Military medical school scholarship are available to help eligible students earn a medical degree and graduate with less debt. According to AACOM, the average scholarship amount reported at $67,266. Award amounts vary by program, medical specialty and other factors. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.
One kind enables students to attend the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences tuition free. USUHS is a military school of medicine that accepts some civilian students too. As a USUHS student, you immerse in the active duty military life style right away.
In return for less tuition, a military salary, and housing allowance, you must serve once you graduate. You could be an active service member for seven years. You may also fulfill your service as a General Medical Officer (GMO).
Health Professions Scholarship Program offers a paid medical education to prospective students in exchange for commissioned service. HPSP recipients are officers in the Ready Reserves who attend accredited civilian schools. They may have some scheduled trainings but serve their military branch later on.
The U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force offer these scholarships and the benefits are the same across all three Services. The award typically pays full tuition and fees (not housing), a generous monthly stipend and in some cases a sign on bonus.
In return, you sign a military service commitment. You put in these years of service with your branch as a commissioned Officer. The number of years you have to serve varies but relates in part to how many years you receive the funding.
The funds which go to the school directly are for use in industry accredited colleges and universities in the United States, Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico. Medical studies include osteopathic medicine, nursing, physical therapy, allied health services, dental, veterinary, and others.
10 Military Medical School Scholarships You Should Apply for in 2021
Check out these military programs that aim to make medical studies more affordable.
Marine Corps Foundation Undergraduate & Associate Degrees
F. Edward Hebert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship
US Air Force ROTC Nursing Scholarship
Army ROTC Nursing 4 Year Scholarship
Pat Tillman Military Scholars Program
Veterans United Foundation Scholarship
Lt Col Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti Scholarship
The Military Family Scholarship
Fleet Reserve Association Education Foundation Scholarship
General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant
Should I join the military to pay for a medical degree?
If you are considering a career in medicine and healthcare, the military could help you jumpstart your career. Here are a few common pros and cons that students should consider when thinking about joining the military to help pay for a medical degree.
Advantages
You might graduate with less debt. About 25% of medical students graduate with over $200,000 of debt. The median cost of attending one of these schools was $232,800 based on the most recent data. When you go for an advanced health degree, the last thing on your mind should be student debt.
If you are accepted into a U.S. Army Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) before you begin med school, the military tends to cover 100% of your tuition and often adds a monthly sum all four years of school. In return, HPSP students are likely to owe four years of active service once you complete your residency.
You may receive a paid internship, externship or residency. Those in graduate medical education programs may qualify for paid residency and fellowship training including internships. There is also a program for physicians enrolled in accredited residency programs. It offers a $2,200 living stipend. Eligible professions include dental, medical and nursing. Once you finish the program, you may train as part of an Army Reserve unit and serve when needed.
You may grow professional and leadership skills while serving. Many military physicians could have access to field experts and world class medical minds across the globe. As an officer, you may quickly hone skills while serving on a high quality health team. This may provide unique learning like training medics on triage or being able to help out during disasters.
Disadvantages
You have to live where the military places you. Signing a service obligation means you have to live where the military mission takes place. Some people may struggle with this lack of choice. But if you have a zest for travel and adventure this may not affect your decision.
Your service contract is a multiyear commitment. Scholarship recipients tend to owe one year of active duty service or more. If all of your medical tuition is paid for, that may mean four years of service post residency. In the Air Force, you may have to serve at least three years as an active duty staff physician.
You may deploy. Military physicians do not usually deploy abroad while pursuing a medical degree or in residency. But deployment is a real possibility once you are on active duty. Deployments depend on specialty, location and seniority and may come every three to four years. The deployments for Army is 9 months. Air Force is 3 to 6 months while Navy is 6 to 7 months.
How Will the Military Pay for Medical School?
The U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard offer various scholarships to help pay for medical studies. Based on your unique situation, you may qualify for a scholarship, stipend program or educational loan repayment. There are funding opportunities for prospective and current medical students, residency training, health care professionals, active duty Army, or reservists.
Army Medical Scholarships
F. Edward Hébert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program aims to help pay for an advanced medical degree. HPSP scholarship funds are also for use at any accredited school for dental veterinary, psychiatric nurse practitioner, psychology or optometry. Eligible applicants must be a citizen of the U.S, have a bachelor’s degree and meet the specs for commissioned officers.
Students who qualify may receive 100% tuition for up to 4 years, depending on the specialty. Other possible perks are:
Books, equipment, other fees
$20,000 signing bonus
Officer’s pay during school breaks
Monthly sum $2,400
Salary increases with promotions, time in service and cost-of-living adjustments
In return, you must commit to serve in an active capacity. Doing so may provide a salary, free health insurance, 30 days vacation with pay, and more. As a rule, you put in one year for every year you receive the scholarship.
Navy and Marine Medical Scholarships
The Navy offers a variety of programs that may help finance a graduate medical degree all the way through residency. After graduation, you serve as an Officer. You may join as a physician, dentist, nurse, health administrator, scientist or clinical care provider. All programs require you to be a U.S. citizen as well as meet any officer criteria.
Health Professions Scholarship pays 100% of the cost of medical, dental or other post grad school tuition. It also comes with a monthly sum of $2,200 plus to cover living expenses for up to four years. Some students may also receive a sign on bonus of up to $10,000.
The Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP) provides between $157,000 to $269,000 while finishing medical, dental school or qualifying post grad school. The program also includes monthly salary and housing allowance from $3,280 to $5,610 for up to 48 months of your program. Housing allowance may vary depending upon location.
Potential military pay and extra benefits are competitive with many entry level management positions for up to 24 months for some master’s programs. Then up to 36 months for various PhD programs
Air Force Medical Scholarships
The Air Force offers military medical school scholarships for health professionals. There are one and two year award programs for Allied Health specialties. Pharmacists, optometrists, clinical psychologists and public health officers. Two and three year scholarships for nurse corps specialties. And, three and four year award programs for medical corps and dental corps.
These programs cover all tuition and required fees. Plus, textbooks, small equipment and supplies used for study. Candidates also receive a monthly sum for living expenses. During your studies, you spend 45 days actively serving in the AF. Then, once you graduate, one year of active service for each year of the scholarship (at least three years).
The Air Force Graduate Medical education program also offers residency and fellowship in a wide variety of specialties. Almost all residencies are part of or affiliated with civilian universities.
Coast Guard and Reserve Medical Scholarships
One of the programs available through the Coast Guard is the College Student Pre Commissioning Initiative Scholarship Program. CSPI is for students who show a high caliber of academic and leadership excellence. And, who want to serve in an active way in the U.S. Coast Guard. Applicants may be going for an AA/AS degree at a junior or community college, or a BA/BS degree on a full time basis at an approved college.
If you are accepted, participants could complete basic training during the summer, and receive full funding for up to two years of college. Funding includes payment of tuition, books, and fees, a full time Coast Guard salary, housing allowance, and medical benefits.
List of Military Medical School Scholarships
Check out our list of military scholarships for med school worth .
The Navy HPSP program offers 100 percent of the cost of medical school, dental school or qualifying postgraduate school tuition plus a monthly sum of $2,200 and sign on bonus of up to $10,000. In return, selectees sign a service obligation which they fulfill after graduation.
