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Medical school leaves students in serious debt. In 2017, the average cost of medical school was $32,495 per year at public schools and $52,515 at private schools.
Read on to learn more about medical school scholarships and how you can get a full ride to medical school.
Can You Get Scholarships for Medical School?
You will be happy to know that there are tons of medical school scholarships available. These scholarships come from all kinds of places including organizations, the government, and medical schools themselves.
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Check for scholarshipsScholarships by Organization
Each award has different eligibility requirements. For example, one scholarship awards applicants who have an interest in women’s health. There are also awards for minority students.
Diverse Medical Scholars Program
The United Health Foundation and National Medical Fellowships sponsor this program. The program awards $7,000 to 30 medical students every year. The scholarships are renewable, so winners can receive funds for several years. Winners volunteer for 200 hours in their community. They must also create a presentation detailing their experience.
To apply, students must be either African-American, Latino, Native American, or Asian-American. Their definition of Asian-American includes only Vietnamese and Cambodian.
Tylenol Future Care Scholarship
Tylenol, the pain relief company, funds the Tylenol Future Care Scholarship every year. The scholarship awards $10,000 to 10 students and $5,000 to 30 students. Applicants must be pursuing a career in patient care.
James “Rhio” O’Connor Mesothelioma Scholarship Fund
Every month, Cancer Monthly awards medical students with $1,000. To apply, students must complete an essay prompt.
Herbert W. Nickens Medical Student Scholarships
The scholarship is open to first, second and third year medical or dental students. Winners receive a one-time scholarship of $5,000.
Chinese American Physicians Society
CAPS offers scholarships of $2,000 to $5,000 to medical students. Students must show a commitment to serve Chinese communities after graduation.
Dr. Marie E. Zakrzewski Medical Scholarship
Applicants must be a female medical student of Polish ancestry. The student must be in her first, second, or third year of studies. The scholarship is for $3,500.
Women in Medicine awards two $5,000 LGBTQ scholarships for female medical students. Students must be studying alternative medicine in their first, second or third year.
National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program
This program pays for two years of medical school tuition and fees. It also offers a living stipend while in school. Some of the funds of the scholarship are tax free.
In exchange, winners of the program must work in an underserved area. They will begin working after finishing residency. Students serve between two to four years. This depends on the number of years they receive financial aid.
The National Medical Fellowships awards several scholarships to underrepresented minority students. Applicants must be current medical students. There are over 20 different scholarships and programs available. Some awards are state- or school-specific.
AMWA Medical Student Members can apply for many different scholarships. They can win money for medical school and money to travel overseas to work in clinics.
Medical Scholarships by School
Some medical schools are more generous in awarding scholarship money than others. These following programs award several yearly scholarships.
Perelman School of Medicine Scholarships
The University of Pennsylvania’s Medical school awards 25 full tuition scholarships every year. All students accepted into the program are considered for a scholarship.
David Geffen Medical Scholarship
Edith SeVille Coale Scholarship
Female medical students in their second or third year may apply. Students must be studying at one of the following universities: George Washington University, Georgetown University, Howard University, or John Hopkins. Awards are for 5,000-8,000.
Medical Scholarships By State
There are also several scholarships which are state-specific. Check out these following scholarships which award residents of certain cities or states.
The Wisconsin Medical Society offers many scholarships to medical students. There are awards for up to $3,000. To win a scholarship, students must be studying in Wisconsin. They also must show a desire to practice in Wisconsin after finishing school.
Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS) Medical Student Scholarship
Dr. James L. Hutchinson and Evelyn Ribbs Hutchinson Medical School Scholarship
College seniors accepted to medical school or current medical students may apply. The scholarship is for $2,000. Applicants must be a San Mateo County or Santa Clara County high school graduate.
Endowment for South Asian Students of Indian Descent Scholarship Fund
This scholarship fund awards Pennsylvania residents who are medical students. Applicants must be a South Asian Indian or a descendant of a South Asian Indian immigrant to the United States. Applicants should be in their second, third, or fourth year of medical school. Applicants must have filed the FAFSA.
Maryland Graduate and Professional School Scholarship Program
This scholarship program awards students pursuing different careers. Among those is medicine. Students must be a Maryland resident with financial need. They must be studying either at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Schools of Medicine, or John Hopkins. Students can win $5,000.
To be eligible for a scholarship, students must be of Vietnamese descent. They should be current students in the Greater Houston area. They must have an interest in pursuing medicine.
How to Get a Full Ride Scholarship for Medical School
Winning a full ride scholarship for medical school is not so common. However, it is possible. If you are hoping to study medicine for free, there are several programs which will allow you to do this. The government funds most of these programs. Many involve Army service. These programs can be good options for students willing to make the commitment.
Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)
The military funds this program. If you have served time in the armed forces, you can get your tuition and fees covered. You will also get a living stipend. To be eligible, you need to serve one year of active duty for every year of your scholarship. There is a three-year minimum.
F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine
This medical school doesn’t charge tuition. Its students are all commissioned officers in the U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army or U.S. Navy. They earn an annual salary of more than $60,000 per year during their four years of medical school. They must commit to at least seven years of active-duty service after graduation.
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
The Lerner College of Medicine trains students to become physician-scientists. Students get their entire tuition covered.
Many of the scholarships listed here are prestigious and competitive. Students hoping to win a medical school scholarship need to study hard and keep their grades up.
Final Thoughts
Make sure that you also apply for scholarships unrelated to medicine. You can win scholarships for your hobbies, heritage, or your volunteer work. Even small scholarships worth a few hundred dollars can add up to a lot of money.
Finally, make sure you fill out the FAFSA. Medical schools use the FAFSA to determine how much aid you’re eligible for. Even if you haven’t been accepted to a school yet, send an application for each school you’ve applied to.
