Trending
MARIETTA -- Marietta College has received grant funding to provide full-tuition scholarships for students enrolling in its new Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, according to a college release.
Ten scholarships will be available to Ohio residents joining the program's inaugural cohort in January 2027. An additional 10 scholarships covering one year of tuition will be available to students entering the program in fall 2027.
The funding comes through the Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship Program, an $18 million initiative launched by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health and the Ohio Department of Higher Education. The program is intended to strengthen Ohio's behavioral health workforce and increase access to mental health and substance use treatment in rural and underserved communities.
Eligible students entering in early 2027 may receive $15,000 annually for two years. Students entering in fall 2027 may receive the same amount for one year. Marietta College will provide matching financial aid to cover the remaining tuition and general fees.
Scholarship recipients must commit to working in an eligible underserved Ohio community for the same number of years they receive scholarship funding.
"Ohio communities continue to face a significant shortage of clinical mental health professionals, particularly in rural and underserved areas," said Elisabeth B. Simpson, who will lead the program. "These scholarships provide students with the opportunity to pursue their calling without the burden of tuition costs. It will allow them to focus on developing the knowledge, skills and clinical experience needed to serve the state of Ohio long-term."
The two-year, 60-credit-hour graduate program is designed to prepare students for state licensure. Students will complete coursework online and attend two brief on-campus residencies featuring community-based learning and opportunities to work with faculty members and classmates.
Students also will gain clinical experience through agencies and facilities and complete an internship practicum near the end of the program.
Ryan May, associate provost for graduate education and McCoy Professor of Psychology, said the scholarships will help address a growing need for behavioral health professionals in rural Ohio.
"Through the Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship Program, Marietta College has a unique opportunity to help meet that challenge by educating future counselors who will provide critical services where they are needed most," May said. "This investment not only removes financial barriers for students but also expands access to mental health care for Ohioans."
Employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors is projected to grow 17% from 2024 to 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Marietta College is accepting applications for the program's January 2027 term. Scholarship applications will open Oct. 1 and are due Nov. 1.
More information is available at marietta.edu/counseling.