MSSA Scholarship Program

About

The purpose of the MSSA Scholarship Program is to build and support Minnesota’s health and human service system through a qualified, committed and passionate workforce in Minnesota and the greater Midwest. MSSA scholarships help provide the financial resources to support students pursuing a career in a health and human service-related field. MSSA awards scholarships in three categories—Undergraduate, Graduate, and Diversity (undergraduate and graduate). The scholarships are supported by generous donations to the MSSA scholarship fund, and through Blue Cross Blue Shield. 

MSSA provides $13,500 in scholarships to assist future health and human service professionals. A total of seven scholarships are awarded each year. In addition to the financial award, 2023 scholarship recipients will receive: 

• Free MSSA membership through their first year after graduation.
• Free registration to the 2023 Annual Training Conference and Expo. 
• Recognition in various MSSA communications in 2023, including at the Annual Conference.

Applicants may apply to multiple scholarships so long as they are eligible for both, i.e., an undergraduate can apply for both the Undergraduate and Diversity-Undergraduate scholarships, and a graduate student can apply for both the Graduate and Diversity-Graduate scholarships.

Application Timeline

November 1: Application period opens
January 15: Application period closes
February 15: Judging process completed
March 1: Scholarship winners announced

Thanks to our Diversity Scholarship Sponsor, Blue Cross Blue Shield!

As MSSA's Diversity Scholarship Sponsor, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota is committed to ending racial health disparities and supporting the health and human service workforce.

Eligibility Requirements

• Only applications that meet all eligibility requirements will be reviewed.
• To apply, applicants must be members of MSSA and must maintain active membership throughout the award period. Membership for students is free; more information can be found here.
• Students must be enrolled in an accredited program at a nonprofit academic institution leading to a degree in a health and human service-related field. Common majors and Masters programs include, but are not limited to:
  • Social Work
  • Psychology
  • Counseling
  • Healthcare Services Administration
  • Alcohol and Drug Studies
  • Family Consumer Science
  • Health Science
  • Criminal Justice
  • Human Development and Family Services
  • Sociology
  • Public Administration
• The scholarship award recipient will be ask to submit verification of enrollment for the fall semester.
• Preference is given to applicants planning to work in the Midwest—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota or North Dakota.
• For the Undergraduate Scholarship and Undergraduate Diversity Scholarships, applicants must:
  • Be an incoming junior or senior in Fall 2023 and have at least two semesters left before graduating.
  • Have declared a health and human service-related major.
• For the Graduate Scholarship and Graduate Diversity Scholarship, applicants must:
  • Have applied to, or have been accepted into, an accredited graduate degree program for Fall 2023. Payment of the award will be contingent on the full admission of the candidate into the program.