21 Public Health Scholarships and Tips to Apply
For those who want to pursue a career in public health, there are Master of Public Health (MPH) programs that enable students to learn at their own schedules from any connected device. Going back to school requires a financial investment, but public health scholarships can offset the costs.
Some public health scholarships are given out by schools, while others are from private organizations and healthcare organizations. There are also scholarships available for all types of students based on demographics, interests and experiences.
There are a variety of public health scholarships to check out for aspiring public health students and students who are currently enrolled in public health programs. The following are public health specific scholarships. There are thousands of scholarships available for all types of students, so you’re not limited to applying only for public health scholarships.
Below is information on scholarships available for public health students of undergraduate, graduate or both, including certain MPH scholarships for minorities as well. If you plan to finance your degree, read the tips to successfully apply for public health scholarships.
| University | Study Length | Test Requirement | Number of Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill SPONSORED | As few as 20 months | No GRE Required | 42 |
| George Washington University SPONSORED | As few as 12 months | No GRE Required | 45 |
| Boston University SPONSORED | 24 months – 5 years | No GMAT/GRE Required | 42 |
List of Public Health Scholarships
Below is a list of 21 public health scholarships available to graduate students. These were chosen based on the amount awarded and if they represent any special interest groups.
1. AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability
Target Demographic: Students with a disability who are studying public health, disability studies, health promotion or a field related to disability and health.
Qualification: Undergraduate and/or graduate students with disability as defined by the American with Disabilities Act.
Max Amount: $1,000
AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability
2. AAPHP Public Health Practice Award
Target Demographic: Students enrolled in an AAPHP member or affiliate institution public health program.
Qualification: Undergraduate, graduate students.
Max Amount: $1000.
AAPHP Graduate Student Scholarship Information
3. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarships
Target Demographic: Dietetics students.
Qualification: Junior or senior year of a baccalaureate or coordinated program in dietetics or the second year of study in a dietetic technician program, a dietetic internship program or a graduate program.
Max Amount: $10,000
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarship Information
4. ACMPE Scholarship Fund Inc.
Target Demographic: Medical practice management, including public health, specialized for minority students.
Qualification: Undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral students.
Max Amount: $3,000
ACMPE Scholarship Fund Inc. Information
5. Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship
Target Demographic: Minority students in healthcare management.
Qualification: Graduate students in their last year.
Max Amount: $5,000
Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship Information
6. Bill and Judy Bridgers Endowed Scholarship
Target Demographic: Public health students at the University of Alabama Birmingham.
Qualification: Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA and be graduate students in the UAB School of Public Health.
Max Amount: Varies.
Bill and Judy Bridgers Endowed Scholarship Information
7. C. Sylvia and Eddie C. Brown Community Health Scholarship Program
Target Demographic: Students who are interested in improving public health for low-income and underserved populations.
Qualification: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health students.
Max Amount: Varies.
C. Sylvia and Eddie C. Brown Community Health Scholarship Program Information
Simmons University
Department of Public Health
Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Women with 17+ prior college credits or an associate degree: Complete your bachelor’s degree in a supportive women’s online public health BS program.
- Up to 96 transfer credits accepted, plus credit for life experience
- Degree programs are designed for working professionals and can be completed part time
- CEPH-accredited
SPONSORED
8. Corris Boyd Scholars Program
Target Demographic: Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) master’s program students.
Qualification: Graduate students.
Max Amount: $40,000
Corris Boyd Scholar Program Information
9. David A. Winston Health Policy Fellowship
Target Demographic: Health administration, health policy and public health students.
Qualification: Graduate students.
Max Amount: $10,000
David A. Winston Health Policy Fellowship
10. Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Target Demographic: All MPH applicants are considered for the endowed scholarships and research fellowships.
Qualification: Graduate students.
Max Amount: Varies.
Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
11. Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship
Target Demographic: Students in healthcare management graduate programs, such as MHA, MPH, MBA in Healthcare Administration or similar.
Qualification: Graduate students in their last year.
Max Amount: $5,000
Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship Information
12. Herschel S. Horowitz Scholarship
Target Demographic: Dentists pursuing an MPH.
Qualification: Graduate students.
Max Amount: $10,000
Herschel S. Horowitz Scholarship Information
13. HIMSS Scholarships
Target Demographic: Students pursuing healthcare information and management degrees.
Qualification: Undergraduate and graduate students.
Max Amount: Varies.
14. Indian Health Service Scholarships
Target Demographic: American Indian and Alaska Native students.
Qualification: Graduate and undergraduate students.
Max Amount: Varies.
Indian Health Service Scholarships
15. James M. & Erma T. Freemont Foundation Scholarship Program
Target Demographic: Students with a record of leadership and volunteerism in the community and participation in extracurricular school activities who are pursuing degrees in health and medical sciences.
Qualification: Graduating high school seniors; undergraduate and graduate students.
Max Amount: Varies.
James M. & Erma T. Fremont Foundation Scholarship Program Information
16. Kentucky Public Health Association Scholarships
Target Demographic: Public health students are given preference.
Qualification: Undergraduate and graduate students.
Max Amount: $2,000
Kentucky Public Health Association Scholarships Information
17. North Carolina Public Health Association Scholarship
Target Demographic: Students with application toward public health practice.
Qualification: Undergraduate and graduate students.
Max Amount: $1,000
North Carolina Public Health Association Scholarship Information
18. USF Health Scholarships
Target Demographic: University of South Florida (USF) College of Public Health students.
Qualification: Graduate students.
Max Amount: Varies.
USF Health Scholarships Information
19. UTHealth School of Public Health Scholarships
Target Demographic: University of Texas Public Health students.
Qualification: Graduate and doctoral students.
Max Amount: Varies.
UTHealth School of Public Health Scholarships Information
20. Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarship
Target Demographic: Members of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE).
Qualification: Graduate or undergraduate students.
Max Amount: $2,500
Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarship Information
21. Winston Health Policy Scholarship
Target Demographic: Health administration, health policy and public health.
Qualification: Current first-year graduate students.
Max Amount: $10,000
Winston Health Policy Scholarship Information
| University | Study Length | Test Requirement | Number of Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill SPONSORED | As few as 20 months | No GRE Required | 42 |
| George Washington University SPONSORED | As few as 12 months | No GRE Required | 45 |
| Boston University SPONSORED | 24 months – 5 years | No GMAT/GRE Required | 42 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Most scholarships are available for students to use for tuition costs, whether they’re attending on campus or online MPH programs. Generally, if a scholarship is offered for a specific school, you can count on the scholarship being able to be applied toward any type of tuition costs, including online school, and that goes for general scholarships as well.
Generally yes. There are different types of scholarships available, and you’re not limited to applying only for public health scholarships. Some outstanding students can receive more than one scholarship. However, it’s advised to be focused and find the best fit instead of counting on the number of scholarships applied to.
Program accreditation is not indicated in the scholarship application requirements. However, it’s important to note the importance of CEPH accreditation in public health and make sure the university is able to deliver courses of good quality. Also, check the application requirements carefully for any other special criteria (e.g., applicants must be members of a certain organization).
GPA is not everything. Some scholarships require a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply. You don’t have to have 4.0 to apply for certain scholarships. However, it’s crucial to know GPA indicates your performance at school and is usually associated with your expertise in public health. Your practice experience is important, too, but it doesn’t mean you can neglect GPA.
Some schools offer online MPH with no GRE requirement, which means some enrolled students may not have a GRE score. Fortunately, a GRE score is generally not required in scholarship applications. In the public health scholarships listed above, most of them do not indicate a requirement of GRE.
Simmons University
Department of Public Health
Bachelor of Science in Public Health
Women with 17+ prior college credits or an associate degree: Complete your bachelor’s degree in a supportive women’s online public health BS program.
- Up to 96 transfer credits accepted, plus credit for life experience
- Degree programs are designed for working professionals and can be completed part time
- CEPH-accredited
SPONSORED
Tips to Apply for Public Health Scholarships
Some MPH students pay for all of school with scholarships. To increase your likelihood of being awarded the MPH scholarships you apply for, follow these guidelines.
1. Make a list of scholarships and ensure you meet the criteria.
Do research as early as possible and make a list of scholarships you want to apply for with application deadlines. Then, save time in the scholarship application process by carefully reading all scholarship criteria. Some scholarships may have very specific criteria (e.g., students must be in their first year of graduate school). Make sure you qualify before you apply.
Know that scholarships with large awards will likely have more competition compared to niche scholarships. You may have a better chance of winning smaller scholarships, so don’t discount them.
2. Find and keep communicating with mentors.
Some scholarships will require letters of recommendation from people who have taught, managed or mentored you. If you plan to apply for scholarships, reach out to mentors you can trust will write you a great letter of recommendation early on so they’re prepared and pay attention to your performance so that the recommendation can include more details.
Use the scholarship guidelines to provide anyone who is writing you a letter of recommendation with helpful information. You might mention why you’re applying for the scholarship, suggest achievements of yours to highlight or provide them with a resume that shows your experience so they have something to inspire their letter.
3. Track applications.
Make sure you meet scholarship deadlines and turn in all required materials. You might want to create a spreadsheet or document that includes:
- The name of the scholarship
- All required materials
- Due dates
- Progress of each material collected
Check in with your scholarship document regularly to stay on track. Before you submit, double-check that your application is complete and accurate.
4. Give each scholarship focused attention.
If you were applying for jobs, you wouldn’t send out the same cover letter to different companies. The same goes for scholarships: If you have to write an essay, make sure each essay you write is specific to that scholarship.
Know your strength, demonstrate knowledge of the public health field, and express your commitment to it by elaborating on personal experience. You may want to first create an outline with notes to organize your writing.
Also, be sure to get your essay checked for spelling or grammar errors. Ask a friend or use a site like Grammarly to scan your essay.
5. Work hard.
Last but not least, work hard. It’s the most important thing. Scholarship applications are incredibly competitive. It’s important that you keep focused on your goal and work hard in school as well as on your applications.
Going to school to pursue a career in public health can be a rewarding experience but sometimes not financially feasible. Public health scholarships help offset the costs of school, and in some cases, you may be able to fund your entire graduate education with public health scholarships. By following the tips listed above and dedicating time to commit to scholarship research and applications, you may have the opportunity to be rewarded.
Information last update February 2021
| University and Program Name | Study Length | Test Requirement | Number of Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Master of Public Health (MPH) SPONSORED | As few as 20 months | No GRE Required | 42 |
|
George Washington University
Master of Public Health SPONSORED | As few as 12 months | No GRE Required | 45 |
|
Boston University
Online Master of Public Health SPONSORED | 24 months – 5 years | No GMAT/GRE Required | 42 |