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 some scholarships offered specifically to social work students. MSW students attending SSSW are considered once they complete and submit their application below. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the school year as funds become available.

Those seeking additional financial support opportunities are encouraged to review scholarships offered via the Hunter main website, and to explore scholarship opportunities via their community, unions and organizations. 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 100-300 word essay. When filling out the form please read the instructions carefully.
    • Please note, your application will allow you a place to indicate which scholarship you are interested in applying for. However, all submissions will be automatically reviewed for all available scholarship opportunities.
    • For continuing students (who will be in their second year of study, we suggest submitting your applications by June 15th for full consideration of Fall scholarship options. 
    • If you are an incoming Fall student, we suggest that you submit by August 1st 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.
  • John Carrera Scholarship: General needs-based scholarship to support registration expenses

Rising Second Year MSW Student Scholarship Opportunities:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Elizabeth Radinsky Scholarship: General needs-based scholarship to support registration expenses

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.
  • 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.

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.

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