Meeting the Costs of a Health Professions Program
Financial assistance is built in to most state-supported health professions graduate schools, which may cost half–and sometimes even a quarter–of what many private schools cost.
Most health professions graduate students pay for their education through loans, usually secured through federal and/or state agencies. Because of this, it is very important to have a good credit rating at the time of application. Information about state loan forgiveness programs, National Health Service Corps (for persons intending to go into primary care and work in under served communities), military scholarships, and other resources may be found on the AAMC website via their articles Paying for Medical School and Guide to Money Management and Student Loans.
For those of you who identify as Under-Represented, Minority, & Disadvantaged Students please explore the Hope Fellowship Scholarship—Bridging Admissions. Ten applicants will be selected for a stipend that will cover up to $2,500 of application related costs, in addition to receiving a dedicated mentor that will work with them throughout their medical school application process. Stipend recipients accepted into medical school will become Hope Fellows and receive additional support and education throughout medical school.
The American Association of University Women supports gender equity in several graduate study fields by providing scholarships. The AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship supports female applicants to medical school for both MD and DO programs. Other fields supported for higher education are architecture, computer/information science, engineering, mathematics/statistics, law school, and business administration. Learn more about the mission of the AAUW and apply for this funding opportunity.
The Churchill Scholarship is for students interested in attending Cambridge University, UK— to complete a master’s degree in a science field. The scholarship has a list of the programs of study that students may choose from, including various science fields such as biotechnology, medical sciences, archeology, engineering, geography, music and others.
If you are caring for a loved one while completing an undergraduate or graduate education, you may be eligible for a Scholarship for Students Who Are Caregivers.
The best source of detailed information about financial assistance will be the school that you plan to attend. Although some schools may provide specific information about financial aid at the time of interview, requests for financial assistance are usually not considered until after acceptance. Comparable information about financing dental, vet, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner graduate education is available through the web sites of professional schools’ associations, such as:
- Association of American Medical Colleges
- American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
- American Dental Education Association
- American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- Physician Assistant Education Association
- Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
- Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
- American Physical Therapy Association
- American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
You will also find useful information on the individual schools’ web sites.
It is important to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA (required by almost all health professions graduate schools), as soon as possible after the end of the tax year. Although the parents of applicants are often expected to complete and file a FAFSA as well as the applicant, health professions graduate schools will not necessarily expect a parental contribution.