Scholarships for students living with mental illness can provide many students with the opportunity to participate in a life-changing experience. Many students with mental illness are often unable to attend college for financial reasons, and a scholarship can help open doors for them that otherwise may remain closed. If you’re looking for the right scholarships for a student with mental illness, we’ve compiled a list of 30 scholarships you’ll want to closely consider.
1. The Baer Reintegration Scholarship
The Baer Reintegration Scholarship is offered by the Sidney R. Baer Jr. Foundation along with The Center for Reintegration. This scholarship is available to students who have been affected by mental illness and is designed to help them pursue their goals and dreams through engaging in academic learning and relationships. There are different scholarships available that students can apply for. The scholarship may cover all of their educational costs or a portion of them. Scholarships are available for all levels of higher education from G.E.D.s to Ph.Ds. The application process typically runs from October to January every year.
2. The Buckfire Law Scholarship
In 2014, the Buckfire Law Firm created this scholarship as a way to show their commitment towards providing financial assistance to students with injuries or disabilities looking to pursue higher levels of education. Each year, the selection committee selections one student to receive a $1,000 scholarship. Students with a variety of disabilities including mental and psychiatric conditions, speech and language disabilities, learning disabilities, behavior disabilities, and physical disabilities are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Students will need to complete an application and compose a one-page essay related to how they overcame adversity associated with their specific disability.
3. The Drake Davis Scholarship
After Drake Davis committed suicide in 2006, the Drake Davis Foundation was created to raise awareness and prevent more young adults from committing suicide. The foundation offers scholarships to high school seniors each year. They look for students who show leadership, positive character skills, and that have completed community service to help others. When applying for this scholarship, students will need to submit a copy of their transcripts, a letter of recommendation, a copy of a college acceptance letter, and a 500 word essay on why being awarded this scholarship is important to them. The Drake Davis Board of Directors selects the winning students each year.
4. The AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship
The American Association on Health and Disability offers the AAHD Frederick J. Krause seen between individuals with disabilities and members of the general population. This scholarship is available for students with disabilities who are completing undergraduate or graduate programs centering health and disabilities. Students must be at least a sophomore in college before applying for this scholarship. When applying for this scholarship, students will need to compose a personal statement, present two letters of recommendation, a college transcript, and documentation of their disability. The AAHD Board of Directors Scholarship Committee determines how the $1,000 scholarship will be split amongst the recipients each year.
5. The Addiction Recovery Centers Humanitarian Scholarship
The Addiction Recovery Centers Humanitarian Scholarship is available for college students who are studying Behavioral Health or Social Services. This scholarship is awarded once each quarter and awards students up to $1,000 they can apply towards their undergraduate or graduate studies. High school seniors, current college students, and current graduate students can apply for this scholarship. A 500-word essay that explains how the money from the scholarship would have a beneficial impact on the student’s pursuit of higher education is required with each application.
6. The INCIGHT Scholarship
Students looking to attend vocation schools, community colleges, universities, or graduate programs can consider the INCIGHT Scholarship. This scholarship is available to students living in California, Oregon, or Washington State who have any disability. INCIGHT looks for students who have provided service to their community a demonstrated an ability to succeed despite the personal obstacles they face. More than 850 scholarships have been awarded by INCIGHT to students with disabilities since 2004.
7. The JC Runyon Foundation Scholarship
The JC Runyon Foundation Scholarship is available for traditional and non-traditional high school students. In order to be considered for this scholarship, the student must have completed at least one stay in an inpatient facility for substance abuse and/or a psychiatric disorder. Students who are selected to receive this scholarship will be eligible to continue to receive financial assistance throughout the duration of their degree program. There is also a special Gala hosted every spring where recipients will be honored and provided the opportunity to share their stories.
8. JED’s Student Voice of Mental Health Award
The JED’s Student Voice of Mental Health Award is an option for college students who are actively working to increase awareness of mental health issues, providing encouragement for other students with mental illness to find help, or working to decrease the stigma associated with mental illness. The recipient of this scholarship will receive $3,000 towards their education, a trip to New York where they will be honored at JED’s yearly gala, and recognition for their achievement on JED’s website.
9. John Weir Academic Scholarship
The John Weir Academic Scholarship is offered by the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living. It is available to high school seniors who have a significant disability. These disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, learning, emotional, visual, or physical in nature. Students applying for the scholarship must be looking to attend a trade school, a two-year college, or a four-year college. When completing the application to be considered for this award, students will need to include a 300 word essay describing their volunteer work or involvement in their community.
10. The Lillian Cooper Droke Memorial Scholarship
The Lillian Cooper Droke Memorial Scholarship was started in memory of Thomas M. Droke’s grandmother. Students with a mental illness who are currently enrolled in a technical training program, a college, or university are invited to apply for this scholarship. Each year, one recipient is selected to receive a $5,000 scholarship to be applied towards their education.
11. The Peyton Tuthill Foundation Scholarship
The Peyton Tuthill Foundation Scholarship was designed for children who have suffered the loss of a sibling or parent due to homicide. This scholarship was established as a way to share hope with children who have suffered an unimaginable loss in their life and may be suffering from issues like depression, anxiety, or PTSD. To apply for this scholarship, students must be between the ages of 17 and 25. They also much have completed at least one year of grief counseling. If selected to receive the scholarship, students will receive up to $1,000 for each academic year of their studies. Scholarships can be awarded for up to four years of schooling. When applying for this scholarship, students will need to compose an essay about how crime and impacted their life and how counseling has been beneficial to them.
12. NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship
The NBCUniversal Tony Coelho Media Scholarship is awarded by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). This scholarship is funded by NBCUniversal. Each year, eight undergraduate and graduate students with a disability are selected to receive this scholarship. Students applying should be pursuing degrees related to communication, entertainment, or media. If selected to receive this scholarship, students will receive $5,625 in financial assistance. The application process for this scholarship includes answer three essay questions. Students will also need to provide the selection committee with a letter of recommendation, a copy of their transcript, and their resume.
13. The Jared Monroe Foundation Scholarship
Students who are currently receiving treatment for bipolar disorder can apply for the Jared Monroe Foundation Scholarship. This scholarship is offered to high school seniors as well as freshmen, sophomores, and juniors in college. If selected to receive this award, students can decide whether they want the funds to cover their tuition, room and board, books, or other fees. The exact amount of the scholarship varies each year based on donations to the foundation, but it is typically around $2,300.
14. The John Lepping Memorial Scholarship
The Lep Foundation offers the John Lepping Memorial Scholarship for students with a disability. These disabilities may include, though are not limited to, psychological or physical conditions. In order to apply for this scholarship, the student must be a permanent resident of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or New York. Each year, the total value of the scholarship may vary, but it can be as much as $5,000. When applying for this award, students will need to compose a one-page essay that describes the disability and explains the financial burden it poses on their family. Students will also need to provide letters of recommendation, an official transcript, and documentation from a physician to confirm their disability.
15. The Heroes Fund Scholarship
Students interested in attending Liberty University may be eligible to receive the Heroes Fund Scholarship. This scholarship was established as a way to honor service members who were wounded in the line of duty. In order to apply for this scholarship, students need to be pursuing their first degree at a given level. Students must also either be a recipient of the Purple Heart, be rated between 50 percent and 100 percent disabled by the VA for PTSD, be rated between 50 percent and 100 percent disabled by the VA for “combat-related” conditions, or be the spouse of a soldier killed in action during a Gulf War.
16. CTU Patriot Scholarship
The CTU Patriot Scholarship, which was established in 2008, has helped over 600 students receive financial assistance. This scholarship is designed to provide assistance to wounded service members as well as their spouses, non-medical attendants, caregivers, and dependents. Recipients of this scholarship will receive full tuition to one of the eligible CTUD degree programs. They may choose to attend one of the Colorado campuses in Aurora or Colorado Springs, or they can opt to receive an online degree from CTU. A laptop and either textbooks or e-books are also provided to the recipients of this scholarship.
17. The Andrew Q. Peschard Memorial Scholarship
High school seniors in San Mateo County can apply for the Andrew Q. Peschard Memorial Scholarship. The family of Andrew Q. Peschard created this scholarship in 2017 in his memory. The scholarship is awarded to a student who has proven to be resilient in overcoming mental health setbacks and following their dreams to receive a college education. To apply for this scholarship, students will need to submit a letter of recommendation along with an essay that describes a challenge they have faced and the impact that challenge had on their emotional or mental well-being.
18. The Quell Foundation Fighter Scholarship
The Fighter Scholarship from the Quell Foundation was created to provide financial assistance to students who are currently being treated for a diagnosed mental health condition. This scholarship is available to both high school seniors and students currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program. A Student Athlete Fighter Scholarship was recently added by the Quell Foundation. This scholarship is available for high school seniors, undergraduate students, or graduate student-athletes who are currently receiving treatment for a mental health condition. The purpose of this award is to highlight the pressure that is faced by student-athletes as they move from high school sports to college sports.
19. The Google Lime Scholarship
Students who are looking to receive a degree in the computer science field can apply for the Google Lime Scholarship. In order to be considered for this scholarship, applicants must have a visible or invisible disability. Students must also undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. students who are currently enrolled at a university in the United States or Canada. Recipients of this scholarship who are studying in the United States will receive $10,000, and recipients studying in Canada will receive $5,000. They will also be invited to the Google Scholars Retreat at the Googleplex and will be considered for internships through Google for software engineering.
20. The Jack Scura Fund Annual Scholarship
The Jack Scura Fund Annual Scholarship was created to honor special needs students and celebrate their achievements in school and their community. This scholarship is designed for undergraduate students. Current undergrads, as well as high school seniors, can apply for it. Recipients of this scholarship receive $5,000 towards their education. In order to apply for this award, students much have either an intellectual disability, a psychiatric disability, or a severe physical disability. Students must also have a GPA of 3.2 or higher and will need to submit two recommendation letters, transcripts, a written essay, their resume, and documentation of their disability.
21. The Tommy Tranchin Award
The Dallas Foundation created the Tommy Tranchin Award as a way to provide support for intellectually, physically, or emotionally disabled students. Unlike many other scholarships, this award is not designed to be used for higher education. Rather, North Texas students in grades 8 through 12 can propose an activity they would like to complete that would be beneficial towards developing their skills and knowledge in the career field they would like to pursue. Selected students can receive up to $1,500 to use towards the activity they requested.
22. Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship Award
The Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship Award was created to help raise awareness about cyberbullying and increase the number of students dedicated to putting an end to it. This is a $1,000 scholarship that is available for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. In order to be considered for this scholarship, students must be attending or planning to attend an accredited United States university or college. As part of the application process, students will need to submit a short essay. They can choose to write about why cyberbullying should be deleted, or they may write about how they have been personally affected by cyberbullying.
23. The Wells Fargo Scholarship Program for People with Disabilities Award
The Wells Fargo Scholarship Program for People with Disabilities was developed to provide financial assistance to help individuals with a disability find success in their desired educational and career paths. Scholarship America administers this program for under students. Students who are selected to receive this scholarship will receive either $2,500 (full-time) or $1,250 (part-time) towards their studies. The awards may be renewed for up to three years for full-time students and up to seven years for part-time students. When selecting students to receive this award, the committee looks at their academic record, work experience, recommendations, statement of goals, and the ways in which they have shown leadership in their school and community.
24. The Susanna DeLaurentis Charitable Foundation Memorial Scholarship
Students who are faced with a chronic disease or challenges to their mental or physical health can apply for the Susanna DeLaurentis Charitable Foundation Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was established to provide financial support for high school seniors who have demonstrated academic success as well as involvement in extracurricular activities. $1,000 will be awarded to each recipient to use towards their studies. When applying for this scholarship, students will need to write about how they have overcome the challenges posed by their health conditions and managed to find success. They will also need to provide supporting information about their academic and extracurricular achievements and a letter of recommendation.
25. The Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship
The Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship was created as a way to combat the growing rates of suicide, anxiety, and depression in our county. This scholarship is available to students who have a personal experience with mental health challenges or have seen people close to them deal with mental health challenges. It is available to students in any career path who are currently in high school or college. When applying for the scholarship, students will need to write an essay about their experiences with mental health and the impact those experiences have had on their relationships, beliefs, and career aspirations.
26. The Prochnow Foundation Annual Scholarship
Every year, the Prochnow Foundation awards a $10,000 scholarship to a student with a mental illness. This award was created in the hopes of providing financial assistance to make education more accessible to students with mental illness. The scholarship can be used towards a four-year college or a full-length trade school. During the application process, students need to compose a short essay detailing the ways they are able to achieve success with their mental illness. They also need to share their professional and personal goals for the future. An acceptance letter from a college or trade school, a letter of recommendation, and a transcript showing a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher also need to be included with the application.
27. Achieve TMS Mental Health Scholarship
Achieve TMS offers the Achieve TMS Mental Health Scholarship to students who are currently enrolled in an accredited college or university studying mental health. The selected recipient will be awarded $1,000 towards college or graduate school tuition. To apply for this scholarship, students need to compose a 1,000 word essay about their goals, post-graduation plans, and their passion for the mental health field.
28. The Disability Care Center’s Scholarships
Students who have a disability or who are pursuing a degree in special education are eligible to apply for a scholarship through the Disability Care Center. To meet the disability requirement, students can have any physical or mental impairment that affects their quality of life and daily activities. The disability must be medically diagnosed and a physician must provide supporting documentation related to the disability with the student’s application. The application will also need to include a written essay on how the student was able to overcome a hardship that was the result of their disability. Students who are selected to receive this scholarship will receive $500 towards the cost of their tuition.
29. The FSD Science Graduate Student Grant Fund Scholarship
The FSD Science Graduate Student Grant Fund Scholarship was created to provide financial assistance to graduate science students with a disability. When creating this award, the Foundation for Science and Disability also wanted to increase the opportunities that students with a disability have to excel in science, medical, and mathematics-related careers. This scholarship awards recipients with $1,000 towards their graduate degree in a math, science, technology, engineering, or medical field.
30. The Ability Center Scholarship
The Ability Center Scholarship was created to make it easier for individuals with disabilities to gain access to higher education. In order to qualify for this scholarship, students must live in select counties in Ohio or Michigan. They also must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be enrolled in a post-secondary degree program. Students will need to write an essay about the effect their disability has on their life, their academic and career goals, and how they plan to give back to their community if they are selected to receive the scholarship. A current transcript and three references need to be submitted with the application.
As you can likely see, there are numerous scholarship options available for students with a mental disability. If you are looking for scholarships for students living with mental illness, our article has provided you with some great options to pursue.
