It's possible to offset some of the costs of earning a public health degree by tapping into a variety of available public health scholarships. Application processes and award amounts vary from program to program, but students may apply for multiple scholarship simultaneously. Below is a sample listing of public health scholarships currently available.
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Undergraduate Scholarships
The ADA awards a scholarship to students displaying financial need who are majoring in public health or nutrition science. The award amount varies from $500 to $3,000.
To raise awareness about emergency preparedness, APHA offers the annual Get Ready Scholarship to high school and college students. The scholarship is a component of APHA’s Get Ready campaign, which works to help Americans prepare themselves, their families and their communities for all disasters and hazards, including pandemic flu, infectious disease, natural disasters and other emergencies.
This $2,000 scholarship is available to undergraduate students pursuing a degree in public health, biochemistry, nursing, medicine, occupational health, environmental health, safety or related disciplines. Students must be enrolled full-time in order to be eligible.
Undergraduate students working on degrees in health-related or public health programs may apply for a $300 scholarship. The student does not need to be a member of FPHA, but should be nominated by an active FPHA member.
HRSA’s Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students provide funds to schools. In turn, the schools make scholarships to full-time, financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds, enrolled in health professions and nursing programs. Participating schools are responsible for selecting scholarship recipients, making reasonable determinations of need, and providing scholarships that do not exceed the cost of attendance (tuition, reasonable educational expenses and reasonable living expenses).
The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers awards the $2,000 Hunt Scholarship to a student at the undergraduate level who displays a genuine interest in community and public health through either academic study or volunteer service.
Indian Health Service awards this scholarship to students who are seeking a degree in the public health field. In order to be eligible, students must agree to work in an American Indian or Alaska Native community.
A $1000 scholarship is available to bilingual students pursuing a degree in the healthcare field. Two scholarship awards of $1000 each are available per year.
The National Institutes of Health offers scholarships up to $20,000 each to students displaying financial need. Eligible areas of concentration include behavioral, biomedical and social science health-related programs. In addition to the scholarship support, selected students may also be offered the opportunity to train at the NIH over the summer (paid) and a paid position at the NIH following graduation.
The National Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship Program is a national scholarship program targeted at Hispanic students who are committed to careers in health care and enrolled full-time in medical, nursing, dental, public health and policy schools.
This $1000 scholarship is available to students enrolled in EHAC or a NEHA Educational, Institutional or Sustaining Member school. Students must be pursuing an undergraduate degree in public health or environmental health to be eligible.
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) administers a broad range of internships, scholarships, fellowships and research experiences. Opportunities for college students currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree include academic scholarships, as well as summer internships and laboratory positions taking place during the academic year.
SOPHE awards The Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarship annually to two deserving full-time graduate and undergraduate students who are national SOPHE members and who have excelled academically, demonstrated a commitment to addressing the public’s health through a career in health education, and who have demonstrated financial need.
This scholarship is available to natural, stepchildren or adopted children of employees of Schott North America, Inc. who are enrolled in an accredited college/university with a major in health care, science, engineering, finance, law or business. Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 for college coursework or graduated from high school with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA.
The Texas Public Health Association awards to students pursuing a degree in the field of public health. The number of scholarships to be awarded as well as the dollar amount of scholarship monies available is announced after the Association’s Spring Quarterly Meeting.
Tylenol awards scholarships to 40 students each year. These awards are based on academic excellence, community involvement, leadership and a strong desire to pursue a career in health care.
The Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation award 50 scholarships of $5,000 each annually. Students seeking careers in health care, science, education and other related fields are eligible to apply.
Graduate Scholarships, Grants and Fellowships
This fellowship partners graduate students with community-based health organizations for a yearlong service project designed to identify and address an unmet health need.
The ASPH offers a variety of graduate fellowships and internships at host agencies, such as the EPA, CDC and NHTSA. Fellows receive a stipend of $43,000 to $52,000 per year (varies by education and agency). All fellowships last least a year but some last two years if the host agency has the funding and dependent upon the performance of the fellow during the first year.
This scholarship is available to ethnic graduate students pursuing a master’s or doctorate level degree in public health, nutrition or physical education. Students must be attending an accredited and approved program at a college or university in California.
The Centers for Disease Control offers a variety of hands-on training programs for undergraduate or graduate students still in school, and for health professionals who are in training. All offer a unique experience in one of the many exciting public health fields.
Part of AmeriCorps, Community HealthCorps offers a real-life education and service experience. Community HealthCorps Members perform a variety of activities associated with health services and programs for patients and communities, often by functioning as community health workers (CHWs). A ten to 12 month commitment is required, and includes a modest living allowance as well as a $5,645 education award.
HOSA-Future Health Professionals offers a variety of scholarships for students pursuing degrees in public health. Scholarship awards are available for both undergraduate and graduate studies. Students interested in being considered for these scholarships must be members of HOSA.
The IHME Post-Graduate Fellowship (PGF) is an intensive training program that prepares fellows for future positions in academia, national health agencies, international organizations and foundations. The program combines academic research, education and training, and professional work with progressive, on-the-job training and mentoring from an accomplished group of professors and researchers. Post-Graduate Fellows are appointed for one year beginning in September, with the possibility of renewal for a second year upon mutual agreement. The salary is $50,000.
This scholarship is available to Jewish students pursuing a master’s degree in one of the following: health, physical education, business administration, Jewish/Judaic studies or social work.
The National Academies’ Fellowship Office of Policy and Global Affairs administers predoctoral, dissertation, postdoctoral, and other fellowship programs for advanced study in a variety of research-based disciplines, including public health.
The NAHN offers scholarships to students of Hispanic descent that are pursuing a degree in nursing. Scholarship award amounts vary from $1,000 to $5,000 and are based on financial need, the student’s academic standing and residency.
This $1000 scholarship is available to students enrolled in EHAC or a NEHA Educational, Institutional or Sustaining Member school. Students must be pursuing a graduate degree in public health or environmental health to be eligible.
The NEWAID Foundation provides grants to graduate students and early-career public health scientists to conduct research abroad in areas of neglected infectious diseases.
The North Carolina Public Health Association offers two $850 scholarships to individuals pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree with application towards public health practice.
The NEF offers a variety of graduate scholarships for nursing and public health majors. Award amounts vary and many are based on academic achievement.
AIDS United offers the Pedro Zamora Public Policy Fellowship for both undergraduate and graduate students seeking experience in public policy and government affairs focused on HIV/AIDS issues. The fellowship includes a stipend and is highly competitive. Applications are accepted for the fall, spring, and summer terms.
This $1,500 scholarship is available to doctoral students that show potential in advancing children’s health. The scholarship is also based on academic achievement, professional goals, document caliber.
Available to undergraduate students in their junior year of study, these scholarships of up to $30,000 fund graduate study in a variety of public service fields, including public health.
The Global Health Fellows Program is a cooperative agreement with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute (PHI) in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International and PYXERA Global. GHFP-II fellows work full-time for two years in a variety of global health technical areas ranging from maternal and child health to nutrition to HIV/AIDS. Placements are made both in Washington, DC and in developing countries.
Specialized Scholarships
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers a variety of scholarships and educational stipends to individuals pursuing undergraduate and advanced degrees in dietetics or food and nutrition related areas.
The ACMPE Scholarship Fund Inc. (SFI) is comprised of ten scholarships, each with its own eligibility criteria. Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program relevant to medical practice management, including public health, business administration, healthcare administration and other related areas.
The American Health Information Management Foundation awards scholarships for all degree levels. The award amount varies from $1,000 to $2,500. Eligible students must be pursuing a degree in information management education or health informatics.
This non-renewable scholarship is available to minority students enrolled in the last year of a graduate program in healthcare management. This program awards 20 scholarships of $5,000 each per year.
This $500 scholarship is available to students currently enrolled and seeking a degree in nutrition. Applicants must be members or friends of the American Nutrition Association to be eligible.
This scholarship is available to students currently enrolled in a medical practice management program. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible.
This scholarship program is available to students who have maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA and are enrolled in a medical practice administration program. Preference is given to those who show financial need or otherwise disadvantaged background.
This $1,000 scholarship is awarded by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. It’s open to a master’s level student who is currently enrolled in a health education program at an accredited college/university in the United States or a U.S. territory.
Students enrolled in a college veterinary medicine in the United States are eligible for these $2,000 scholarships.
The CDC offers a ten to 12 month fellowship for medical students who have completed their second or third year of medical school. Through a structured curriculum and hands-on experience, the program provides medical students with skills and knowledge of applied epidemiology, the role of epidemiology in medicine and health and the role of physicians in the public health system. The fellowship is held at CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia and begins in August. Fellows receive a stipend for living expenses.
Each year, the Christie Foundation awards more than $125,000 in health Education scholarships.
This scholarship program is available to students enrolled in the last year of a graduate program in healthcare management. The ACHE administers this scholarship fund and awards as many as 20 scholarships per year of $5,000 each.
This scholarship is sponsored by the American College of Medical Practice Executives. Awards are available to students enrolled in a CAHME graduate program or in an AUPHA member undergraduate program.
HEN awards a one-year paid membership to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and to the Hunger and Environmental Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group (HEN DPG) to an RD or DTR who is working internationally in the food security or sustainable food systems arenas. One scholarship in the combined amount reflecting the dues costs for Academy and HEN membership will be awarded each year.
Since its inception in, 1992, the Institute and its partners have provided over 120,000 in scholarships to minority graduate students enrolled in accredited health care management and service programs throughout the United States. Institute scholarships are available to first and second year graduate students.
The Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program is a CDC-funded, nine-week summer program providing educational and professional development opportunities for students from underrepresented populations interested in addressing health disparities related to infectious diseases.
This $19,250 scholarship is available to students of Canadian citizenship that are pursuing a doctorate in health administration or business administration. Concentrations of study should be in one of the following: social science, economics, health administration, disaster and emergency studies, systems science, urban and regional planning or risk analysis/management. This scholarship may be renewed twice.
The Paul Ambrose Scholars Program prepares public health and clinical health professions students to address population health challenges at the national and community level. This program seeks to meet the current and future health needs of the public by providing mini-grant funds to implement a Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators project within a student’s community or at their academic institution. Since 2002, more than 500 students from over 160 academic institutions have become Paul Ambrose Scholars.
The Public Health Systems Research Interest Group awards scholarships to ten students to attend and present research at its annual meeting. Annual. The student scholarships are intended to highlight the diversity of research interests that broadly constitute PHSR, which is unified in its focus on population health.
The School Nutrition Foundation offers a variety of scholarships for students interested in pursuing an post graduate, graduate or undergraduate degree in one of the following: nutrition, nutrition education and physical activity; administration, marketing and communications, and operations. Scholarship award amounts range from $500 to $2,500. Applicants must be SNF members to be eligible.
