The cost of graduate school concerns most students pursuing an advanced degree. Fortunately, there are many scholarships, fellowships, and internships available to help lower what you’ll have to pay. This guide features MPH-specific scholarships and resources to help you find the financial and professional support you’ll need to afford your degree and further your career. Because scholarships are so important, you’ll also receive tips for standing out on your scholarship applications.
Available Graduate Scholarships for MPH Students
With a rising cost of living, it can be hard to get by without the additional worry of having to pay back student loans. Scholarships can help you reduce your expenses and allow you to focus on your education. Scholarships not only help you avoid student loan debt from tuition, but they can also help cover some of the extra costs (e.g., research and travel) associated with an advanced degree. The following list of scholarships and fellowships for MPH students is a great starting point to finding funding for your degree.
General Scholarships for Master of Public Health Students
Corris Boyd Scholars Program
- Organization: HCA Healthcare
- Amount: $40,000
- Deadline: April 19, 2023
- Eligibility: Graduate students participating in an AUPHA Full Member master’s degree program are eligible. They must have 3.0 undergraduate GPAs and be enrolled full-time.
Description: This scholarship honors the late Mr. Corris Boyd, a senior healthcare executive who dedicated his life to advancing diversity and excellence in leadership.
Barbara A. Cooley Master’s Scholarship
- Organization: Shape America
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: October 15, 2022
- Eligibility: Applicants must have 3.0 GPAs.
Description: Open to master’s level students enrolled in a school-based health education program in the U.S. or a U.S. territory.
Winston Scholarship Program
- Organization: Winston Fellowship
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: Annually in early March
- Eligibility: Applicants must be first-year graduate students in their second, full-time semester or third, full-time quarter.
Description: For students demonstrating their potential to succeed in health administration, health policy, or public health.
Foster G. McGaw Graduate Student Scholarship
- Organization: The Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: March 31, 2023
- Eligibility: Students must be in their final year of a healthcare management graduate program.
Description: For students enrolled in an MHA, MPH, or MBA program in Healthcare Administration or similar with expected graduation dates between September 1, 2023, and August 31, 2024.
Lowell C. Kruse Healthy Choices. Healthy Lives. Scholarship
- Organization: Mosaic Life Care
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: Annually by June 15th
- Eligibility: Applicants must be first-year graduate students from Northwestern Missouri. Recipients must also accept a paid internship at a not-for-profit organization between their first and second years.
Description: This scholarship is for graduate students in a study area leading to improved quality of life for the residents of Northwestern Missouri.
NEHA/AAS Scholarship
- Organization: National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: Not indicated
- Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students with at least one semester of coursework remaining. Applicants must also submit one letter of recommendation from an active NEHA member.
Description: For graduate students demonstrating an interest in being an environmental health or sanitarian professional.
Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship
- Organization: The Foundation of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
- Amount: $5,000
- Deadline: March 31, 2023
- Eligibility: Students must be enrolled full-time in a healthcare management graduate program and expect to graduate between September 1, 2023, and August 31, 2024. Preference is given to applicants that are Student Associates of ACHE.
Description: Established in honor of Albert W. Dent, the first African-American Fellow of ACHE, to financially aid racially/ethnically diverse healthcare management graduate students.
Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship
- Organization: Michael Moody Fitness
- Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: August 1, 2023 or until 1,000 applications are submitted
- Eligibility: Students must enroll full-time in an accredited two-year or four-year college or university in the U.S. for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Description: For students demonstrating outstanding achievement, participation, and leadership and who have work experience and interest in pursuing healthcare or a fitness-related field.
National CPR Foundation Healthcare and Education Scholarship Program
- Organization Name: National CPR Foundation
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: Not indicated
- Eligibility: Applicants need 2.8 or higher GPAs. An essay describing their motivations and career aspirations along with discussing their reasons for pursuing healthcare or education-related degree is also required.
Description: For students planning to study or currently studying healthcare or education.
The Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship
- Organization Name: National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF)
- Amount: Up to $5,000
- Deadline: September 23, 2022
- Eligibility: Must be enrolled full-time, demonstrate interest in Hispanic healthcare, and participate in NHHF Scholars Alumni activities.
Description: For graduate students studying medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, or public health or health policy or aiming to become a physician associate.
HaPI Measurement Scholarship
- Organization: Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HaPI)
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: December 17, 2022
- Eligibility: Applicants must be second-year graduate students in the health or psychosocial science fields.
Description: A merit-based scholarship for U.S. students to help finance their master’s thesis, dissertation, or other research in the health or psychosocial sciences.
Catherine E. Philbin Scholarship
- Organization: GFWC Massachusetts
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: March 1, 2023
- Eligibility: Must be a graduate or undergraduate public health student and resident of Massachusetts.
Description: For public health students.
Stephen K. Hall ACWA Water Law & Policy Scholarship Program
- Organization: Association of California Water Agencies
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: March 1, 2023
- Eligibility: Must also be enrolled full-time and submit three letters of recommendation.
Description: For students pursuing degrees in water law, water policy, or public administration.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Profession Scholarships
- Organization: BCBSND Caring Foundation
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: October 1, 2022
- Eligibility: Applicants must attend a North Dakota university or college and have GPAs of 3.25 or above.
Description: This scholarship is intended to reduce healthcare worker shortages in the North Dakota region.
Public Health Scholarship Program
- Organization Name: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)
- Amount: $45,000
- Deadline: Annually March through June
- Eligibility: Applicants need to have a public health training program in place and a system for transitioning into public health.
Description: For any student studying a health-based profession, including public health, epidemiology, laboratory personnel, informaticians, communication and policy experts, and more.
Fellowships for Master of Public Health Students
APHL-CDC Fellowship
- Organization Name: Association of Public Health Laboratories and the CDC
- Amount: $46,000
- Deadline: Annually in February
- Eligibility: Any student looking to begin a career in laboratory-based sciences may apply. Bench lab experience and three recommendation letters are required.
Description: Helps fellows gain a deeper understanding of their chosen focus area.
Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program
- Organization Name: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Amount: $56,000
- Deadline: November 1, 2022
- Eligibility: Two recommendation letters and research experience are required.
Description: This fellowship places graduate students with education in health-related fields with local, state, or international mentors.
CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship
- Organization Name: CSTE
- Amount: $49,500
- Deadline: Annually in May
- Eligibility: Must be graduates trained in applied epidemiology.
Description: This fellowship places fellows with state or local departments for two years. Additional stipends and funding may be available based on work, education, and other factors.
SOPHE/CDC Student Fellowship in Injury Prevention
- Organization Name: CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
- Amount: $2,000
- Deadline: Annually in June
- Eligibility: Applicants must be graduate students enrolled in 9+ credit hours of coursework.
Description: This fellowship is for students working on projects in unintentional injury prevention from the perspective of health education or the behavioral sciences. The scope of those projects may include drug overdose, suicide, and drowning.
Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health
- Organization Name: Fulbright Program and the Fogarty International Center of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: October 11, 2022
- Eligibility: Applicants may select only one country to apply to for their fellowship, and they must explain their selection and how they will contribute to the greater Fogarty project.
Description: For graduate students with an expressed interest in global health.
20 Resources for Master of Public Health Students
Below are resources for MPH students to help them find communities, publications, and other professional support. These resources can help you better understand your field, develop your critical thinking skills, and become more informed about current research and professionals in public health.
Career-Related Resources
Public Health Works!
Acting as a hub for additional resources, New York State’s health department provides a variety of resources to help understand the field of public health more, research careers, and find additional resources.
My Next Move
This resource allows you to search for different careers, and the results include the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and personality traits required for those careers. It also provides a job outlook and additional resources.
Public Health Degrees
This is a comprehensive guide to public health certifications. It helps you understand possible career directions and gives a better understanding of who you’re engaging with through articles or networking with other professionals.
Careers in Public Health
This resource features 100 different careers in public health. Whether you’re new to the field or coming up on graduation, this comprehensive list can help you understand the vast opportunities for careers in public health.
American Public Health Association
From climate change and environmental health to health equity and health reform, this resource offers a wealth of public health information to help you understand various branches of public health more deeply.
Resources from National Groups
American Public Health Association
The APHA publishes both the American Journal of Public Health and The Nation’s Health newspaper. It is a well-known association actively working to shape public health through policy, research, and more.
American Medical Association
The AMA emphasizes the betterment of public health and welcomes doctors with backgrounds and formal degrees in public health. While an MPH alone isn’t enough to join the AMA, many members have MPHs.
Delta Omega
Founded at Johns Hopkins in 1924, Delta Omega has become a renowned association for public health professionals across the nation. Chapters are prestigious, and earning membership is a highly selective process for publishing health professionals.
Association of Public Health Laboratories
APHL allows membership for both students and public health professionals. With a reach that spans across North America, this association features different categories of membership that allow members to engage with other professionals in their specific field of public health.
Association of Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
This association caters to public health professionals interested in infection control and epidemiology. Membership grants you access to exclusive certifications, training, resources, and publications.
Journals
American Public Health Association
This journal aims to bring about health equity, support public health infrastructure, and increase access to healthcare. With an emphasis on race and equity, it focuses on the environment, health equity, and racism.
American Journal of Public Health
This is a monthly peer-reviewed public health journal that focuses on healthcare access and healthcare policy.
International Journal of Public Health
This journal publishes articles on global public health. It features articles from various countries and cultures and curates them into original, relevant research issues.
Public Health in Practice
This international and peer-reviewed journal publishes articles on implementing public health research either through healthcare or policy. It believes implementing research will create a cycle of innovation, growth, and ultimately better public health.
Frontiers in Public Health
This journal focuses on the epidemiological branch of public health but emphasizes intersectionality or cross-sections with non-public health fields. It highlights public health issues like socioeconomic status, poverty, and climate as factors affecting public health.
Blogs
Public Health Matters
Managed by the CDC, this blog focuses on education, awareness, research, and promoting healthy lifestyles. It emphasizes the importance of research on infectious diseases and the importance of research on public health in the U.S.
The Hill Healthcare
This publication supplies articles on a variety of fields and topics, but the Healthcare section focuses on topics that are often directly related to public health.
Culture of Health Blog
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the largest philanthropic organization in the U.S., is dedicated specifically to health. Its blog emphasizes equity, racism, and barriers to healthcare as it aims to make meaningful changes in the industry.
Health News Review
Unlike the other blogs in this guide, this one responds to public health news and articles. It promotes conversation and drives critical thinking surrounding public health issues.
Environmental Health
While this blog includes a focus on the environment, it also focuses on the relationship between the environment and public health. It highlights the impact of water, air, and pollution on public health.
How to Stand Out on Your Scholarship Application
If you’re applying for a scholarship and want to stand out from the crowd with a top-notch application, remember that the best applications are personal and unique. Think about how your experience and interests matter to public health. This is your chance to show off your passion and dedication to the field. A polished application is important, and the tips below can help you make sure yours stands out.
Expand Your Extracurriculars
Beef up your extracurriculars by adding activities that show off you and your interests. It’s not just about how long you’ve been involved in an activity; it’s about showing how passionate you are about it. Many of the scholarships in this guide require that students demonstrate an interest in specific fields. Extracurricular activities are a great way to show that you are interested in and committed to a particular career path.
Letters of Recommendation
Some scholarships require recommendation letters from different mentors and professors to gain a holistic understanding of who you are as a professional and a student. Choose your mentors and professors wisely, so you can submit strong letters of recommendation from faculty members or other people who know you well. Ask them to focus on your character rather than just listing your achievements, though those should be included as well. Make sure to share the scholarship information, your academic information, and your experience with those writing your recommendations to help them understand how to best craft a successful letter.
Wow With Your Essay
This is where readers often make their first impression of applicants, and the best essays are ones where an applicant has found a way to connect their passion for public health with their personal story or experiences. Be genuine and reflective. Tell the truth about why this scholarship means so much to you and how it will impact your future career and life goals. Use strong, vivid language. Readers want to see standard grammar and writing proficiency, but they also want to feel the humanity within your story. Impress them with your writing skills and show off your personality with humor and creativity.
Be First in Line
Applying for scholarships early has two main benefits. First, when reviewers begin to sort through the many applications they’ve received, yours will likely be one of the first they see. You’ll have the benefit of a fresh reader that hasn’t already sorted through hundreds of applications. Second, applying for applications as soon as you can allows for more time later should additional applications come to your attention.
Follow Instructions and Be Thorough
Make sure to read all your applications thoroughly. Never assume someone will reach out to you for a correction or clarification. Any mistake could result in the loss of that scholarship. Once you’re sure you’re eligible, reach out to the organization if you have any questions. Then, focus on the large components of the application like essays, recommendations, and transcripts first. As the pieces of the major portions of your applications come together, start paying careful attention to the smaller requirements.