5 Scholarships for Healthcare Leaders and Managers
- Transamerica Scholarship
- AHIMA Scholarship
- Foster G. McGaw Graduate Scholarship
- Corris Boyd Scholarship
- Jack Kent Cooke Scholarships
Healthcare management scholarships are challenging to find, especially at the graduate level. Most students work or take out loans to fund their education. Schools rarely offer full-tuition scholarships to students in public health or healthcare administration tracks. Here are five private-party options for finding a scholarship for healthcare management classes.
See our ranking of the 20 Best Online MBA in Healthcare Management Degree Programs.
1. Transamerica Scholarship
Transamerica awards $5,000 to two students every year. Eligible students are pursuing a master’s degree in healthcare administration (MHA) or a related degree with a health administration specialty. For example, Master’s of Nursing (MSN) or Master’s of Public Health (MPH) students can apply. The award is not renewable. Applicants must show a strong interest in community service. Previous winners have:
- volunteered as translators at medical clinics
- organized summer events for girls
- joined campus organizations for community service
2. AHIMA Scholarship
The American Health Information and Management Foundation gives multiple awards to undergraduate and graduate students, including doctoral students. Applicants must be enrolled in at least six credit hours of courses and have a GPA of at least 3.5 out of 4.0. Winners must also be active members of AHIMA. A scholarship committee evaluates:
- academic performance
- commitment to community service
- interest in health informatics
- essay quality
In 2016, AHIMA gave $77,000 to 56 applicants. Although each scholarship is worth only a few thousand dollars, healthcare management tuition can be expensive. Every bit helps.
3. Foster G. McGaw Graduate Scholarship
Up to 15 students receive $5,000 per year from this fund. The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) uses this fund to help applicants complete their final year of study. Students are required to be enrolled full-time in an MPH, MHA or MBA in Healthcare Management program. Those pursuing a Ph.D. are not eligible. Members of the student chapter of the ACHE are given priority during the evaluation stage. Students must submit:
- an essay
- official transcripts
- three letters of recommendation, including one from their graduate program director
Minority students can also apply to the Albert W. Dent Scholarship, also run by the ACHE. The scholarship is named for the first African-American to join the ACHE. It’s open to ethnic and racial minorities.
4. Corris Boyd Scholarship
The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) administers this $40,000 per year scholarship for healthcare management students. Corris Boyd was a longtime member of the AUPHA who promoted strong leadership in the healthcare system, especially for professionals of color. This award is only available to racial/ethnic minority students. Applicants must be starting a full-time master’s degree program at an AUPHA member college or university. A minimum GPA of 3.0 out of a 4.0 scale is required. Official transcripts and three letters of recommendation are also needed.
5. Jack Kent Cooke Program
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF) provides exceptional scholarships and support to students with financial need. It’s one of the few programs that helps students transfer from two-year to four-year degrees. It also provides academic counseling. Most applicants also receive Pell grants from the federal government. While this program isn’t dedicated to healthcare leadership, it gives up to $40,000 per year, making it worth the effort of applying.
Graduate-level scholarships give more than just money. They help students connect to a community of scholars willing to offer advice and support. That’s why healthcare management scholarships are worth more than the dollar amount they offer.