Financial Aid & Scholarship

Financial Aid Information

 
Information about financial aid (scholarships, loans, and work-study) available at Hunter is provided in order to assist you in meeting the costs of enrollment at Silberman. There are two primary resources for financial assistance information for students at Silberman:

1. Hunter College Financial Aid Office
   695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065
   Phone 212-772-4820
   www.hunter.cuny.edu/finaid
2. Silberman School of Social Work
   2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10035
   For more information on scholarships, please contact scholar@hunter.cuny.edu.
   

Federal Loan Programs

 
The Hunter College Financial Aid Office is also responsible for administering federal loan programs. To learn about these programs, go to www.hunter.cuny.edu/finaid. The Financial Aid Office website provides details about the following:

• Federal Direct Loans (William D. Ford Direct Loan Program)
• Federal Perkins Loans
• Federal Work-Study

Financial Aid for Graduate Students

 
Specific information about financial aid for graduate students is available at www.hunter.cuny.edu/finaid/gradstudents. For financial aid matters please contact the Hunter College Financial Aid Office Directly: finaid@hunter.cuny.edu or (212) 772-4820.

New York State Financial Aid

 
Students who want to apply for federal and New York State financial aid can complete applications in one online session at www.fafsa.ed.gov. In addition, students who want to request a Federal Direct Loan must request the loan online at www.hunter.cuny.edu/finaid/dirloan.html.

School of Social Work Scholarships (Fall 2025 – Spring 2026)

 
There are several scholarships offered specifically to social work students. MSW students attending SSSW are considered once they complete and submit their application below. To apply for a scholarship, please take the following steps:

1. Completing your FAFSA: Whether you plan to access loan options or not, you must submit a FAFSA for scholarship consideration. If you are not eligible to file a FAFSA, please submit the application and then follow up with the scholarship committee (scholar@hunter.cuny.edu) to confirm your status.
2. Complete the Silberman Scholarship Application online: This includes academic and financial information and a 300-500 word essay. Please go here for the application link and read instructions carefully.
   • Please note, your application will allow you a place to indicate which scholarship you are interested in applying for. You can select up to three scholarships total.
   • For continuing students (who will be in their second year in 2024 – 2025), we suggest submitting your applications by June 15th for full consideration of Fall scholarship options. 
   • If you are an incoming Fall student, applications are due by August 15^th to assure full consideration of Fall scholarship options unless otherwise indicated. Applications received after the due dates will be considered on a rolling basis as additional scholarship opportunities arise.
   • Applicants will be notified of awards only if they are chosen to receive a scholarship. Applicants not chosen in the first award period will continue to be eligible throughout the school year (and applications will remain live in the system).

Incoming First Year MSW Student Scholarship Opportunities:

• Amy Watkins Scholarship: For incoming students whose major method is community organization. A committee of alums selects recipients.
• Betty Cooper Wallerstein Scholarship: For incoming MSW students who maintain good standing.
• Mary E Woods Scholarship: For incoming clinical method students who anticipate extreme hardship around living and travel expenses.

Rising Second Year MSW Student Scholarship Opportunities:

• ESCOTA Scholarship: For students interesting in working with Older Adults (Gerontology).
• Phyllis and Joseph Caroff Foundation for Health and Mental Health: For second year MSW students who demonstrate financial need and who are specializing in health and mental health.
• Hugh Downs Endowment: For students specializing in gerontology.

All MSW students Scholarship Opportunities:

• Harold Lewis Scholarship: Annual award given to a student who made a significant contribution in the field of social work.
• Child Welfare Leadership Scholarship – For students specializing in Child Welfare.
• Bernard Wohl Scholarship: For students with a demonstrated commitment to working in settlement houses. This scholarship honors the legacy of Bernard J. Wohl (1930-2006), a dedicated and courageous advocate for settlement house and community-centered supports serving poor, homeless, mentally ill, and elderly populations.
• Bob Ryan Scholarship: For students in good standing who are experiencing significant financial hardship.

If you have any problems submitting your scholarship application or have questions about any of the above scholarship opportunities, please contact scholar@hunter.cuny.edu.

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The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)—Mental Health Scholarship Program

The Mental Health Scholarship is open to full-time employees of agency programs in contract with DOHMH’s Bureau of Mental Health or Bureau of Children, Youth and Families who meet specific requirements.

Click here to visit the new MHSP website for more information.