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State University of New York (SUNY)/Office of Mental Health (OMH) Scholarship Pipeline Program

Expanding and Diversifying the Mental Health Professionals Pipeline

SUNY/OMH Mental Health Scholarship Pipeline Program

Apply Today

Application deadline:
April 22, 2025

SUNY is committed to improving the quality of mental health care for all of New York State’s residents, and has invested in advancing goals that address the needs of individuals who have been historically underserved with respect to quality mental health care services. The Office of Mental Health, in partnership with the SUNY Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and SUNY schools, have created the SUNY/OMH Mental Health Scholarship Pipeline Program, a seamless pipeline that will attract, retain, and graduate students trained in the various mental health professions and who demonstrate the potential for positively affecting the quality of mental health care for all New York State residents, with a focus on service to those individuals who may have historically lacked quality mental health care.

Program Components:

  • Scholarships for up to 3 years
  • Paid internships with funds for travel, if needed
  • Professional/Career Development Workshops
  • Advising and mentoring
  • Fee waivers for students applying to professional programs
  • Reimbursement for travel and presentations at professional conferences

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the SUNY/OMH Scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Enroll in a SUNY campus;
  • Major in a mental health discipline leading to a career as a mental health professional;
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
  • Be a resident of New York State;
  • Be in good academic standing (2.5 cumulative grade point average or better);
  • Maintain full-time student status in a mental health career major; and
  • Be at least a second-year undergraduate student with sophomore status or first-year graduate student.

Students from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including but not limited to community college students who are planning/matriculating to a 4-year SUNY school and individuals who have demonstrated backgrounds, life experiences, and professional goals associated with providing quality health care to underserved populations.

Preference will be given to candidates who are:

  1. From a low-income background (e.g., Pell-eligible as undergraduates)
  2. First generation college students (students whose parents have not earned a bachelor’s degree)
  3. Bilingual or Multilingual students (language proficiency can be demonstrated by either having a passing grade on a language placement exam or cross-enrolled in a language specific degree program)
  4. AmeriCorps alumni
  5. Veterans
  6. Students that have overcome adversity
Examples of Eligible Degree Programs:
  • Associate Degree programs in Liberal Arts & Sciences: Humanities and Social Sciences with tracks or concentrations including Mental Health Assistant, Human Services, Sociology and Psychology
  • Bachelor's Degree programs in Health & Society, Public Health Concentration, Sociology and Psychology
  • Master's Degree programs in Mental Health Counseling, Master's Degree in Social Work, dual degree programs (BS-MS) in Mental Health Counseling and Masters in Public Health
  • PhD. and Psy.D. programs in Sociology and Psychology

Scholarship application opens: 
March 12, 2025

Application deadline:
April 22, 2025.

Application Link:
SUNY/OMH Mental Health Scholarship Application

For further information, please contact the SUNY Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, odei@suny.edu or contact the Program Lead, Dr. Joseph Skrivanek at joseph.skrivanek@suny.edu.