FIND SCHOOLS
1
2
3
4
public health departments by state

 

College Grants and Graduate School Scholarships in Public Health

The nation’s largest public health organizations are well known for making careers in public health more accessible by offering scholarships, fellowships, and grants that defray the cost of earning an undergraduate or graduate degree in public health:

Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)
Southern New Hampshire University Logo
Southern New Hampshire University
Featured Program: B.S. in Public Health and Master of Public Health (MPH)
Request Info
University of North Carolina Logo
University of North Carolina
Featured Program: online Master of Public Health program, MPH@UNC.
Request Info

What is not as well known is that there are literally dozens of scholarships available to students of public health available through state schools, private universities, professional associations, and private donors.

Not only do these organizations offer a full range of scholarship programs – from full tuition to a little extra cash – these scholarships are also less competitive than more widely known programs available at the national level. The catch is that it can be a challenge finding a less competitive program that you’re eligible for.

PublicHealthCareerEDU.org has made it a little easier for you to find the funding you need to earn a degree in public health. We’ve put together a list of our favorite scholarship programs available to undergrads and graduate students – and to make it even easier to find a scholarship that you’re eligible for, we’ve organized the list by state.

Choose A State To View Public Health Scholarships

Alabama

University of Alabama School of Public Health: Billy and Judy Bridgers Endowed Scholarship

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate student in public health at the University of Alabama
  • Must maintain a 3.0 GPA

Details: This scholarship is open to all master’s students in public health.

Other public health scholarships available in Alabama include:

Alaska

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Scholarship

Benefits: $5,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be an Alaska resident
  • Must be an Alaska Native or American Indian student
  • Must be enrolled in formal public health education program
  • Must plan to work toward the growth of Alaska’s public health upon graduation

Details: Ten $5,000 scholarships are awarded to permanent Alaska residents through this fund.

Other public health scholarships available in Alaska include:

Arizona

Arizona Public Health Association: Lloyd E. Burton Scholarship Award

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be Arizona resident
  • Must be pursuing a career in public health in Arizona

Details: Scholarship is designed to provide financial support for many students on a public health career path.

Other public health scholarship programs are available through the Arizona Public Health Association and include:

  • Commitment to Underserved People Award
  • Harold B. Woodward Award
  • Senator Andy Nichols Honor Award

Arkansas

Arkansas Public Health Association Scholarship

Benefits: $1,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be an Arkansas resident
  • Must be enrolled (or have plans to enroll) in a public health degree program
  • Must be currently classified as, at minimum, a sophomore in college
  • Must have a 2.5 GPA
  • Must demonstrate financial need

Details: Preference will be given to those with goals in public health, with honors, with a letter of recommendation from a public health professor, with past or present public health experience, and to those who are full-time students.

Other public health scholarships available in Arkansas include:

California

Berkeley Graduate Division Roselyn Lindheim Award

Benefits: $10,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a public health graduate student
  • Must hold a unique vision for shaping community and public health environments
  • Must demonstrate innovative public health work

Details: Preference will be given to students who have read and demonstrate familiarity with Professor Roselyn Lindheim’s writings, who demonstrate a desire to integrate the social, physical, cultural, and political aspects involving community well-being, and who can connect their project to her work.

Other California public health scholarships include:

Colorado

Colorado School of Public Health Scholarships: Judith Albino Diversity Scholarship

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in a public health program
  • Should be enrolled in the Colorado School of Public Health
  • Should demonstrate financial need

Details: Preference will be given to students who are members of federally recognized Indian tribes.

Other scholarships from the Colorado School of Public Health include:

  • Hoffman Health Disparities Fellowship
  • Moral Scholarship Fund
  • Orleans Graduate Research Fund

Connecticut

Yale School of Public Health Bernadette M. Mosellie Scholarship

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in the Yale School of Public Health
  • Must maintain good academic standing

Another public health scholarships in Connecticut from the Yale School of Public Health scholarships, includes the:

Delaware

University of Delaware Jeanne K. Buxbaum Scholarship

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in University of Delaware nursing program
  • Must have a dedication to public health
  • May be graduate or undergraduate

Details: This scholarship is for students who wish to contribute to Delaware’s public health through nursing.

Other public health scholarships available in Delaware include:

District of Columbia

Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association: Charles Hayman Memorial Scholarship

Benefits: Up to $2,000

Eligibility:

  • Must attend a Washington D.C. four-year college or graduate school
  • Must be a graduate or undergraduate student
  • Must maintain a 3.0 GPA
  • Must major in public health or a public health related field
  • Must be a Washington D.C. resident

Details: Recipient must be willing to attend the MWPHA Awards Ceremony, to join, and to actively participate in MWPHA.

Other sources of funding for public health education in this state include:

Florida

Florida Public Health Association Undergraduate Scholarship

Benefits: $300

Eligibility:

  • Must be an undergraduate student
  • Must be enrolled in a health-related or public health program
  • Must be in good academic standing

Details: Recipients will receive a one-year membership in FPHA.

Other sources of funding for public health education in this state include:

Georgia

Rollins School of Public Health Woodruff Fellow Award

Benefits: Covers full-tuition plus $5,000 stipend

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in the master’s of public health program
  • Must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement

Other sources of funding for public health education in this state include:

Hawaii

University of Hawai’i Office of Public Health Studies: Graduate Division Achievement Scholarships

Benefits: amount varies

Eligibility:

  • Must demonstrate a commitment to the mission of the Department of Public Health
  • Must maintain 3.5 GPA

Other scholarships from the University of Hawai’i for public health students include:

  • Joseph E. Alicata Memorial Award
  • Frances Ayako Matsuda Sano Fellowship
  • Robert M. Worth Epidemiology Scholarship

Idaho

Idaho Public Health Association Scholarship Fund

Benefits: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in an Idaho public health degree-seeking program
  • Must be resident of Idaho
  • Must be member of IPHA

Other public health scholarships available in Arkansas include:

Illinois

Illinois Public Health Association: Scholarship for Graduate Study in Public Health

Benefits: $1,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be an Illinois resident
  • Must be enrolled in a public-health related graduate degree program
  • Must be used toward tuition payment

Details: Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship based on academic excellence.

Other Illinois Public Health Association scholarships include:

  • Edith Heide Memorial Scholarship– $2,000
  • James R. Nelson Scholarship – $3,000

Indiana

Indiana Public Health Foundation: Dr. Helen L. Scheibner Life Science and Public Health Scholarship

Benefits: $1,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be resident of Indiana
  • Must be pursuing a baccalaureate degree (or higher) in public health
  • Must be entering junior or senior year of undergraduate degree

Another source of scholarships for public health students in Indiana is:

Iowa

Iowa Environmental Health Association Scholarship

Benefits: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must be a full-time student
  • Must be pursuing a degree in public health
  • Must be Iowa resident

Other public health scholarships available in Iowa include:

Kansas

CAICH Master of Public Health Scholarship

Benefits: Amount varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be American Indian/Alaska Native
  • Must meet all entrance requirements to the Kansas University Master of Public Health program
  • Must submit 500-word essay on health disparity suffered by the American Indian population

Other public health scholarships available in Kansas include:

Kentucky

Kentucky Public Health Association: Ellen M. Buchart Scholarship

Benefits: $2,000 per year

Eligibility:

  • Must be a junior or senior in college or a graduate student
  • Must be enrolled in a public health major

Other scholarships from the Kentucky Public Health Association include:

  • Gerald Luttrell Honorary Scholarship — $1,000 per semester
  • Theodore Hanekamp Scholarship – maximum of $10,000 per year

Louisiana

Louisiana Association of Health Plans: Gil Dupré Graduate Student Scholarship

Benefits: $2,500-$10,000 per year

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in a final year of a Louisiana graduate program
  • Must be enrolled full-time
  • Must have a 3.0 GPA
  • Must demonstrate financial need

Details: Among the programs that can receive this scholarship, public health programs include the LSU School of Nursing: Master of Advanced Public/Community Health Nursing, Tulane Health Systems Management: Master of Health Administration, and more.

Other public health scholarships available in Louisiana include:

Maine

Maine Community Foundation: Catharine Wilder Guiles Scholarship

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be Maine resident
  • Must be pursuing a graduate education in mental health
  • Must be enrolled at the University of Maine

Details: This scholarship was created for students who wish to work in public health as a mental health professional, working in community mental health rather than private mental health.

Maryland

University of Maryland School of Public Health: Jerry P. Wrenn Endowed Scholarship

Benefits: Amount varies

Eligibility:

  • Be enrolled in a primary Public Health major
  • Hold a 3.0 GPA
  • Have completed 90 credits of coursework

Details: This scholarship was created to help seniors in need of financial assistance.

Other University of Maryland School of Public Health scholarships include:

  • School of Public Health Student Emergency Scholarship
  • University of Maryland Scholarship Day Fund – $1,000
  • TerpStart Scholarships

Massachusetts

Boston University School of Public Health: Health Start Initiative Fellowship

Benefits: $2,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a graduate public health student at Boston University
  • Must maintain good academic standing
  • Must be interested in obtaining intensive experience with grassroots program implementation

Details: Scholarship offered in collaboration with the Boston Public Health Commission—recipients will be matched with an area of community health for work over the course of a year.

Other Boston University School of Public Health scholarships include:

  • William Randolph Hearst Scholarship
  • Maternal & Child Health Fellowships – $2,000
  • Health Law and Bioethics Fellowship

Michigan

Michigan State University: Presidential Fellows Program

Benefits: Amount varies

Eligibility:

  • Must be majoring in public health or related field
  • Must be a senior or graduate student
  • Must maintain 3.5 GPA

Details: Fellows are expected to travel to Washington D.C. as part of this program.

Minnesota

Lowell & Leslie Kruse Scholarship for Community Performance Excellence

Benefits: Up to $15,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a full-time graduate student
  • Must be a first-year student enrolled in a MPH or MHA program
  • Must be enrolled in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota
  • Must demonstrate academic excellence

Other scholarships through the University of Minnesota for public health students include:

  • American Indian Graduate Center Fellowship
  • Association on American Indian Affairs Scholarships

Mississippi

Mississippi Recycling Coalition Scholarship

Benefits: $1,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be an undergraduate college student
  • Must be enrolled in Mississippi university
  • Must be pursuing an environmental science degree or a degree in a related field

Missouri

Missouri Public Health Association Edna Dell Weinel Scholarship

Benefits: Up to $750

Eligibility:

  • Must be MPHA member
  • Must reside or work in Missouri
  • Must be enrolled in a degree in public health

Details: Preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial need.

Other scholarships through the Missouri Public Health Association include:

  • Jackie Liesemeyer Nursing Scholarship – $750
  • Health Professional Scholarship
  • Leuthen – Brunner Local Public Health Agency Scholarship – $750

Montana

St. Vincent’s Healthcare Career Scholarships

Benefits: Benefits vary

Eligibility:

  • Must be a enrolled in an accredited health care program
  • Must be in pursuit of a career in health care
  • Must maintain a 3.0 GPA

Details: Eligible students for this scholarship will come from Montana counties, including Yellowstone, Big Horn, Carbon, Custer, Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Musselshell, Petroleum, Rosebud, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure, and Wheatland.

Other great scholarships in Montana for public health students include:

Nebraska

University of Nebraska College of Public Health: Carruth J. Wagner Scholarship

Benefits: Benefits Vary

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in a public health program at the University of Nebraska
  • Must maintain good academic standing

Details: Carruth J. Wagner was dedicated to contributing to minority and world health, so preference will be given to students who have an emphasis in improving the help of underserved peoples.

Another scholarship in Nebraska for public health students:

Nevada

Nevada Public Health Association Scholarship

Benefits: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in a public health program in Nevada
  • Must maintain good academic standing

Details: Both undergraduate and graduate students from all public health disciplines are welcome to apply.

New Hampshire

Molly B. Hawthorn-Macdougall Memorial Nursing Scholarship

Benefits: $1,000

Eligibility:

  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Must maintain a 2.0 GPA
  • Must project awareness of Women’s Health and Reproductive Issues in New Hampshire

Details: Scholarship is designed for female nursing students who have an interest in public health.

New Jersey

New Jersey Hospital Association Scholarship

Benefits: $2,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a New Jersey resident
  • Must be accepted in a graduate or undergraduate program in hospital or health care administration or in nursing or an allied health profession (including public health)

Other great scholarships in New Jersey for public health students include:

New Mexico

Central New Mexico Community College Fred C. and Priscilla M. Bottom Scholarship

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be a student in the School of Health, Wellness, and Public Safety
  • Must maintain good academic standing

Other great scholarships from Central New Mexico Community College include:

  • Ottens Foundation Success Scholarship
  • Eloy Reyes Title V Memorial Scholarship

New York

SEHSA Environmental Health and Safety Association of New York: Scholarship

Benefits: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must be current undergraduate or graduate student
  • Must be enrolled in a New York State university
  • Must be pursuing a career in health and safety or environmental sustainability
  • Must maintain a 3.0 GPA

Details: Decisions will be made on the basis of academic record, leadership in community and academics, and future career potential.

Other great scholarships in New York for public health students include:

North Carolina

North Carolina Public Health Association Robert S. Parker Leadership Scholarship

Benefits: $1,500

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in graduate-level public health program
  • Must have spent at least five years working in the field of public health
  • Must be pursuing a leadership career in public health
  • Must be a member of the North Carolina Public Health Association

Other great scholarships through the North Carolina Public Health Association include:

  • Undergraduate/Graduate Education Scholarship – $1,000
  • Associate/Technical Degree Certificate Scholarship – $500
  • Women’s and Children’s Health Section Scholarship in Memory of Dr. Ann Wolfe – $500
  • One Child of NCPHA Member Scholarship – $1,000
  • Joy F. Reed Leadership Scholarship for Public Health Nurses – $500

North Dakota

University of North Dakota Master of Public Health Tuition Waiver

Benefits: Tuition for between one and nine credit hours

Eligibility:

  • Must be a student enrolled in the Master of Public Health program at the University of North Dakota

Details: Awarded independently of graduate assistantships.

Ohio

Ohio Society for Public Health Education Karen H. Evans Memorial Scholarship

Benefits: $500-$1,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be an undergraduate or graduate student
  • Must be enrolled in an Ohio accredited public health program
  • Must maintain good academic standing

Details: Preference will be given to members of the Ohio Society for Public Health Education.

Other great scholarships in Ohio for public health students include:

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Public Health Association Scholarship

Benefits: Up to $1,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled full- or part-time in an accredited Oklahoma university
  • Must be pursuing a career in public health
  • Must have completed the first half of the public health program
  • Must maintain a 3.0 GPA

Other great scholarships in Oklahoma for public health students include those awarded through the University of Oklahoma College of Public Health, such as:

  • Edward N. Brandt Jr. Scholarship
  • Ronald L. Coleman Scholarship
  • Roy B. Deal Jr. Scholarship

Oregon

Oregon State University College of Public Health: Adrion, Walter M. Scholarship

Benefits: $500 – $6,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a junior in the College of Public Health
  • Must maintain a 3.0 GPA
  • Must have at least 30 hours of residency at Oregon State University

Details: Preference will be given to students with outstanding scholarship and professional dedication.

Other great scholarships in Oregon for public health students include:

Pennsylvania

The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society: Alliance Medical Education Scholarship Fund

Benefits: $2,500

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in a Pennsylvania medical school, such as a MD/MPH program
  • Must be a full-time student

Details: Students in dual MD/MPH programs may be preferred for this scholarship.

Another source of scholarships in Pennsylvania for public health students includes:

Rhode Island

University of Rhode Island Truman Scholarship

Benefits: $30,000

Eligibility:

  • Must be a student at the University of Rhode Island
  • Must be pursuing a graduate degree in a public service field (Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Health, Master of Social Work, Master of International Affairs, etc.)
  • Must maintain a 3.75 GPA

Details: Recipients must work in public service for three of the first seven years of their career upon graduation.

Another scholarships in Rhode Island for public health students is the:

South Carolina

 

South Carolina Public Health Association Malcolm U. Dantzler Scholarship

Benefits: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must be a current member of the South Carolina Public Health Association
  • Must be enrolled in a course of study leading to a degree in a health-related field
  • Must maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher
  • Must show active involvement in community, scholarly, and professional activities

Details: Students may be nominated or apply for scholarship individually.

Other resources for scholarships in South Carolina for public health students include:

South Dakota

South Dakota Medical Association Scholarships

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be a South Dakota resident
  • Must be pursuing a health degree in South Dakota

Tennessee

Tennessee Public Health Association Scholarships

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be a Tennessee resident
  • Must be a member of the Tennessee Public Health Association
  • Must be enrolled in an accredited public health program

Details: Recipients of this scholarship must agree to work with a public health agency in Tennessee for at least one year upon graduation.

Another scholarships opportunity for Tennessee public health students is the:

Texas

Texas Public Health Association Scholarships

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be a Texas Public Health Association (TPHA) member in good standing for at least one year
  • Must have a 2.5 GPA
  • Must be enrolled in a public heath program in Texas
  • Must plan to becoming a public health professional upon graduation

Details: If the applicant is not a TPHA member, an immediate family member of the applicant should be.

Other public health scholarships for students in Texas include:

Utah

Utah Public Health Association Scholarship

Benefits: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must be a member of the Utah Public Health Association
  • Must be a graduate student in a University of Utah public health program

Details: Applicants must write a personal statement with application submission.

Other public health scholarships include the University of Utah’s, such as:

  • Rod L. Betit Endowed Leadership Scholarship in Public Health
  • F Marian Bishop Scholarship for Public Health
  • Lloyd L. Cullimore Service Learning Endowment in Public Health

Vermont

University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences: Babbit, Baker, Staples Scholarship

Benefits: $2,300

Eligibility:

  • Must be nursing student at the University of Vermont
  • Must be interested in public health
  • Must be pursuing a career as a public health nurse

Other public health scholarships are offered though the Utah Environmental Health Association, which includes:

  • Pickett-Webb Memorial Award
  • Reed Roberts Memorial Award
  • Gerald Storey Memorial Award
  • Lynn Thatcher Award
  • Randy Wilde Memorial Scholarship

Virginia

Virginia Environmental Health Association Scholarship

Benefits: $500

Eligibility:

  • Must be an undergraduate or graduate student
  • Must be a member of the Virginia Environmental Health Association
  • Must be enrolled in an environmental health program

Details: Environmental public health students may be considered for this scholarship.

Other scholarships open to various public health professionals throughout Virginia include:

Washington

Washington State Environmental Health Association: Ed Pickett Memorial Scholarship

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in a Washington State environmental health or public health program
  • Must maintain good academic standing
  • Must be involved in the Washington State Environmental Health Association

Other scholarships for public health students include those awarded by the University of Washington School of Public Health, which lists:

  • Grayston-Day Fellowship – $10,000
  • SPH Endowed Fellowship – $5,000
  • Remak Scholarship – $2,000

West Virginia

Avashia Scholarship

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be enrolled in the master’s degree program in the School of Public Health at West Virginia University

Details: Preference will be given to students who can demonstrate financial need.

Other scholarships for public health students available through West Virginia University include:

  • Robert W. Gunn Scholarship
  • William M. Murray Public Health Education Scholarship
  • School of Public Health Dean’s Scholarship

Wisconsin

John D. and Virginia Riesch Scholarship

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must be attending the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
  • Must demonstrate empathy, compassion, and passion to educate others on health-related issues

Details: Preference is given to students who plan to practice in Wisconsin.

For another scholarship for public health students in Wisconsin, consider the following:

Wyoming

Wyoming Public Health Association Scholarship

Benefits: Vary annually

Eligibility:

  • Must demonstrate leadership and mentoring skills
  • Must contribute to the promotion of Wyoming’s public health through innovative research
  • Most demonstrate the ability to translate theoretical ideas to a community setting
  • Must maintain good academic standing

Details: Previously named the Raella Gustafson Award, this scholarship is dedicated to Raella, who served in Wyoming as a County Nurse Manager and was a lifelong advocate for public health.

Back to Top