Becoming a nurse practitioner, occupational therapist, dental professional, or medical assistant, requires investing in healthcare education. If you want to avoid gaining massive student loan debt while getting your dream education, then our list of top healthcare scholarships is for you.
We will cover the answers on how to get a healthcare scholarship, eligibility for a scholarship application, and various scholarship opportunities. We will also include healthcare scholarships for high school students to help you get a head start on your dream health sciences career. If you are interested in a scholarship for an advanced degree, you can also check out the option below.
What Is a Healthcare Scholarship?
A healthcare scholarship is an academic financial aid award for students pursuing or interested in a degree in the healthcare industry. These financial awards help relieve the burden of educational costs. Your choice of healthcare program can include nursing, health education, health services administration, or health information technology majors.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of a medical school degree is $218,792. A medical field or a healthcare scholarship can help mitigate some of your loan repayment stresses and allow you to focus on academics. The award amounts, application period, and application eligibility requirements will depend on the specific scholarship awards.
Common Healthcare Scholarship Requirements
- Cumulative grade point average. Whether you are a high school senior or college student, a healthcare scholarship typically requires a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or more. Academic excellence also plays a key role in getting an internal university scholarship.
- Accredited school enrollment. A standard requirement across undergraduate or graduate healthcare scholarship programs is enrollment in an accredited health studies program or school.
- Personal essay. Healthcare scholarship recipients are required to submit a personal essay displaying their professional goals of becoming a health professional. Your essay response is subjective but adding medical-related or other relevant content is necessary to get a scholarship.
- Applicant profile. Several healthcare scholarships offer financial assistance catered toward minority communities or other specific applicant groups. Some scholarship recipient profiles cover African Americans, Women, Native Americans, and LGBTQ+ folks. You will need to meet the scholarship eligibility requirements to apply.
- United States permanent residency or citizenship. The typical requirement for American healthcare scholarships is that recipients are either US citizens or permanent residents.
How to Find Healthcare Scholarships
There are numerous ways to find healthcare scholarships today that incorporate online research and academic professional consultations. Depending on your academic background and network, you can use the avenues that work best for you to achieve your career goals. Below are the three tips you can use to find healthcare scholarships.
Get in Touch with Your Healthcare Department Professors and Advisors
Universities often offer tons of internal scholarships or tuition assistance funds that you can identify by getting in touch with the department. You can set up an office hours appointment with your financial aid advisor or your healthcare subject professor to discuss any possible opportunities. You can discover available opportunities, learn more about the award details, and get started with the application process.
Use the Free Scholarship Finder Tool by The US Department of Labor
The US Department of Labor offers a free scholarship finder tool you can use to search healthcare scholarships for a graduate degree or an undergraduate program. The tool helps you find both federal and private scholarships. It also displays search results for vocational and technical school, professional development, and high school.
Online Research
Along with finding scholarship opportunities on free finder tools, simply doing a Google search for healthcare scholarships will also help you tremendously. Be sure to look up the application deadline and recipient eligibility criteria before shortlisting your top choices. Prepare the documents you will need, including official or unofficial transcripts, certificates, and others.
Tips to Find Healthcare Scholarships for High School Students
Several healthcare scholarship opportunities are also open to high school seniors interested in the healthcare sector. Below are the three tips you can use to land a lucrative scholarship for your healthcare education as a future high school graduate.
Consult with Your School Counselor
Your high school university counselors are great resources who can help you find your dream school and financial assistance programs. Get in touch with your counselors to discuss potential scholarship opportunities and requirements.
Meet with University Representatives
Getting a scholarship for your dream school often requires presenting yourself as a stellar candidate. A great way to achieve that is to network with the university representatives at college recruitment or presentation events.
Research Scholarship Opportunities that Match Your Candidacy
There are countless scholarship opportunities that offer monetary assistance to uplift certain communities. Search for potential opportunities that fit your community profile or merit requirements. You can apply for all available opportunities to increase your chances of getting lucrative scholarships.
10 Best Healthcare Scholarships in 2022: Overview
| Scholarship Name | Who Is Eligible | Amount Covered |
| A Nurse I Am | Applicants who have enrolled in a nursing major and have started their nursing coursework prior to February 2022 | $3,000 |
| American Fellowships | Women students pursuing full-time research for PhD or publication or completing a dissertation | $6,000-$30,000 |
| Barbara A. Cooley Master’s Scholarship | 3.0 GPA, current enrollment in a master’s health education program | $1,000 |
| Barbara Rhomberg Excellence in Nursing Scholarship | Current enrollment in a full-time undergraduate nursing program | $1,000 |
| Elizabeth and Sherman Asche Memorial Scholarship Fund | American Indian or Native Alaskan, graduate or undergraduate full-time student, 2.0 GPA | $1,000 |
| Massachusetts Medical Society Scholarships and Grants | MMS member or enrolled in a Massachusetts medical school or a training program at eligible health centers | $5,000 |
| Marsh Minority Scholarship | West Texas A&M University nursing or other eligible majors, African American and Hispanic students, United States permanent resident or citizen | $1,000 |
| Novus Biologicals Scholarship Program | Students pursuing a college degree in biology, medical, or other eligible health profession degree program | $1,500 |
| The Heinlein Society Scholarship Program | Students enrolled in a four-year engineering, biological sciences, physical sciences, or math program | $4,000 |
| The WHCE Undergraduate Scholarship | Third-year healthcare-related undergraduate student, San Francisco Bay area resident, female | $2,500 |
Top 10 Healthcare Scholarships: In Detail
1. A Nurse I Am
- Awarded by: Cherokee Uniforms
- Deadline: April 15, 2022
The A Nurse I Am scholarship is offered to undergraduate or graduate nursing students who have started their coursework as of February 2022. Since 2007, Cherokee Uniforms have provided around $200,000 to deserving students enrolled in nursing education programs. This 2022 scholarship opportunity offers ten $3,000 scholarships.
2. American Fellowships
- Awarded by: The American Association of University Women (AAUW)
- Deadline: November 1, 2022
If you are a PhD candidate or a full-time graduate student enrolled in a nursing program, then this American Fellowships opportunity is for you. Established in 1988, The American Association of University Women has offered grants to women in full-time enrollment in a research or graduate program. The AAUW is dedicated to facilitating academic achievement for women and offers scholarships ranging between $6,000 to $30,000.
3. Barbara A. Cooley Master’s Scholarship
- Awarded by: Society of Health and Physical Educators America
- Deadline: October 15, 2022
There are several pathways to becoming a registered nurse or a senior health education professional, and a common route is a master’s degree. Barbara A. Cooley Master’s scholarship is another graduate scholarship offered for aspiring health educator master’s students. It requires a minimum 3.0 GPA, letters of recommendation, undergraduate degrees, and a narrative essay reflecting your aspirations across the healthcare field.
4. Barbara Rhomberg Excellence in Nursing Scholarship
- Awarded by: B4 Brands
- Deadline: April 30, 2022
If you are interested in a nursing career in the health field, the Barbara Rhomberg scholarship is worth looking into. This scholarship is dedicated to non-traditional students who had to take a three-year break after their high school education due to professional or personal circumstances. You need to prove full-time enrollment in a bachelor’s or an associate nursing program to be eligible.
5. Elizabeth and Sherman Asche Memorial Scholarship
- Awarded by: American Indian College Fund
- Deadline: May 31, 2022
Building a successful career in healthcare requires a commitment to an educational institution with a financial commitment that is not a plausible option for many students. If you are an Alaska Native or American Indian student with an interest in public health occupations or any other occupation, then this scholarship is for you. These general academic scholarship opportunities are offered to native students with a 2.0 or higher GPA who are enrolled in tribal colleges, nonprofit organizations, or accredited universities.
6. Massachusetts Medical Society Scholarships and Grants
- Awarded by: Massachusetts Medical Society
- Deadline: Mid-November, 2022
The Massachusetts medical community consists of some of the best educational programs and professional organizations that act as great career starters for medical jobs. This annual scholarship and grant opportunities are open to senior year students enrolled in Boston University School of Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School, Harvard Medical School, or Tufts University School of Medicine.
The society also offers an annual award to medical students or residents working at a Massachusetts-based medical professional organization. You can also apply for an annual community service grant. Eligible students need to be members of the medical society, submit a graduation timeline, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and submit an online application to qualify for this one-time award.
7. Marsh Minority Scholarship
- Awarded by: Amarillo Area Foundation
- Deadline: February 2023
West Texas A&M University is amongst the best universities in Texas with a great health professional degree program. If you are an African American or a Hispanic senior-year student or a master’s student, then this $1,000 minority award is open to you.
This is only open to current students with a minimum of 3.0 GPA majoring in nursing, an allied health field, education, sociology, or general studies fields. You will need to submit proof of enrollment, an official transcript, citizenship or legal residency proof, and a letter of recommendation.
8. Novus Biologicals Scholarship Program
- Awarded by: Novus Biologicals
- Deadline: July 20, 2022 for Fall 2022 semester, December 8, 2022 for Spring 2023 semester
The healthcare field incorporates biological sciences along with medical science and education. If you are interested in a career across the life, biological, medical, or health science fields, then this Novus scholarship is worth applying to. This annual award covers $1,500 for the Fall and Spring semesters.
9. The Heinlein Society Scholarship Program
- Awarded by: The Heinlein Society
- Deadline: April 1, 2022
The Heinlein Society scholarship is offered to four undergraduate students enrolled in a STEM-based degree program. You can apply for a scholarship for your degree in medicine biology, physical science, or other general healthcare studies. This $4,000 scholarship is open to both international and American students.
10. The WHCE Undergraduate Scholarship
- Awarded by: Women Health Care Executives of Northern California
- Deadline: March 31, 2022
The WCHE Undergraduate Scholarship is open to females currently pursuing a junior year education for healthcare careers. If selected, you will get a $2,500 annual award and a free one-year WHCE membership to help advance your career. Scholarship requirements also include proving your San Francisco Bay area residency and having a good academic standing during your application submission.
Should I Apply for a Healthcare Scholarship?
Yes, you should apply for a healthcare scholarship if you require financial assistance for an educational program. The tuition rates for a medical degree, a degree in nursing, or a healthcare education degree, can pose a great financial burden for many. In addition, opportunities are available for everyone from high school students to doctoral students.
There are numerous scholarships that help you attain your career goals in healthcare. You can attend a podiatry school, dental school, nursing school, or healthcare school stress-free with a healthcare scholarship.
Healthcare Scholarships FAQ
A healthcare scholarship is a scholarship award given to students pursuing a medical, biological, or life science education with great scholastic achievement. Healthcare scholarships are also offered to students that belong to minority communities.
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The standard minimum GPA for healthcare scholarships is typically 3.0 but it varies depending on the specific scholarship requirements. Some scholarships are needs-based and not merit-based, so they do not consider applicants’ academic performance. These scholarships also often prioritize students that come from a disadvantaged background.
The common requirements of healthcare scholarships are an official transcript, official acceptance letter or proof of enrollment, vocational goals, minimum GPA, scholastic achievement, personal essay, and letter of recommendation.
You can get a broad range of degrees in healthcare including a degree in nursing, medicine, health education, physical therapy, biological science, physical science, healthcare administration, public health, and occupational therapy with a healthcare scholarship. Basically, any degree program relevant to an allied health profession is fit for a healthcare scholarship.
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