Essential Pharmacy Scholarships

Pharmacy school isn’t cheap—but don’t stress, because there’s good news: tons of scholarship opportunities are out there specifically for pharmacy school students. Whether you're studying oncology to help cancer patients, nuclear pharmacy for medical tests, or need extra cash to get through your APPE rotations, scholarships can give your finances a booster shot.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started, from where to look to how to apply with confidence. With exclusive scholarship funding from Bold.org—a scholarship platform with verified opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students—we've got your back with 100% free pharmacy-related awards.

We’ve also included helpful tips and answers to common questions so you’re not confused about eligibility requirements, application deadlines, or how to make your application stand out. You’ve worked hard to get here! Now, it's all about making sure you get the financial assistance you deserve.

Create a free applicant profile with Bold.org and gain access to thousands of exclusive scholarships to fund your pharmacy school dreams!

Best Pharmacy Scholarships

1. Merit-Based Scholarships

The most significant scholarships you'll have the best chances at are merit scholarships. As a current or prospective scholarship recipient, you know what it takes to excel, and these merit scholarships love people like you! Many of them can also award thousands of dollars, so they're a great option to fund your pharmacy degree program!

Most pharmacy students recommend applying for federal financial aid or scholarships. Reading about a pharmacy student's experience, advice, and difficulties in pharmacy school can help you chart a path forward.

2. Full Tuition Scholarships

The holy grail of all scholarships, full-tuition scholarships guarantee you won't have to pay a dime for your pharmacy school tuition. These scholarships can be pretty competitive, but you have nothing to lose by applying. We recommend applying to a handful of full-tuition scholarships alongside smaller scholarships to even out your odds!

3. Healthcare Scholarships

As a pharmacist (or aspiring pharmacist), you're an integral part of the healthcare and medical field. These pharmacy health scholarships should be right up your alley, targeting students with your interests, experiences, and backgrounds—including first-generation college students and underrepresented minority students. The more specific the scholarship, the better!

Best Pharmacy Scholarships by Bachelor's Degree Major

1. Biology Scholarships

Biology majors learn all about the human body, which is the focus of the entire discipline of pharmacy. Classes on physiology, biochemistry, and microbiology can set the foundation for learning advanced topics like how medications affect the human body—perfect for PharmD students!

2. Chemistry Scholarships

Often going hand-in-hand with biology, a chemistry degree is also crucial for aspiring pharmacists. Learning about molecular structures, bonding, and chemical interactions helps with identifying how drugs work, and cultivating lab skills is essential for success in pharmaceutical sciences. Dreaded weed-out classes like organic chemistry can be worth the struggle in your pharmacy education.

3. Public Health Scholarships

Many pharmacists also choose to major in public health. Although not directly related to the technical skills of pharmacy, public health prepares you to investigate how pharmacists impact their communities, especially in health professional shortage areas.

Learn how much the MCAT costs in our handy blog!

Best Pharmacy Scholarships for Grad School

1. Graduate Student Scholarships

To become a pharmacist in the United States, you need to earn a PharmD, a type of graduate degree. These programs can come at a steep cost, so apply for research scholarships and endowed scholarships to afford the school of pharmacy you choose.

2. Graduate Scholarships for Women

If you identify as a woman and are looking for more support in the male-dominated field of pharmacy, then apply for these scholarships! They’re great for current students who are looking to build both funding and connections in the field.

3. Medical School Scholarships

While pharmacy school and medical school lead to different degrees and specialize in different programs, many students go through medical school because they're interested in a different side of pharmacy, such as clinical pharmacology, treatment plans, or research!

Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Pharmacy Scholarships

1. Find Scholarships Just for Pharmacy Students

Skip the general stuff—focus on scholarships made specifically for pharmacy majors. Check out your school’s financial aid site, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), and big scholarship search engines like Bold.org. Don’t forget to look at pharmacy organizations like APhA or NCPA, especially if you're from a member institution.

2. Make Sure You’re a Good Fit for Eligibility Requirements

Before diving into applications, read the requirements carefully. Some scholarships want students with high GPAs, others focus on financial need, community service, or students from underrepresented backgrounds. Others prioritize current military service, international students, or students who face financial barriers. Some are even as specific as scholarships for National Guard members! Keep a list of what you're eligible for so you can focus your efforts.

Make a list of the ones that actually match your situation, so you don’t waste time. There's nothing worse than pouring hours into a scholarship you don't even qualify for.

3. Gather Your Materials Early

A key component of any scholarship application is making sure you've got all the right materials. Pharmacy scholarships will pay careful attention to the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the materials you submit, so start collecting everything you need well before the priority deadline or final application deadline. Most pharmacy scholarships will ask for:

1. A personal essay about your passion for pharmacy
2. A resume showing full-time student experience
3. Letters of recommendation (ideally from professors or pharmacists)
4. Your academic transcript
5. Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Pro tip: Ask for recommendation letters early—professors get busy!

4. Write an Essay That Shows Who You Are

Don’t be generic. Share why you’re passionate about pharmacy—maybe a moment that inspired you, your career plans, or a time you made a difference as a student pharmacist. Show your personality and make it clear why you're in this field. It's important to maintain a balance between a personal love for pharmacy and accomplishments that demonstrate that passion. Think like an assistant dean or board member reviewing a hundred essays—what would make yours pop?

Get more in-depth tips in our blog on what you should write your college essay about!

5. Stay Organized & Apply on Time

Deadlines sneak up fast. Before you know it, a month can pass by, and suddenly, the scholarship deadline is knocking at your door. Keep a spreadsheet or checklist with due dates, what each application needs, and scholarship decisions. Applying early means less stress, and sometimes better chances if the scholarship takes rolling applications.

Graduate and professional students especially should apply early to secure funding for research, AAPE rotations, and other fieldwork or professional experiences they plan to take part in.

6. Say Thank You & Keep Looking

Always thank the donors or organizations if you receive financial support. It’s a nice gesture and shows appreciation. If not, don’t give up—new scholarships pop up all the time! Many students enroll in multiple application cycles before landing a great award.

Tips for Applying to Pharmacy Scholarships

Tip #1: Highlight Hands-On Pharmacy Experience—Even If It’s Informal

Scholarship committees love to see real-world initiative. Even if you haven’t worked in a pharmacy yet, talk about any shadowing, volunteering, or community outreach you’ve done that's related to health or medicine. Did you help at a local vaccine clinic? Assist with a medication drive? Interview a pharmacist for a class project? These experiences show commitment to the field and help you stand out beyond grades.

These experiences will also be useful for graduate students applying to internships, research positions, and job postings. Besides improving your resume and chances of winning financial aid, participating in your local community and academic network will also make you a better pharmacist.

Tip #2: Personalize Your Essay with a "Why Pharmacy" Story

Instead of saying you “like science and want to help people,” dig into the moment when you knew you wanted to pursue pharmacy. What motivated you to pursue a bachelor’s degree and later pharmacy?

Maybe it was seeing how a pharmacist helped your family member or a moment in class when drug mechanisms just clicked—like when you got why monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) interact poorly with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). A specific story—personal, authentic, and meaningful—can instantly make your application more memorable.

Tip #3: Tailor Applications to Your Future Pharmacy Goals

Are you dreaming of working in oncology, public health, pediatrics, or rural medicine? Mention it! Many pharmacy scholarships are funded by donors or organizations with specific interests. If your goals align—even loosely—with theirs, call that out. It shows thoughtfulness and long-term plans, which scholarship reviewers love to see.

Don't forget to check out our full list of scholarships to maximize financial assistance for student pharmacists!

Additional Information and Resources for Pharmacy Health Students

1. CVS Health / AACP Community Pharmacy Award

From one of the biggest American pharmacies and pharmacist organizations comes a gigantic $20,000 scholarship, awarded to 21 extraordinarily talented student pharmacists every academic year. This scholarship program targets those dedicated to supporting underserved communities. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a Pharm.D. program and qualify as low-income on their federal income tax form.

2. Walmart Health Equity Scholarship for Pharmacy Students

This health equity scholarship is sponsored by Walmart and administered by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). Seven Ph.D. students will be awarded $5,000 to graduate and commit to serving underserved populations, much like the CVS Health scholarship. To qualify, applicants must be accepted into or currently attending a Ph.D. program and have at least a 2.5 GPA.

3. CSHP and Community Foundations for Pharmaceutical Sciences

Many states, districts, and even cities have their own pharmacy community organizations that offer valuable financial aid to residents, such as College Ave loans, local loan repayment support programs, and scholarships!

Often, these scholarships have lower competition and can be a great way to win micro-scholarships and additional funds to cover pharmacy school costs! To find your community foundation, simply type in the name of your state followed by "pharmacy organization scholarship."

For example, the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists (CSHP) offers some valuable scholarships to California student pharmacists, such as the Joseph H. Beckerman Memorial Scholarship, which awards $2,500.

For more tips and tricks on financing your education, read our blog!