The good news is you got into medical school (congrats!). The bad news is, this is where the hard work truly begins. Medical school requires years of studying, not to mention a lot of money. The average medical student graduates with an average debt of around $215,900.
There is no way to get around the hours of studying, but you can at least lower the amount of money you’ll need to cover the cost of your degree. Here is a list of generous medical school scholarships you can apply to.
The fastest path to earning scholarships
Simplify and focus your application process with the one-stop platform for vetted scholarships.
Check for scholarshipsThe American Medical Association Foundation sponsors the Physicians of Tomorrow Awards. Medical school students in their third year may apply for the scholarship. School deans nominate students for the award. Every award has different eligibility requirements. Applicants must submit a personal statement, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. The award amount is $10,000.
Diverse Medical Scholars Program
The Diverse Medical Scholars Program awards 38 medical students. Applicants must be in their second, third, or fourth year of medical school. African American, Latino or Latina, Native American or Asian American students can apply. Scholars must volunteer for 200 hours in an underserved community. To apply, applicants must submit a short biography, resume, and letters of recommendation. The award amount is $7,000.
Arkansas Health Education Grant Program
The Arkansas Health Education Grant Program awards scholarships to Arkansas residents. Students studying chiropractic medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatric medicine, and veterinary medicine may apply. The award helps students attend out-of-state programs that aren’t available in Arkansas. The award amount varies.
Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Scholarship
The Josiah Macy Scholarship awards second and third-year medical students. Applicants must be members of an underrepresented minority. They must show financial need. The award amount is $5,000.
Navy Medical Financial Assistance Program
The Navy Medical Financial Assistance Program awards physicians and dentists. Graduate students in their third, fourth, or fifth year may apply. Scholarship winners must commit to serving on active duty for the same number of years they are in the program plus a year. Program members receive a monthly stipend and 14 days of active duty annual training. They also receive a yearly grant and reimbursement for books and supplies.
Wayne Anthony Butts Scholarship
The Wayne Anthony Butts Scholarship awards scholarships to medical students. Applicants must be in their first or second year of school. They must attend an accredited medical program in the New York metropolitan area. They must be members of an underrepresented minority. The award amount is $3,000.
Manhattan Central Medical Society Scholarship
The Manhattan Central Medical Society Scholarship awards one medical student. Applicants must be in their first, second, or third year of school. They must be African-American in the New York City area. The award amount is $2,500.
AAMC Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarships
The AAMC Herbert W. Nickens Scholarship awards five scholarships to medical school students. Applicants must be in their third year of medical school. They should be passionate about making medical education more accessible to minority communities. Medical schools nominate students for the award. They must submit two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a resume. The award amount is $5,000.
Tylenol Future Care Scholarship
The Tylenol Future Care Scholarship awards students pursuing a graduate degree. Eligible fields are medicine, nursing, or pharmaceuticals. Applicants must write a personal statement and a description of their community involvement. 10 students win $10,000. 25 students win $5,000.
The Brown Medical and Educational Society Healthcare Scholarship
The Brown Medical and Educational Society awards scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students. Applicants must be pursuing a healthcare degree. Minority students should apply. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Chinese American Medical Society Scholarships
The Chinese American Medical Society Scholarships awards medical and dental students. Applicants must be in their first, second, or third year of school. They must be CAMS student members. The award amount is $5,000.
The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund awards graduate school fellowships. Applicants may study a variety of fields, including medicine. They must show academic excellence and attend a designated university. They also must have a financial need. Scholarship winners receive full tuition coverage and an $18,000 living stipend.
The Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship
The Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship awards 15-20 scholarships. Applicants must be members of the National Hispanic Medical Association. They must pursue graduate studies in one of several fields, including medicine. They must be passionate about improving the health of Hispanic communities. They also must take part in NHHF Scholars Alumni activities. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Applicants must submit a personal statement, a letter of recommendation, and school transcripts. The award amount is $5,000.
Japanese Medical Society of America
The Japanese Medical Society of America awards JMSA members with scholarships. Applicants must pursue a healthcare field. Graduate students, residents, fellows, and postdocs may apply. Applicants must show a commitment to the Japanese community. To apply, they need to submit a proposal for a project that supports the JMSA mission. The award amount ranges from $2,500-$12,000.
Joseph Collins Foundation Fellowships
The Joseph Collins Foundation awards scholarships to medical school students. Applicants must attend medical school east of the Mississippi River. They must have an interest in neurology, psychiatry, or general practice. They also must rank in the top half of their class. They should have a variety of interests, such as arts, literature, and theater. The award amount is $10,000.
The National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program
The National Health Service Corps awards scholarships to medical students. Applicants must be studying to be a physician, dentist, nurse, or physician assistant. They must commit to working in an underserved area after finishing residency. The number of years they must work depends on the number of years they receive financial aid. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and eligible for federal employment. To apply, they must submit three personal statements. The scholarship covers full tuition and offers a living stipend.
NMF Primary Care Leadership Program
National Medical Fellowships offer many scholarship opportunities to medical students. One of them is the Primary Care Leadership Program. Medical students, nursing students, and physician assistant students may apply. They must be U.S. citizens or DACA. They also must be from an underrepresented community or have a financial need. The award amount is $5,000.
Pisacano Scholars Leadership Program
The Pisacano Scholars Leadership Program awards medical students. Applicants must be entering their fourth year of studies. They must show a commitment to family medicine. They should show leadership skills, academic excellence, and have community service experience. The award amount is up to $28,000.
Wellesley College M.A. Cartland Shackford Medical Fellowship
Wellesley College awards a scholarship to women enrolled in graduate school. Applicants must have an interest in medicine. They should show academic excellence and financial need. The award amount is up to $11,000.
The White Coat Investor Scholarship
The White Coat Investor Scholarship awards a scholarship to ten graduate or post-graduate students. They may study a variety of fields, including medicine. Applicants must submit a personal statement. The award amount is up to $70,000.
Empire State Medical Association Scholarship Award (NY)
The Empire State Medical Association Scholarship awards one African American student. The applicant must study at a New York City medical school. They must show academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement. The scholarship winner must attend the Scholar Reception. The award amount is $2,500.
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to students of Hispanic Heritage. Medical students may apply. They must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to apply. Awards range from $500-$5,000.
Women in Medicine Scholarships
Women in Medicine scholarships award two LGBTQ Leadership Scholarships. Students must be in their first, second, or third year of medical school. Applicants must be leaders in the LGBTQ community. The award amount is $5,000.
Indian Health Service Health Professions Scholarship
Indian Health Service awards three different scholarships for students studying medicine. Students must be U.S citizens and have a minimum 2.0 GPA. They must be members of a First Nation Tribe or Alaska Native village. They should have a desire to work with the First Nation population following graduation.
Dr. Marie E. Zakrzewski Medical Scholarship
The Dr. Marie Scholarship awards a woman of Polish descent studying medicine. Applicants must be in their first, second, or third year of studies and be a resident of Massachusetts. They must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. The award amount is $3,500.
Endowment for South Asian Students of Indian Descent Scholarship Fund
The Endowment for South Asian Students of Indian Descent awards medical students. They must be in their second, third, or fourth year at an accredited school in Pennsylvania. They must be residents of Pennsylvania or New Jersey and of Indian descent. The award amount is $3,500.
BoardVitals Medical School Scholarship
The BoardVitals Medical School Scholarship awards two medical school students. Applicants must have a desire to improve a critical issue in healthcare. They must submit a personal statement and a short video. One student receives an award of $2,500 and another student receives $1,000.
USA Medical and Surgical Scholarship Program
The USA Medical and Surgical Scholarship awards healthcare students. Students studying medicine may apply. Applicants must submit transcripts and a personal statement. Two students win a scholarship every year. The award amount is $1,000.
James “Rhio” O’Connor Mesothelioma Scholarship Fund
The James Rhio O’Connor Mesothelioma Scholarship awards medical students. Applicants must submit a personal statement. The award amount is $1,000.
The New York Academy of Medicine
The New York Academy of Medicine awards scholarships to medical students. They must be in their first or second year and live in the New York Metro area. Scholarship winners must complete a research project and give a presentation. The award is a $3,500 living stipend, and a $500 research grant.
Research Medical Student Grant
The Radiological Society of North America awards scholarships to members of the RSNA. Applicants must attend an accredited medical school in the United States. Scholarship winners must do research on a relevant topic through the radiology department. The award amount is $6,000.
The Mary Ball Carrera Scholarship awards female Native American students. Applicants must attend an accredited medical school. The award amount is $2,500.
San Miguel Association Medical Scholarship
Western University of Health Sciences awards the San Miguel Scholarship. Applicants must be in their fourth or fifth year of medical school. They may practice family medicine, internal medicine, or pediatric medicine. They must commit to working for at least three years after completing residency. Applicants should show academic excellence and financial need. The award amount is $25,000.
HRSA Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students
The HRSA Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students awards students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Applicants must attend a participating school. Eligible fields include medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or nursing. They must have a financial need. The award amount is up to $40,000.
Board of Governors Medical Scholarship
Wayne State University awards the Board of Governors Medical Scholarship. Applicants must be entering their first or second year of medical school. They must show financial need. Award amounts vary.
Carl Hall Doctors Degree Scholarship
The J. Carl Hall Scholarship awards residents of the Centralia area. Applicants must plan to pursue a medical degree.
Allegheny County Medical Society Medical Student Scholarship
The Allegheny County Medical Society awards medical students. Applicants must be from Allegheny County and attend an accredited medical school in Pennsylvania. They also must be in their third or fourth year of school. To apply, they must submit two recommendation letters. The award amount is $4,000.
Health Professions Scholarship Program
The Health Professions Scholarship Program awards scholarships to medical students. Personnel in the US Army, Air Force, or Navy can apply. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.2 and a minimum MCAT score of 500. They also must qualify as a commissioned officer. To apply, they must submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores. Scholarship winners need to serve a minimum of 3 years as active-duty staff physicians. The award covers full tuition for up to 4 years. It also awards a monthly stipend, a sign-up bonus, and officer’s pay during school breaks.
Twenty-First Century Scholars Program
The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania awards this scholarship. 30 students win a scholarship every year. Applicants must show academic excellence and leadership. The award covers full tuition.
National Medical Fellowship Scholarships
The National Medical Fellowship awards physicians and healthcare workers from underrepresented communities. The organization awards over 40 different scholarships. There are both need-based and merit scholarships. Eligibility requirements vary. Applicants should have leadership skills and community service experience. Most scholarships require applicants to submit a personal statement and medical school resume. Awards range from $1,000 to $12,500.
Final Thoughts
Going to medical school is hard work. Do not let the stress of money prevent you from putting all your energy into your studies. Start applying to these medical school scholarships and save money on your education.