The Best Public Health Scholarships with Upcoming Deadlines in 2025

Nutritionists, biostatisticians, and nurses are all included in the public health field. These valuable occupations can change the course of a patient's treatment by providing quality care. If you want to be involved in something bigger than yourself and help others at the same time, a career in public health could be for you.

Public health scholarships assist students in moving out of the academic world and into the healthcare workforce. With these financial aid packages, students enrolled in medical-adjacent disciplines can get through school and focus on making society healthier and happier.

As a leading resource for scholarships, we have researched public health organizations like the American Association for the Advancement of Science to bring you the best scholarships for public health students.

Healthcare administration and nursing remain some of the most popular areas in public health, but there are scholarships for all kinds of disciplines within healthcare. Keep reading for the best public health scholarships, how to apply, and how to win.

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Best Public Health Scholarships

1. Nursing Scholarships

Many undergraduate students in public health choose to attend a graduate program in nursing. Society runs on nurses to draw blood samples, streamline hospital processes, perform X-rays, and more. Working as a nurse is both demanding and rewarding. Apply for these nursing scholarships to fund your foray into the nursing field.

2. Healthcare Scholarships

Undergraduate or graduate students can apply for these general healthcare scholarships. Many organizations and donors are motivated to support your studies in healthcare—at one point or another, we've all been to the doctor, and everyone can agree on how essential good healthcare providers are. High school seniors will also be eligible for some of these!

3. Medical School Scholarships

If medical school is your endgame, don't miss out on these scholarships. A college degree of any kind is already costly, but medical school is likely one of the most expensive degrees possible.

4. AAAS Media Science & Engineering Fellowship

This ten-week fellowship places STEM students in media companies to observe and become a part of the intersection of media and science. Students enrolled in upper-level undergraduate or graduate programs and postdoctoral trainees may apply for this competitive opportunity.

5. ACMPE Scholarship Fund

The ACMPE scholarship fund, organized by the Medical Group Management Association, has several yearly awards for students enrolled in medical practice management, public health, business administration, healthcare administration, and related fields. Students must be a member of MGMA to apply.

Best Scholarships for Healthcare Management Graduate Programs

1. Gap Year Scholarships

Regardless of whether you are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in public health, students may choose to take a gap year for work or hands-on experience. Students of all backgrounds who are passionate about protecting the public's health can benefit from a little time off from school.

2. Graduate School Scholarships

Since the cost of a graduate program is often too high for the average student to afford without help, scholarships are a critical form of assistance for those with financial need. Graduate students in healthcare will want to look at these financial support programs.

3. Grants to Pay Off Student Loans

Minority students, students from low-income backgrounds, and those interested in longer programs like medical school may accrue more student loans than normal. These grants to pay off student loans help healthcare students decrease the amount of student debt they graduate with so they can focus on helping others.

Best Public Health Scholarships by Major

1. Science Scholarships

For undergraduate students interested in science, scholarships can be a great way to get some financial support while pursuing a public health major. Whether students are planning on attending graduate university programs or going straight on to their careers, scholarships are available to support students looking to start off in science and develop a concentration in public health.

2. Chemistry Scholarships

Any student interested in medicine will understand the dread of having to take organic chemistry. Long considered one of the most infamous weed-out classes, this subject is the foundation of many health disciplines. A major in chemistry can provide an excellent starting point for several public health careers.

3. Biology Scholarships

One of the most obviously relevant majors, biology is a strong choice for pre-med students and those interested in healthcare. Whether you're going on to study environmental health or health administration in graduate school, this major provides you with a well-rounded class schedule to prepare you for what's ahead.

4. Psychology Scholarships

Psychology is a part of public health as much as any of the physical sciences. Community health is often intertwined with mental health, making psychology students a valuable part of our healthcare system. Counselors, psychologists, and other mental health workers are the backbone of a vital support system we all rely on, whether we realize it or not.

Read through Bold.org's full list of scholarships by major to find resources that are right for you.

Public Health Scholarships for Minority Students

Diversity is important when understanding health in society, so it's critical that the public health workforce is representative of all identities. Many exclusive scholarships are available for underrepresented students to support minority students in public health practice.

1. Scholarships for Minority Students

2. Scholarships for Black Students

3. Asian American Student Scholarships

4. Native American Student Scholarships

5. Hispanic Student Scholarships

Why Public Health Scholarships Matter

Public health professionals evaluate and regulate the health needs of the public population, which are vital to the wellness of society. These public health professionals help with pressing issues related to disease outbreaks, health education, safety standards, and more.

Society continues to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic today, highlighting how important healthcare workers are. Long-term COVID symptoms, educational disruptions, and new vaccine policies as a result of the pandemic are all aspects any public health student will need to understand and manage.

Professional Outlook for Public Health Degrees

In college, public health students develop the critical thinking and analysis skills necessary to confront issues such as:

1. low vaccination rates
2. foodborne diseases
3. drug overdoses

These issues and others require an education focusing on science as much as societal policies. With a public health education, graduate students add to their STEM knowledge by researching with nonprofits, consulting on disease prevention, or developing health marketing campaigns. 

Many public health majors go on to receive a master’s degree in the field. From there, students can plan to work at nongovernmental organizations or as biostatisticians, health educators, health administration members, and more. 

36.5% of public health graduates go on to work as registered nurses. Some students also go on to law school and pursue careers in public health law, focusing more on the policy side than research. Public health majors can also attend medical school and become doctors if they complete premedical requirements. 

Public Health Scholarships

A public health scholarship helps students studying public health pay for their college tuition. While some scholarships are specifically for public health majors, there are also some medical scholarships and STEM scholarships that public health majors can apply to.

The median in-state public tuition for public health students is $8,175, while the median out-of-state private tuition is $39,100. For any college student who wishes to get a public health degree, it is crucial that they apply for scholarships that can give them some financial assistance. 

If you are interested in going to medical school or becoming a nurse, plenty of scholarships are catered specifically to those academic programs. The longer you intend to spend in school, the higher the cost will be—so be sure to apply for any relevant scholarships.

How to Find Public Health Scholarships

First, you need to find scholarships for which you're eligible for. There are three main ways to find scholarships you can apply for: online platforms, schools, and local organizations.

1. Scholarships from Online Platforms

Online scholarship platforms are the most obvious choice; nonprofits and financial aid databases allow you to sift through hundreds of scholarships and search exclusively for public health scholarships. These sites can also connect you with national award programs, which may offer more money—though they'll also be competitive.

Students can find public health scholarships by searching the Bold.org scholarships page and browsing the "Health and Wellness" and "Healthcare" categories. Depending on one's exact career path in public health, students may even be able to apply for "STEM" scholarships if their major is related to science.

Public health students may also be eligible for medical scholarships and scholarships for nurses. You can browse the "Nursing" category on the scholarship page to find scholarships. In addition, students pursuing public health programs can apply for other relevant scholarship opportunities based on their hobbies and identities. For example, a female student pursuing a public health degree can check out the "Women" category for additional scholarships.

2. Scholarships from Schools

Schools provide another valuable way to find scholarships. Whether you're in high school, college, or graduate school, be sure to ask your financial aid office if your institution offers any scholarships exclusively to attending students. Often, there will be at least a few scholarships that only you and your classmates can apply for, which is a lot less competition than scholarships open to any student.

3. Scholarships from Community Organizations

Don't leave community organizations out of the equation. Ask your extracurricular clubs, volunteer centers, and other offices in which you participate if any financial aid opportunities are available. Similar to school-offered scholarships, these applications will have a lower volume of applicants, meaning you'll hopefully have a better chance at winning.

How to Apply for Public Health Scholarships

Each scholarship has its own application process, but generally, you just need to follow the instructions in the description to apply. Donors know that high school and college students have limited time, so every scholarship is designed to be as simple to apply for as possible.

Gathering Documentation

Any essay you apply for will ask for personal information, along with other documents like transcripts or letters of recommendation. Make sure to ask for these well in advance. Recommenders need time to write letters, and school offices will need a few business days to process transcript requests.

Applying for Essay Scholarships

There are many different types of scholarships to choose from. The most common type of scholarship is essay-based awards. These scholarships require applicants to submit an essay or written statement in response to a prompt, single question, or a series of questions. Eligible students just need to meet the word requirement to apply. 

To make the best impression in your scholarship essays, stick to the given topic or prompt, include personal details, and be sure to proofread before clicking "submit!" You can find more essay-writing tips in this guide on how to write a scholarship essay.

Applying for No-Essay Scholarships

Other scholarships may require a different submission in place of an essay. These scholarships may ask students to submit research papers, videos, or evidence of volunteer work as part of the application process. Other opportunities may require applicants to submit additional forms and documentation.

Additionally, there are some scholarships that don't require any type of submission. Easy, no-essay scholarship applications can be completed with just a few clicks. These low-effort scholarships are great opportunities for busy students to consider.

To find the best no-essay scholarships, check out our top no-essay scholarships.

As always, check the details listed in the posting for the particular public health scholarship you are interested in.

Tips for Applying to Public Health Scholarships

Apply Early and Often

It's never too early to begin applying for public health scholarships! The sooner you begin applying, the more scholarships you can apply for, boosting your chances of covering all of your financial needs.

It's also never too late to apply for scholarships! High school seniors can and should submit scholarship applications, even if it's their last month of high school. Undergraduate and graduate students can continue applying for scholarships throughout their degrees. Recent graduates who have student loans are even eligible to apply for certain scholarships!

Check Eligibility

Every scholarship will include a list of eligibility requirements in the description. Eligible students must meet all of the criteria to qualify and apply, so read carefully! Some scholarships have a wide range of eligibility requirements and are less competitive as a result. The fewer eligible applicants a scholarship has, the better your chances of winning will be. 

Eligibility requirements can be anything from race or gender to location to field of study. Students who display academic excellence, leadership, or other positive traits can even qualify for additional scholarships. Additionally, students who demonstrate financial need can unlock scholarships exclusively open to low-income students. 

Before applying, read through all requirements to ensure that you're eligible to apply. Since scholarships often take time and effort to apply for, you want to be sure that you're not wasting time on a scholarship that you're not eligible to receive.

Additional Resources for Public Health Students

Hertz Fellowship

This scholarship awards graduate students with five years of funding, enabling them to pursue an education in any science or technology field of their choice. Doctoral students, nursing students, and those enrolled in any other type of healthcare program can apply. Funding varies between applicants but can go up to $250,000 in total.

Science and Technology Policy Fellowship

The American Association for the Advancement of Science funds this scholarship for STEM students interested in governmental policies. Research and innovative discoveries are essential but often not well utilized without policies that apply new knowledge scientists have gained. This opportunity to work on a yearlong federal assignment provides students with the chance to understand how policies are developed. Those enrolled in healthcare management graduate programs may be especially interested.

Microbiome Data Prize

The American Society of Microbiology awards this prize to students who demonstrate distinguished research achievements in microbiology. Winners will receive $1,400 and a waiver to publish a paper in an ASM journal. Applications are open in May each year.

Check out our scholarship blog for more free resources on securing funding for your public health degree!