In a steering control apparatus, a basic assistance torque calculating unit calculates a basic assistance torque. A correction torque calculating unit calculates a correction torque to be added to the basic assistance torque. In the correction torque calculating unit, a returning state determining unit determines whether a steering wheel is turning or returning. A returning speed stabilization control unit calculates a returning speed stabilization torque to stabilize a returning speed of the steering wheel, as the correction torque. The returning speed stabilization control calculates the returning speed stabilization torque such as to bring a second-order time differential value of steering wheel position-related information correlated with a steering wheel position closer to zero, and such that an absolute value of the returning speed stabilization torque when the steering wheel is returning is relatively greater than that when the steering wheel is turning.