Find Online Resources & Scholarships for Public Health Students
By earning an undergraduate or graduate public health degree, you can prepare for a rewarding career in fields such as epidemiology, healthcare education, or environmental health. Keep reading if you need extra academic help or financial aid to get through college.
In this guide, you’ll find scholarships and grants for public health students, tips for winning these funds, and useful resources designed to help public health students like you succeed in their academic and career pursuits.
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Scholarships and Grants for Public Health Students
Scholarships and grants are monetary awards made to students based on a number of factors, such as academic achievement, athletic ability, artistic talent, minority or special interest group affiliation, and/or financial need. Sponsors of these programs include individuals, private companies, professional organizations, federal and state agencies, community and religious groups, and colleges and universities.
Students who are awarded scholarships or grants receive funds that they can apply toward a college education without paying them back. Below, you’ll find a detailed look at some of the best scholarship programs that are currently available for public health students.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarship
More than 250 dietetic scholarships are available for students at all levels of study in various majors, including public health. Programs must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Students can apply for multiple scholarships with one universal application.
Amount: $500 to $25,000
Albert W. Dent and Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship
Applicants must be entering the final year of a healthcare management graduate program and be able to demonstrate financial need. Student membership in the American College of Healthcare Executives is not required but is preferred. Required documents include official transcripts, a current resume, three letters of recommendation, and an essay.
Amount: $5,000
Cory L. Richards Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is designed for graduate students who are emerging leaders in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Applicants must be seeking an advanced degree in public health or public policy. Priority is given to students with demonstrated financial need.
Amount: $20,000
David A. Winston Health Policy Scholarship
Applicants must be committed to a health policy-related master’s degree in any discipline, field, or profession. They must also be full-time students who are enrolled in an academic graduate program at an accredited college or university. Required documents include transcripts, a resume, two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.
Amount: $10,000
Dr. Becky J. Smith Scholarship
Applicants must be full-time undergraduates (sophomore, junior, or senior) who are majoring in health education. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required. Required documents include two letters of recommendation plus an essay about the applicant’s future educational and professional plans and need for financial aid.
Amount: $1,000
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Dr. Delbert Oberteuffer Scholarship
This scholarship is designed for health education doctoral students who are investigating issues related to children and youth. Required documents include two letters of recommendation plus a personal essay that outlines previous and current activities related to health education and lists professional goals.
Amount: $1,500
Dr. Mary K. Beyrer Graduate Student Scholarship
This scholarship is open to master’s degree or doctoral level graduate students who are majoring in health education. Applicants must demonstrate professional activity by attending meetings and obtaining membership in organizations related to health education. Required documents include an essay that addresses future educational and professional plans plus two letters of recommendation.
Amount: $1,000
Harry J. Harwick Scholarship
This scholarship is open to student members of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) who are pursuing a career in medical group management. Students must be working on a degree in public health, business administration, health care administration, or other related areas.
Amount: $3,000
Herschel S. Horowitz Scholarship for Dentists
This scholarship is designed for dentists who are pursuing a Master’s of Public Health (MPH) degree. Preference is given to new dentists. Required documents include a current CV, two letters of recommendation, a statement about career goals, and a statement of financial need.
Amount: $10,000
Vivian Drenckhahn Student Scholarship
This scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are active members of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE). Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to addressing public health through a career in health education, excel academically, and demonstrate financial need. Required documents include official transcripts, a letter of recommendation, a resume, and a written statement.
Amount: $2,500
Keys to Succeeding with Public Health Scholarship Applications
To win scholarships, you must apply for the right ones for you, meet eligibility requirements, and make a good impression. Remember that most scholarships are competitive. You can impress decision-makers with an excellent application. Below, you’ll find five important tips to help you do so.
Key #1: Get a head start.
The best time to start a search for public health scholarships is when you start to search for a degree program. It takes time and effort to find scholarships that you are qualified for and to put together great application packages. So, you should start the process as soon as possible.
Key #2: Do your research.
You want to apply for scholarships that you might win. So, you should carefully study the requirements and seek out scholarships that are specifically designed for the subfield of public health you’re studying. You should also consider local or regional scholarships that offer smaller amounts of aid. These scholarships might have less competition, so you’re more likely to win them.
Key #3: Tailor your essays and letters of recommendation.
You can set yourself apart from other applicants with your essays and letters of recommendation. So, you should put maximum effort into writing your essay and carefully choose who you ask to write letters. Make sure that both your essay and the letters make it clear to the scholarship board that you are interested in and passionate about becoming a public health professional.
Key #4: Go for the tough ones.
Some scholarships applications require more work, such as longer essays, more recommendations, interviews, and/or videos. This might sound like a hassle. But, other applicants might feel the same way and pass on applying for those scholarships. So, you’ll have less competition. You should make the extra effort and apply for complicated scholarships.
Key #5: Meet deadlines.
All scholarships have strict deadlines. When you decide to apply for a particular scholarship, be sure to note all deadlines involved. If you miss a deadline, all of your efforts in pursuit of that scholarship will be wasted.
Essential Funding Resources for Public Health Students
Scholarships and grants are great sources of money for college. But, most students who receive them will need to find additional funding to pay for their degree programs. If you wonder how to fit the pieces of your financial puzzle together, you can visit EduMed’s student loan and financial aid pages to learn more about funding a public health degree. Resources such as those listed below will help position you for success.
American Public Health Association (APHA)
The APHA is a professional association with over 25,000 members. It is dedicated to improving public health. Its Student Assembly is an 8,000-member student-led organization that can connect you to leading experts, interest-based communities, and potential mentors.
Delta Omega
Delta Omega has over 30,000 members and 127 chapters. It is a public health honorary society. Student members are welcome, and membership is an excellent credential to list on scholarship applications.
E-learning Resources for Global Health Researchers
Visit this clearinghouse website from the National Institutes of Health for dozens of free and low-cost articles, training aids, courses, programs, and more. Public health students can use these resources for research papers, projects, theses, and scholarship essays.
Inside Online Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Degree Programs
This EduMed guide covers the differences between DrPH and PhD programs. When you learn this information, scholarship committees can see that you’re well-informed about the public health profession.
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
The NCHS website compiles and distributes statistical information that is useful to physicians, healthcare providers, researchers, policy makers, and other professionals. The website features resources that can be used by public health students who are conducting research. This information will allow you to add updated statistics to scholarship essays and cover letters.
Transitioning to Online School: A Guide for Healthcare Students
This EduMed guide is designed for healthcare students who are new to online learning and are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an online degree program. You’ll find info on time management and learning management systems, plus tools to help you reach the top of your class.
Ultimate Guide to Online Master’s of Public Health (MPH) Degree Programs
Online degrees can be convenient and flexible. In this EduMed guide, you’ll find top accredited programs and learn about in-demand specialties. This info can make you an appealing scholarship candidate.
Guide to Top Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Public Health
This EduMed guide helps prospective students find an online public health degree that suits their unique academic and professional goals. Note that scholarship committees pay attention to the school you attend and look for applicants who are enrolled in top programs.
