Thank you so much for your interest in a career in community behavioral health. We truly appreciate your enthusiasm. At this time, Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarships applications are no longer being accepted for Fall 2025.

The Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative (WDI) is proud to partner with Ballmer Group to offer the Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship, a conditional grant of up to $51,500 based on unmet need for students in accredited master’s degree programs. The scholarship is awarded on the condition of employment at select Washington state community behavioral health agencies or tribal health centers for three years following graduation.  

The Washington State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Initiative (WDI) is a career-focused, place-based collaboration and conditional scholarships are competitive.  

We are focused on increasing the number, skills, and diversity of master’s level students who wish to begin or expand their careers providing community behavioral health services serving children/youth and adults in outpatient community mental health settings.

Here is the list of the WDI’s approved agencies.

Eligibility Criteria

• Demonstrated financial need as indicated by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)^Ⓡ or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) for current academic year.
• Enrolled in a master’s level clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work program at a partnering institution. Applicants who applied then accepted admission to a relevant program at a partnering
  institution but have not yet begun their first term of study.
• Ability to obtain employment post-graduation at an eligible community behavioral health agency in
  Washington state.
• Ability to maintain legal residency in Washington state for at least 36 months post-graduation for students
  receiving a conditional scholarship for an academic program longer than 1 year (or at least 18 months post-graduation for students receiving a conditional scholarship for an academic program that is completed in one academic year). 

2021-2025 Application Process

1. Apply for student financial aid through FAFSA^Ⓡ/ WASFA by your school’s deadline.
2. Apply for admission to a qualifying master’s program a Washington state university. If already
   accepted admission into graduate program or have already started program, proceed to Step 3.

 

2026 Application Process

1. Complete the Fall 2026 online application via Washington Student Achievement Council (https://wsac.wa.gov/bhcs)
2. Reply to a selection notification email by the acceptance deadline.

Scholarship Evaluation and Awarding

Each partnering higher education program selected its 2021-2025 Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship recipients. Selection determinations made holistically and include review of the following characteristics of the student: commitment to behavioral health, experience with and commitment to working with diverse communities, commitment to post-graduation employment in a qualified setting, and financial need. Academic success and/or a letter of recommendation required by some but not all universities. 

The Ballmer Behavioral Health Scholarship, one component of the WDI, is designed to reduce or eliminate student debt while building advanced skills capacity in the community behavioral health field. It requires a three-year employment commitment post-graduation. 

This scholarship and advanced skill building opportunity is competitive and applicants are notified of selection by email. In accepting the conditional grant, students sign an agreement outlining the conditional scholarship commitments and responsibilities. Accepting students
attend a virtual orientation at the beginning of the program and are required to participate in advanced skills training to prepare to dispatch their scholarship obligations. 

What to Expect as a Conditional Scholarship Student

For students attending graduate programs that take longer than one academic year to complete, the conditional grant offers up to $51,500 based on unmet financial need.

For students attending MSW graduate programs that are completed in one academic year, the conditional scholarship offers up to $25,750 based on unmet financial need. 

Conditional grant funds are distributed each September and January through a university-to-university invoicing process.  

Conditional scholarship students participate in advanced skills training during their graduate education to prepare them as the next generation of clinicians working in Washington’s community behavioral health workforce. Students should expect to spend approximately eight hours per month on these activities during the academic year. Activities take place virtually but may include in-person events. In addition to completing the requirements of their program, students are expected to maintain good academic standing and be enrolled at least part-time. 

Following graduation, conditional scholarship students are expected to work in a WDI-approved community behavioral health agency or tribal school within Washington state for three years. 

Participating in the WDI is a life-changing opportunity for many students. Our program and university-partners are dedicated to providing education and training to all students, especially those who are first generation college attendees. We are so grateful to be included among the universities that offer this amazing opportunity to students!