30+ Best Medical School Scholarships in 2024 - Inspira Advantage

Medical School Scholarships for Minority Students

Some organizations offer scholarships for minority students who want to attend med school. Think about your family history, where you intend to practice medicine, and your socioeconomic background. These things, along with your goals and aspirations, may make you a perfect candidate for one of the following scholarships.

Minority Scholars Award (AMA) 

• Amount: $10,000. 
• Application Process: To apply, applicants must submit their transcripts, resume, letters of recommendation, and a financial statement completed by the UCSF Financial Aid Office. In addition to this, applicants must submit a one-page personal essay explaining their medical career goals. For more details, check out AMA’s application process.
• Eligibility: This scholarship is awarded to minority students (African-American/Black, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native, and Hispanic/Latino) to promote diversity in medicine. 
• Deadline: N/A
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: Write your personal essay emphasizing the importance of diversity in the medical community. Highlight how your presence in the medical field is both necessary and essential. 

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans 

• Amount: $90,000.
• Application Process: The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans fund 30 students going into graduate or professional studies. To apply, students must submit proof of enrollment, proof of status (your own and your parents), proof of academic standing, and two personal essays. Applications are submitted through an online portal.  
• Eligibility: The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans were set up to fund immigrants and children of immigrants in the U.S. The applicant can be American through birth, naturalization, adoption, or green card. However, both applicants’ birth parents must have been non-US citizens born outside of the US and ineligible for US citizenship at the time of their births. See the complete list for more information on eligibility.    
• Deadline: October 26, 2024
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: Begin writing your personal essays early. By beginning your essays early, you can edit, revise, and rewrite to craft stronger essays. You will also be able to ask others for editing help too, including professors or mentors. The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship website also provides a guide to writing essays so be sure to check that out. 

Scholarships for Black Medical Students

As mentioned, some scholarships are set up specifically for minority groups in the U.S. Below, we have listed a few such scholarships available to Black American medical students.   

Empire State Medical Association Scholarship Award (The National Medical Fellowships, NY) 

• Amount: $2,500. 
• Application Process: To apply, students must visit The National Medical Fellowships’ online application portal, where they will need to upload a personal statement specific to this scholarship as well as the following: 

• Transcripts; 
• Any required personal documents (birth certificate, passport, etc.); 
• Resume;
• Letter(s) of recommendation; and,
• Any required financial and academic documents (see general documentation requirements). 

• Eligibility: Applicants must be African-American and enrolled in an accredited New York City medical school for the coming academic year. Applicants will be required to provide proof of acceptance.   
• Deadline: April 8, 2024
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: Utilize your lived experiences. When writing your personal statement or contacting recommenders for your letters, do not be afraid to be vulnerable and radically honest about your lived experience as a person of color. Let this be an opportunity for your voice to shine. 

United Negro College Fund (UNCF) 

• Amount: Varies; over $100,000,000 is available annually to applicants through different programs.  
• Application Process: UNCF offers numerous scholarship opportunities for American med students of color. One such scholarship is UNCF’s The United Health Foundation Diversity in Health Care Scholarship.  To see the many different scholarships available, check out UNCF’s website.
• Eligibility: While different scholarships have different eligibility requirements, UNCF set up their scholarships to provide financial aid to Black American med students.  
• Deadline: Varies per scholarship. 
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: While many of our previous tips have emphasized your individuality, there is incredible power in explaining how your lived experience, as a student of color, has been a shared one. Don’t forget this when you write your personal essays.    

Many organizations offer more than one scholarship to Black American students, such as the Brown Medical and Educational (MAE) Foundation. While only one of MAE’s scholarships is specific to med school, they offer a few others to African-American students going into college that may be applicable.        

Scholarships for Chinese-American Medical Students

If you are a Chinese-American medical student, some great funding resources are available to help you cover the cost of med school. 

The Chinese American Physicians Society hosts an annual scholarship of $2,000-$5,000 for students going into osteopathic medicine. Applicants do not have to be Chinese, but they must be particularly focused on serving the Chinese community in the U.S. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2024.

CAMS Scholarship (Chinese American Medical Society)

• Amount: $5,000
• Application Process: To apply for the Chinese American Medical Society’s CAMS Scholarship, applicants must submit their entire application via email to CAMS. This application must include: some text
  • A CAMS application form; 
  • Applicant's Current Curriculum Vitae;
  • A Letter from the student’s Dean, verifying the applicant is in good standing with their institution; 
  • Two letters of recommendation.

For more details on the application process, see the CAMS website.   

• Eligibility: Applicants must be first-, second-, or third-year med or dentistry students and current or pending CAMS Student members. CAMS does not mention ethnicity, though it is implied that all applicants must be Chinese-American.      
• Deadline: March 31, 2024
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: Develop strong relationships with both your recommenders and, if possible, your Dean. If you can cultivate a strong working relationship with these three people, you’ll be more likely to receive positive and impactful letters of recommendation. 

Scholarships for Native American Medical Students

There are many scholarship opportunities available to Native American med students. One excellent online resource is Affordable Colleges Online (ACO), which has a full state-by-state list of Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). TCUs offer unique scholarships and learning opportunities for Native American students seeking higher education. 

Aside from ACO, we have also listed a few individual scholarships below. 

Health Professions Scholarship (Indian Health Services)

• Amount: Varies; the Indian Health Service (IHS) offers three different scholarship opportunities to Native American med students. 
• Application Process: When applying to any of the IHS scholarships, students have to submit their official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and an applicant essay. These documents will be assessed and scored for one cumulative score. Your cumulative score will then be ranked against other applicant scores.    
• Eligibility: In order to be eligible for any of IHS’ scholarships, students must have proof of both tribal/village membership and American citizenship. Applicants must also have a high school degree and a minimum GPA of 2.0. Check out the rest of Indian Health Service’s scholarship requirements to see if you are eligible for application.     
• Deadline: Varies per scholarship. 
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: In your applicant essay, emphasize how you will use your med school degree to serve Native American communities across the U.S. Write about how your interests in medicine and career goals will help American Indians and Alaska Natives. 

Gerald D. Peet Scholarship 2023-2024 (NativeForward Scholar Funds)

• Amount: Needs-based amount.
• Application Process: Unclear. The NativeForward Scholar Funds website has listed contact information for any questions regarding their application.   
• Eligibility: To be eligible, applicants must be enrolled in a full-time accredited college pursuing a degree in medicine. Applicants must also commit to two years of post-graduate medical work serving Native American communities.  
• Deadline: June 1, 2024
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: While this scholarship has many vagaries, one clear thing is that their ideal candidate is committed to serving Native American communities after their medical degree. Emphasize this in your application letter and/or personal essay. 

NativeForward Scholars Fund has a long list of other scholarships specifically available to native students. Not all are for med students, though, so be sure to read through the listings carefully. 

Scholarships for Hispanic Medical Students

If you are a Hispanic med student, many scholarships are available to help you cover the cost of med school tuition. We have compiled a few below, as well as some excellent online resources that you can use to find more opportunities. 

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) 

• Amount: $500-$5,000, as well as career services, mentorship opportunities, and more. 
• Application Process: HSF offers 10,000 of these scholarships to Hispanic American med students. Students must apply online via the HSF portal by creating a profile and uploading all required documents. Applicants must submit state-based financial aid forms as well as proof of enrollment. To apply for an HSF scholarship, visit their website. 
• Eligibility: HSF applicants must be American and Hispanic or of Hispanic descent. They must have a 3.0 GPA for high school students or 2.5 GPA for college and grad students.     
• Deadline: Feb 15, 2024
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: The HSF’s scholarship seems to be both a merit- and needs-based scholarship. Therefore, you must explain why you need this scholarship, how it would be helpful, and what it would allow you to do for yourself and your community.

The Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship (NHHF)

• Amount: $2,000 to $5,000
• Application Process: Students must apply via The National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) online portal. It is through this portal that applicants will upload all the following required documents:some text
  • A two-page personal statement;
  • A PDF letter of recommendation (one); 
  • Proof of citizenship;
  • Proof of enrolment;
  • Unofficial transcript; and,
  • Current curriculum vitae (education, employment, extracurricular activities, awards).
• Eligibility: To be eligible for application, students must have a 3.0 GPA and proof of full-time enrolment in an accredited American medical institution. While applicants must be American citizens, they are not required to be Hispanic; however, they must have an affinity for the health of Hispanic communities.
• Deadline: Sep 15, 2024
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: Aside from exceptional academic achievements, we recommend that you work or volunteer within Hispanic medical communities —the more of a leadership role you can take on, the better. NHHF wants to see that you are committed to genuinely helping Hispanic-American communities.

The Latino Medical Student Association National Scholarship (LMSA) 

• Amount: $500. 
• Application Process: The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) will award ten med students $500. To apply, applicants must submit their proof of enrollment, transcripts, two short essays (a personal statement and a short-answer essay), and the LMSA application form. Applicants must also be current and paying members of LMSA. Students must submit their applications through the LMSA online portal. 
• Eligibility: To be eligible, applicants do not have to be Hispanic or Latino/a/x; however, they have to be committed to improving the health and safety of Hispanic and Latino/a/x communities in the U.S.    
• Deadline: August 1st, 2024 (expected)
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: Get involved with Hispanic, Latina/o/x, and other underserved communities around you. LMSA wants to see that you are committed to supporting the health, care, and education of Hispanic, Latina/o/x, and other underserved communities. Volunteer, work, or join a club to get involved.  

The JP Sánchez LGBTQ+ Health & Leadership Award (LMSA)

• Amount: $500+. 
• Application Process: Students must be current members of The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) before applying. Applicants must submit a personal statement, proof of enrolment, resume, and the LMSA application form to apply. Students must submit their applications through the LMSA online portal.
• Eligibility: Though applicants do not have to be LGBTQ+, Hispanic, or Latino/a/x, they must show their desire to work with and care for LGBTQ+, Hispanic, and Latino/a/x communities across the U.S.  
• Deadline: August 1st, 2024 (expected)
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: LMSA gives applicants the option of submitting a letter of reference. We always recommend doing this, as it will only be a boon to your application. If your recommender is involved with LGBTQ+, Hispanic, or Latino/a/x groups, this is even better, as it will speak to your commitment to these communities. 

Scholarships for Medical Students With Disabilities 

If you are a med student living with a disability, there are many scholarship opportunities available to you. These scholarships range in terms of disabilities, from physical to autoimmune. We have included a variety of scholarships below, but be sure to do your research to find the scholarships that best cater to you.  

The AAHD Frederick J. Krause Scholarship on Health and Disability (AAHD) 

• Amount: Varies; maximum available funding is $1,000. 
• Application Process: In order to apply for the American Association on Health and Disability’s (AAHD) scholarship, applicants must submit a two-page personal statement, two letters of recommendation, most recent unofficial transcripts, and proof of disability. All students must apply through the AAHD online portal.
• Eligibility: Applicants must be American citizens with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and enrolled in full-time post-secondary studies. Applicants do not necessarily have to be studying health or medicine; however, preference is given to those students.  
• Deadline: March 1st, 2024.
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: Prioritize community service and/or volunteer experiences. While the AAHD mentions that preference will be given to students studying medicine, they also give preference to students with volunteer and community service experiences. Bonus if your volunteer work is in health services.  

The AbbVie Immunology Scholarship is another excellent scholarship for med students with a disability. Specifically, it is available to students who live with the following inflammatory diseases: 

• Ankylosing spondylitis; 
• Crohn’s disease;

• Hidradenitis suppurativa; 
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis; 
• Psoriasis; 
• Psoriatic arthritis; 
• Rheumatoid arthritis;
• Ulcerative colitis; and, 
• Uveitis.

Recipients are awarded up to $15,000, regardless of financial need.

The AbbVie Immunology Scholarship is currently closed; however, it will reopen in November 2023, so be sure to mark this date in your calendar. 

Another excellent scholarship is the John Lepping Memorial Scholarship, which is available to students with disabilities. The scholarship is for up to $5,000. Like the AbbVie Scholarship, the John Lepping Memorial Scholarship currently has a deadline of June 1, 2024. 

To be eligible, students must:

• Provide proof of disability;
• Demonstrate academic achievement; and,
• Be a resident of New York, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania.

To apply, applicants must submit their application form and other required materials to apply.

Scholarships for Jewish Medical Students

Religion is another possible determinant for scholarships. In this case, there are many scholarships and awards available to Jewish students going into or already studying medicine. Below are just a few of these kinds of scholarships. 

The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Vocational Service Scholarship (JVS Chicago)

• Amount: Varies; up to $4,000 available.
• Application Process: You can apply through their online portal. When applying, students must submit the following:some text
  • Two professional and/or academic letters of reference with the accompanying JVS Letter of Reference Form;
  • Applicant IRS Forms filed for the two previous years;
  • Students under the age of 26 and/or married students must submit parents’ and/or spouse's/partner’s IRS Forms filed for the two previous years;
  • Proof of tuition and fee costs;
  • Proof all outstanding student loans; and,
  • Official academic transcript (if in school, from present school; if not in school, from the most recent school attended). 
• Eligibility: All applicants must be Jewish and a Chicago local, either born or currently living and working in Chicago. Applicants must be either planning on studying in or moving back to Chicago after their medical degree. Check out JVS Chicago’s full list of requirements. 
• Deadline: February 1, 2024 
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: Be honest and open about your financial needs. JVS has placed high importance on understanding their applicants' financial background, meaning their scholarship is needs- and merit-based. Be honest then about how helpful this JVS scholarship will be to you. 

Aside from individual scholarships, there are great organizations that offer more than one scholarship to Jewish students. For example, the Jewish Federation of Northeast New York offers several grants and scholarships. To view their award opportunities, check their academic scholarships page.

The Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland (JFSA) is another such example. JFSA offers multiple awards to Jewish students in the greater Cleveland area, including the Alumni and Friends of JFSA College Financial Aid Program Scholarship. For a list of awards and opportunities, check their scholarships page.

Scholarships for LGBTQ+ Medical Students

There are numerous scholarships available to American LGBTQ+ med students. The Pride Foundation, for example, offers a ton of awards annually to improve the educational experience of LGBTQ+ students and activists. In fact, with just one application, eligible candidates can apply to over 60 Price Foundation scholarships.

Leadership Scholarship (Women in Medicine) 

• Amount: $5,000. 
• Application Process: To apply, students must submit a Leadership Scholarship Application form, two letters of recommendation, and their resume. See Women in Medicine’s application form and requirement list for all other eligibility requirements.  
• Eligibility: Women in Medicine offers two scholarships to LGBTQ+ female students enrolled in their first, second, or third year of med school. All applicants must have been already enrolled in med school for six months before applying. 
• Deadline: March 15, 2024 (expected)
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: Get involved in your LGBTQ+ community. Giving back to your community through volunteer leadership roles will be a massive boon to your application for the Women in Medicine Leadership Scholarship. Plus, you can foster a relationship with a potential future recommender through volunteering or working.   

Sexual orientation is not the only factor when it comes to some LGBTQ+ scholarships. The Pedro Zamora Young Leaders Scholarship is dedicated to the memory of AIDS activist Pedro Zamora. The scholarship aims to support the academic careers of young activists. The scholarship awards up to $5,000 to applicants who meet the criteria. You can apply through ScholarsApp here. 

Scholarships for Women in Medicine

Numerous scholarships are available if you are an American woman already enrolled in or planning to attend med school. For example, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) offers multiple scholarships for women in medicine. Their awards include the Irene and Daisy MacGregor Memorial Scholarship, the Dr. Francis Anthony Beneventi Medical Scholarship, and more.

The Lynn Adamson Memorial Scholarship (Women Health Care Executives) 

• Amount: $5,000 with a one-year membership to the WHCE.  
• Application Process: To apply, applicants must submit their resume, current unofficial transcript, a letter of reference, and a WHCE application form to the WHCE email. Outstanding academic achievements are crucial for a successful application. 
• Eligibility: To be eligible, applicants must be graduate-level female students residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. See the WHCE website for more eligibility criteria.
• Deadline: February 27, 2024 
• Inspira’s Tips for Securing this Scholarship: Try to take on leadership roles during your undergraduate degree. The WHCE emphasizes the need for their scholarship winner to display leadership and integrity. Try to take an active role in any of your volunteer, clinical, and/or research experiences. 

Peace Corps and Military Scholarships

Finally, the Peace Corps and the U.S. Military are other institutions that offer scholarships to med students who have completed a certain amount of service. Volunteering through the Peace Corps may make you eligible for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program scholarships.

The U.S. military offers programs for students who have enrolled in the army. Most programs pay for one year of school for each service year.

FAQs

Still curious about the ins and outs of scholarships? That’s okay; we got you covered. Below we’ve listed some common questions and their answers to help you.

1. How Many Medical Scholarships Can I Apply for?

You can apply for as many medical scholarships as you’d like. It’s a good idea to apply for as many as possible, even the small ones. Smaller scholarships often have less competition and may be easier to get.

2. How Do I Find Scholarships for Med School?

The best way to find med school scholarships is through online databases or search engines, like the ones listed below. 

• The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC): an excellent and comprehensive database of scholarships, loans, and forgiveness-based funding opportunities available to American med students. 
• FastWeb: a free online search engine geared towards matching students with scholarships.
• U.S. Department of Education: an excellent database for scholarships covering a variety of fields, including medicine.
• CareerOneStop (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor): a comprehensive database with over 9,000 scholarships available to American students.
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM): for those a bit more courageous, the PCOM website offers three different medical scholarship databases you can browse. 

3. Can Non-U.S. Citizens Get Medical Scholarships? 

Yes. There are many scholarship opportunities for non-U.S. citizens and international students. Check with your school for specific international scholarships, and search online for scholarships available to non-U.S. citizens.

4. Which Medical School Gives the Most Scholarships?

NYU Grossman covers tuition for all incoming students as long as they maintain satisfactory academic performance. Therefore, NYU is one of the top med schools that releases the most financial aid. 

5. Can I Study Medicine in the U.S. for Free?

It’s possible if you attend a medical school that covers tuition costs. However, “free” is subjective: some schools waive just tuition, others may help you pay for other expenses on top of educational fees, and you must factor in living costs too.