As the cost of higher education continues to rise, scholarships have become a crucial resource for students pursuing a career in the medical field. With the average medical school debt reaching over $200,000, finding financial aid is essential for many aspiring doctors. Fortunately, there are numerous scholarships available specifically for medical students that can help alleviate the burden of tuition fees and other expenses. In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of 18 scholarships that are specifically designed for medical students. Whether you are just starting your journey in the medical field or are in the midst of your education, these scholarships can provide the necessary support to help you achieve your career goals.
CAMS Scholarship Program – $5,000
Each year, the Chinese American Medical Society (CAMS) awards scholarships to medical and dental students. Applicants must be first, second, or third year medical or dental students in good standing at an accredited U.S. medical or dental schools. Additionally, applicants must be current or pending CAMS members.
Critical Language Scholarship – Most of the costs
Offered by the U.S. government, the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a summer study abroad program that provides an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Under the program, students of diverse disciplines and majors study one of 15 languages – Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu – for 8-10 weeks. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals, be enrolled in an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate (associate’s, bachelor’s) or graduate (master’s, doctoral, professional degree) level at the time of their application, and meet other criteria. The award amount covers most of the costs involved, including international and domestic travel, visa application fees, language instruction, room, board, program-sponsored travel within the host country, entrance fees for program activities, OPI language assessments, and U.S. academic credit issued through Bryn Mawr College.
Cobell Scholarship – Varies
Established as the result of the Cobell v. Salazar settlement, the Cobell Scholarship program offers annual, merit-based, and nonrenewable scholarships to students who are enrolled members of a U.S. Federally-recognized Tribe (or can prove ¼ descent from multiple tribes). To qualify, applicants must be enrolled in or plan to enroll in full-time study at a nationally, regionally, and industry-accredited nonprofit institution (public or private), be pursuing a vocational certificate or diploma, associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral or professional degree, or certificate. While the Cobell Scholarship doesn’t set a minimum GPA requirement, a student should have the following GPA to be considered “competitive”: 3.5+ for graduate and professional students; 3.25+ higher for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students; and 2.0+ for vocational students. The program offers four awards, each with its own deadlines: Cobell Scholarship Academic Year (open December-March), Cobell Scholarship Summer (open February-May), Elouise Cobell Summer Research Fellowship (open September-January), and Cobell Scholarship Vocational (open year-round until funds exhausted).
CompHealth Medical Scholarship – $5,000
Offered by CompHealth, a website that helps healthcare professionals find jobs, the CompHealth Medical scholarship is an award for medical students. The scholarship is worth $5,000 and is granted to one medical student per year. Applicants must submit a video or a written statement addressing one of the following questions: “What is your top motivator for practicing medicine and why?” or “What are you looking for in your first job as a physician?”
NHSC Scholarship – Funding for 4 years, including tuition, fees, reasonable educational costs, and monthly stipend
The National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program (NHSC SP) offers scholarships for up to four academic years to students pursuing eligible primary care health professions training. In exchange, scholars commit to a minimum of two years of full-time service in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) – the actual service years will depend on the number of school years of NHSC SP support received. To qualify, applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals, be enrolled as a full-time student (or accepted for enrollment) in an accredited school or program in one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory, be in an eligible discipline – physician, dentist, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or physician assistant, be eligible for federal employment, and not have an existing service obligation to a federal, state, or other entity for professional practice or service after academic training.
FARE Diversity Scholars Program – $10,000
Established in 2022, Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) has partnered with NMF to develop the FARE Diversity Scholars Program. This program is designed to provide students from underrepresented backgrounds with opportunities to deeply engage in food allergy research to build the pipeline of diverse physicians and researchers who are committed to investigating, evaluating, and addressing the socioeconomic factors that impact healthcare access for food allergy patients. Applicants must have proof of U.S. citizenship or a DACA approval letter, be currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. medical school or graduate-level public health school located in the U.S., be a minority student or a socioeconomically disadvantaged student, be interested in healthcare delivery to medically underserved communities, and be interested in food allergy research and education.
Navajo Nation Scholarship – Varies
The Office of Navajo Nation Scholarship & Financial Assistance (ONNSFA) offers several scholarships to students who are members of the Navajo Nation to help them pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Financial Need-Based Award of $2,500 per term is offered to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. The No-Need-Based Award of $1,000 per term is offered to undergraduate students without considering financial need. The Chief Manuelito Scholarship of $3,500 per term is a merit-based scholarship for high-achieving high school graduates who meet a GPA and commensurate ACT score requirement, as well as undergraduate students who meet a minimum 3.0 GPA. The Part-Time Undergraduate Award is offered to part-time undergraduate students at varying amounts. The Graduate Award of $2,500 to $5,000 per term is for graduate students who are pursuing a master’s, doctorate, medical, law, or veterinary degree and meet minimum GPA requirements. The Part-Time Graduate Award is offered to part-time graduate students at varying amounts. Applications are open twice a year: March-June and September-November.
Benjamin Cottone Scholarship – $5,000
Offered by the Unico National Foundation, the Benjamin Cottone Scholarship is annually awarded to Italian American students pursuing careers in medicine. Applicants must be U.S. citizens with Italian heritage who plan to enroll or are currently enrolled in an accredited medical school within the United States and plan to obtain a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy degree.
Winterhoff Arthritis Scholarship – $5,000 per year (renewable up to 4 years)
The Arthritis Champions Scholarship is annually awarded to students with arthritis or a related rheumatic disease. Each applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal and permanent resident, be diagnosed with rheumatic disease, be an undergraduate, graduate, or medical student at an accredited college or University in the United States, be an engaged Arthritis Foundation advocate, fundraiser, participant, volunteer, and/or supporter, and meet a minimum 2.5 GPA requirement. If awarded the scholarship, recipients must maintain a 2.5 GPA each academic semester, be involved publicly with the Arthritis Champions Scholarship, and remain active in events and/or programs with the Arthritis Foundation.
Alice W. Rooke Scholarship – $5,000
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) offers a scholarship for students who are studying to be a medical doctor (excluding students who are pre-med, veterinarian, and physician assistant students). Applicants must be accepted to or enrolled in an approved course of study to become a medical doctor.
Dr. Francis Anthony Beneventi Medical Scholarship – $5,000
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) offers the Dr. Francis Anthony Beneventi Medical Scholarship to medical students attending or planning to attend an approved, accredited medical school, college or university. Pre-med, veterinarian, and physician assistant students are not eligible. Scholarships are renewable based on proof of enrollment and an annual scholarship review.
Leslie Andree Hanna Medical Scholarship – $5,000
Offered by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Leslie Andree Hanna Medical Scholarship is annually awarded to women pursuing careers in medicine. Applicants must be female U.S. citizens who are attending medical school. Applicants must also meet a GPA requirement of 3.25 or above.
HFA Medical/Health Services Educational Scholarship – $4,000
Administered by the Hemophilia Federation of America, the Jacob is annually awarded to a student with a bleeding disorder or related to someone with a bleeding disorder, who is pursuing a career path in the medical or health care services field. Applicants must submit a completed application consisting of an essay, transcript (official or unofficial), acceptance letter (for freshmen and transfer students, only), two letters of reference (both letters from a professional such as a teacher or supervisor), and proof of a bleeding disorder (documentation that they or their family member has a bleeding disorder).
KASF Scholarships – $500-$5,000
The Korean American Scholarship Foundation (KASF) offers scholarships to qualified Korean American students, including foreign students from Korea. Applicants must be a student with a Korean heritage studying in the United States regardless of citizenship status (including Korean Nationals) – if extra funds are available, other students (non-Korean) may qualify for some scholarships; be a high school student, an undergraduate, graduate, or professional student enrolled full-time during the scholarship application year; and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Applicants must follow the specific requirements and instructions of the region where the applicant’s school is/will be located during the scholarship application year, as the type and amount of available scholarships may differ from region to region.
Alliance Medical Education Scholarship – $2,500
The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society offers the Alliance Medical Education Scholarship to Pennsylvania medical students. Applicants must be Pennsylvania residents in their second or third year attending a medical school in Pennsylvania.
Bridging the Dream Scholarship for Graduate Students – $10,000
In 2021, the Sallie Mae Fund partnered with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to expand the Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program for Graduate Students to help graduate and professional students from minority and other historically underserved communities reach their education goals. The program will award 30, $10,000 scholarships over three years to graduate students, totaling $300,000. To qualify, applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or legal permanent resident, be a diverse candidate (including gender, disability, race, ethnicity, or belonging to an underserved community), be enrolled full-time or part-time at an accredited post-secondary institution graduate level program for during the 2022-2023 academic year, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and demonstrate leadership qualities and good moral character.
HPSP Scholarship – Full tuition for up to 4 years, $2,000+ stipend, and signing bonus
The Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) is a service scholarship provided by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force. HPSP Scholarships are available to students who attend medical and dental school programs. The award covers full tuition for an advanced medical degree while also providing awardees with a monthly stipend. Upon graduation, scholarship recipients “repay” the scholarship by working one year in the branch of service they were accepted into for each year that they received the scholarship. To qualify, applicants must be U.S. citizens, be accepted to or enroll in an accredited graduate, doctoral, or medical school or dentistry program in the United States or Puerto Rico, be enrolled full-time during the length of the program, and meet other requirements.
AFSCME/UNCF Union Plus Scholars Program – $500-$4,000
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest trade union of public employees in the United States, offers a scholarship for current and retired participating members from the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada, and their spouses and dependent children. Applicants are awarded based on academic ability, social awareness, financial need, and appreciation of labor, and may attend a college, university, trade, or technical school.
In conclusion, the journey to finding the perfect scholarship doesn’t have to be daunting. Whether you’re just beginning your search or looking to expand your options, our comprehensive scholarship directory offers a wide range of opportunities catering to diverse academic interests and backgrounds. For a more personalized approach, consider leveraging the power of TUN AI, our innovative tool designed to match you with scholarships uniquely suited to your profile. Start exploring today and take a step closer to securing the financial support you need for your educational journey.