Tennessee Behavioral Health Pathways Scholarship
The application portal is now closed. Please stay posted as this portal will reopen in 2026 for new applicants.
Tennessee is offering up to $30,000 in tuition aid (maximum of $15,000 per academic year) for master’s degrees in behavioral health. To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a Tennessee resident seeking a master's degree in counseling, psychiatric nursing, social work, psychology, or similar behavioral health profession.
- Be enrolled or in the process of enrolling in an accredited higher education institution in Tennessee.
The maximum scholarship amount is $30,000 over a two-year period (maximum of $15,000 per academic year).
What does this opportunity mean to the recipients? Hear from one in the news story below!
In exchange for tuition assistance, scholarship recipients will commit to working at a state-funded, grant-contracted treatment agency that serves Tennesseans with the greatest needs and the least ability to pay.* The scholarship recipient must work at one of these agencies for the same duration of time as the tuition assistance received.
The Tennessee Behavioral Health Pathways Scholarship was established in 2023 by the Tennessee General Assembly and Gov. Bill Lee to address the growing demand for more behavioral health professionals. The scholarship program is jointly administered by the Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations (TAMHO) and the Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug & other Addiction Services (TAADAS).
* These community agencies must be members of TAADAS or TAMHO and must have a provider contract with TDMHSAS or have grant funding through the TN Opioid Abatement Council. Click this link for a list of eligible TDMHSAS contracted community agencies.
Click this link for a list of eligible agencies which work with the Opioid Abatement Council.