Achieving your dreams and completing a graduate program in the field of public health is definitely possible, but for some students this can cause some financial hardship in other areas of life, and it can be difficult to meet tuition requirements. Although student loans have long been a successful way of dealing with this funding shortage, this option also leaves you with increased debt during a very rocky point as you just set out on your career path.
Fortunately, there are many scholarships throughout the United States aimed particularly at public health students, and these are 5 of the best.
Corris Boyd Scholars Program
Established in honor of Corris Boyd, a leader in the healthcare industry who valued diversity in the field, and leadership in students, this award offers a reward of $40,000 toward the cost of tuition at an Association of University Programs of Health Administration facility of your choice. This is paid out over four installment periods, usually in August and December of two years, and in order to qualify students must already be accepted into a master’s degree program within AUPHA for the fall term. One other important criteria that this scholarship holds for applicants is that you must be a student of African American, American Indian, Asian American, Latino, Hawaiian, Alaska Native, or other ethnic background that signifies you as a student of color. A 3.0 minimum GPA must also be held in all previous courses and a permanent resident status or United States Citizenship is a must.
Cooley Master’s Scholarship
The Cooley Master’s Scholarship is an annual award given to students in the form of $1000.00, along with a complimentary student membership for one year in SHAPE America. The money is awarded at the annual SHAPE America convention awards luncheon, and although the scholarship may not amount to as much as some of the other scholarships on this list, it gives the student the ability to spend this money however he or she prefers. In order to be eligible you must be enrolled in a health program at an accredited educational facility within the United States or a United States territory and be at the graduate level. Students who have received the scholarship in previous years are not eligible to be reconsidered and a GPA of 3.0 or higher must be obtained in the year prior to application. The deadline falls upon November 15th very year and requires students to submit a single envelope including a resume of previous work experience, degrees, institution names, degrees previously earned, and current program and institution, among other information.
David A. Winston Health Policy Scholars Program
The David A. Winston Health Policy Scholarship Program was created in an effort to create interest in healthcare fields, and raise the quality of training, and of individuals being trained within healthcare policy. This program awards students who are recognized as reaching levels of excellence in their studies, and who have high recommendations from teaching staff with $10,000.00 to assist with financial troubles and tuition costs of students who are aiming for success in health policy in both federal and state levels. Students will be awarded this achievement and hosted at a daylong event at the Washington, D.C. health policy symposium. This is an award granted to AUPHA members within a graduate program who are United States Citizens and who have expressed a high level of commitment to the health policy field, and academic achievement within past programs. A resume, personal statement including why and how you will pursue a career in the health policy industry, and transcripts from undergraduate and graduate level courses must be submitted with the application; a letter of recommendation from a professor in your current program must also be included, insisting on the reasons you deserve to be awarded this scholarship.
Foster G. McGaw Scholarship
The Foster G. McGaw Scholarship is offered through the American College of Healthcare Executives in honor of the American Hospital Supply Corporation founder, Foster G. McGaw. This is specifically designed to help students within graduate programs based on healthcare management to assist with tuition needs and other expenses you might come across. This award is given once a year and is for students in their last year of a healthcare management program at the graduate level; it offers $5,000.00 to twenty different students in MHA, MBA, MPH healthcare programs. Doctorate students may not apply for this award, and if you’ve already completed the classroom portion of your program and are in a practicum experience you are also not eligible. Preference is given to students who are members of ACHE, although this does not mean that you won’t be considered if you’re not a current member. United States and Canadian citizens may apply, and financial need must be obvious; this means that no other scholarships are already in use. The application process is quite similar to other awards in that a resume of previous work experience, a GPA of 3.0 of higher, and letters of recommendation are required to apply.
Lowel and Leslie Kruse Scholarship
The Lowell and Leslie Kruse Scholarship for Integrative Cross-Sector healthy Communities Leadership provides an award amount of $15,000.00 over a period of three seminars in $5,000.00 increments to first year graduate students attending full time classes in the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. It was created to distinguish strong community leaders in the public health industry, and to promote well-being. In order to qualify for the award students must be in their first year within an MPH or MHA degree and be enrolled in nine or more credits that will progress into an additional three semesters of learning. Students must be residents of the United States, and maintain a high GPA throughout past and present educational courses. Applicants are expected to participate in opportunities that arise within your campus or other campuses that allow for student leadership opportunities particularly within the healthcare industry. A transcript, letter of recommendation, and personal letter explaining your interest and why you deserve to be awarded the scholarship must be sent in with your application.
