Health Professions Scholarship

The Indian Health Service (IHS) offers three scholarships for American Indian and Alaska Native students in order to educate and train health professionals to staff Indian health programs. We strive to develop our next generation of leaders, as well as help make the pursuit of a meaningful career in Indian health attainable for American Indian and Alaska Native students.

Health Professions Scholarship

Our Health Professions scholarship provides financial aid to qualified American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate- and graduate-level students. Recipients must be members of federally recognized Tribes and enrolled in an eligible health profession degree program. In exchange for financial aid, scholarship recipients agree to fulfill a service commitment in full-time clinical practice upon completion of their academic or post-graduate clinical training.

Before you begin your application, confirm that you meet our eligibility requirements, as well as familiarize yourself with the agreement or contract associated with the scholarship that matches your academic pursuits.

Citizenship Requirements

You must be a United States citizen (US-born or naturalized) or US national to be considered for an IHS scholarship. Males 18 years or older must be registered for Selective Service.

Documents that will be accepted as proof of citizenship include:

• Copy of your birth certificate.
• Current US passport.
• Certificate of citizenship or naturalization.

A copy of a driver’s license or a social security card will not be accepted as documentation of citizenship.

Tribal/Village Membership Requirements

• Preparatory and Pre-Graduate Scholarships: Recipients must be a member or descendant of a federally recognized, state-recognized or terminated American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native village.
• Health Professions Scholarship: Recipients must be a member of a federally recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native village only.

Academic Requirement

Applicants must also meet specific eligibility requirements:

• Be a high school graduate or the equivalent.
• Have a minimum 2.0 GPA.
• Be capable of completing a health profession degree program.
• Intend to serve Indian people as a health professional in your chosen discipline.