 to $18,500 per year. Currently, the CalSWEC Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program is the only stipend program available for MSW students at CSUSM. The Department regularly applies for grants and stipend programs, so we hope to have additional student stipend opportunities in the future.
Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program
The Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program is available to incoming MSW students enrolled in the full-time program. Students selected to participate in the stipend program gain knowledge and practice experience working in public child welfare settings that will prepare them for a career in this field. Participants receive an annual stipend of $18,500 each year they are funded (up to 2 years), and upon graduating with their MSW degree, commit to working in a county child welfare agency for the period of time they received financial support. For more information visit the Full-Time Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program webpage.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship opportunities are a great way to fund your education at CSUSM and are available to a variety of students from all backgrounds. Below are links to some of the many scholarships that may be available to CSUSM MSW students. We encourage you to also look within other university programs, your professional organizations, your community (religious groups, community organizations, etc.) and your place of employment to find other funding opportunities.
- ***CSUSM General Scholarship Application***: Open October 1- February 1st!
- All CSUSM Scholarships
- CSUSM Estelle Wiener Memorial Scholarship ($400): awarded to Masters of Social Work students, requires a 3.50 or higher GPA and demonstrated financial need
- CSU Scholarships
- CSWE’s Minority Fellowship Program (MFP)
- NASW Scholarships
- NASW California Native American Student Scholarship ($1,000)
- Travel Scholarship: The 15th Annual “Giving Flight to Your Success™/Dándole Alas a Tu Éxito™" ¡Lánzate! Travel Award Program is sponsored by Southwest Airlines and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
- California Society for Clinical Social Work Scholarships: available to students in their final year
- Union of Pan Asian Communities' Beverley Yip Scholarship ($2,500)
- Women in California Leadership Minerva Scholarship
DEPARTMENT SUPPORT
Student Participation in Conferences
The Social Work Department may have access to funding to support student attendance at workshops/trainings/conferences related to the social work. Students can apply to have the registration fee for the event paid by the Department on a first come, first served basis until the funds are expended. To request funds, individual students should submit a one-page proposal to the Department Chair (bbeecher@csusm.edu). The proposal should include: student name, conference name, conference date(s), registration fee amount, what you hope to gain from attending this conference and how it will support your future career goal.
LOAN CANCELLATION/FORGIVENESS/REPAYMENT
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): Federal Student aid loan forgiveness program (after 120 qualifying payments).
- PSLF Limited Waiver Fact Sheet: Changes to the PSLF program requirements (expires 10/31/22)
- HRSA National Health Service Corps (NHSC) federal loan repayment program for LCSWs: Loan Forgiveness Program of up to $50,000 for 2 years of service in areas of need.
- Additionally, certain educational expenses can be deducted on State and Federal Income taxes as noted on the IRS website.
- NASW Student Loan Forgiveness Programs brochure
- The California Social Work Education Center has put together a helpful table of scholarship/loan repayment options here: CalSWEC Social Work Student/Alumni Financial Resources