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Health Corps Scholarships

Students who study a health care profession may investigate eligibility for a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholarship. The United States Department of Health and Human Services established the Health Corps in 1972 in response to the lack of health care personnel in many communities. The Health Corps offers scholarships to students who study an approved health care profession in an accredited program. In return, those students commit, after graduation, to provide health care in communities that the selects, based on that community's need for medical services.

  1. Qualifications to Receive a Health Corps Scholarship

    • Review the qualifications for receiving a Health Corps scholarship. Applicants for Health Corps scholarships must study in one of the following fields: medicine, dentistry, certified nurse midwife, physician assistant or family nurse practitioner. Students must attend or have a letter of acceptance to an accredited health professional training program to receive an NHSC scholarship.

    Scholarship Stipulations

    • Investigate the scholarship stipulations. Scholarship recipients must sign a commitment that obligates them to serve in a NHSC approved site for a period of two to four years after graduation. Scholarship funds will apply toward the student's tuition, educational costs and other required fees as well as a monthly living stipend.

    Scholarship Requirements

    • Check the requirements for applying for a scholarship. The NHSC accepts applications from students who will either begin their first year of studies or have completed one or more years of school. Recipients may receive a scholarship for up to four years of study.

    Post-Study Committment Obligations for Health Corps Scholars

    • Review the commitment obligations for NHSC scholarship recipients. Scholars must agree to provide clinical care at a NHSC- approved site upon graduation. Approved sites include federally-supported health centers, Indian Health Service clinics, rural health clinics, public health department clinics, hospital-affiliated primary care practices, prisons, managed care networks and U.S. Immigration, Customs and Enforcement sites. Look at NHSC's Job Opportunity Site to see a list of NHSC sites and to get an idea of the type of health care facilities that NHSC scholars work in after graduation. Each scholar will negotiate salary with the job site, though the NHSC stipulates that it must receive at least as much as they would if they worked in an equivalent federal civil service position.

    Submit the Application

    • Submit the application online. Include supplemental paper forms which provide proof of United States citizenship, a school transcript, a resume that details volunteer and work experience (up to five pages), evaluations and verifications from the educational institution and requested essays. Submit the application as early as possible, but not after the June 30th deadline.

    Response Upon Notification

    • Respond immediately upon notification of acceptance to the NHSC scholarship program. The acceptance letter or email will specify a deadline by which the applicant must accept the NHSC scholarship. Failure to respond by the specified date will result in cancellation of the scholarship offer. Applicants will receive acceptance letters, or notifications of acceptance as an alternate, by September 30th. Applicants who have not been accepted either as scholarship recipients or alternates will receive a letter by October 31st. All dates are according to 2010 data.

    Priority Scholarships

    • Note that the National Health Service Corps awards scholarships according to NHSC priorities. These include former NHSC scholarship recipients who need additional financial support, applicants in medical or dental schools who demonstrate exceptional financial need or students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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