UC part of $18 million initiative to expand behavioral health workforce in Ohio
Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship Program featured among state news
The University of Cincinnati is participating in a new $18 million statewide scholarship program, as Cleveland.com recently reported, to address critical shortages of mental health and substance use treatment providers across Ohio.
The Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship (OBHS) Program, launched by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, will provide scholarships to graduate students pursuing behavioral health degrees at UC and 17 other Ohio colleges and universities.
UC will receive approximately $1.2 million in scholarship funding. Eligible graduate students may receive full in-state tuition coverage for fall 2026, with scholarships potentially renewable through spring 2028.
Read the full UC News story on the OBHS Program.
Students who accept scholarships must commit to working in an underserved Ohio community for a period equal to the number of years they receive support. Qualifying settings include community behavioral health centers, federally qualified health centers, school-based health clinics and nonprofit providers where Medicaid is the primary payer.
Ohio faces a significant shortage of licensed behavioral health providers, particularly in rural and low-income communities, where residents may wait months for appointments or go without care during crises.
“Providing these scholarships will reduce the educational debt of students, which is extremely important at a time when federal graduate student loans have been limited due to legislative changes,” said Dana Harley, PhD, project director for the program at UC, professor and master of social work program director.
At UC, eligible programs include the master of social work, the master of arts in mental health counseling and the doctorate in clinical psychology (PhD).
An additional $2.5 million is available through Health Impact Ohio to fund $4,000 internship stipends for students during field placements.
Current graduate students can apply through their respective programs. Incoming students are not eligible.
Featured image at top: iStock/nirat.
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