National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Tuition, fees, a yearly educational-costs payment, and a monthly stipend (about $1,648) for primary-care health students who then serve in shortage areas
- How much
- tuition & eligible fees + annual educational-costs payment + monthly stipend (~$1,648 before taxes in 2026-27), up to 4 school years
- Who qualifies
- Full-time student (or accepted) at an accredited school in the U.S., DC, or a U.S. territory, in an eligible primary-care discipline; eligible for federal employment; no existing service obligation. Not eligible in pre-professional phase or non-primary-care specialties. Service: 2-4 years in a HPSA.
- For undergrads, grad students
- For physician (MD/DO), dentist, nurse practitioner (primary care specialties) students
- U.S. citizen (born or naturalized) or U.S. national (permanent residents not eligible)
- Partly need-based: your FAFSA can affect whether you get it or how much.
- When to apply
- Opens later Annual; spring window (FY2026: opened Mar 17, closed Apr 16, 2026, 7:30 p.m. ET); awards announced by Sept 30; classes must start by Sept 30
- How to apply
- Apply online through My BHW during the spring application window (one essay for FY2026)
- Read the Application and Program Guidance first
- What you'll need
- essay
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (nhsc.hrsa.gov), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
Pays tuition and eligible fees, an annual payment for other reasonable educational costs (standardized by discipline and year), and a monthly living stipend (estimated at $1,648 before federal taxes for 2026-27) for up to four school years. No support during postgraduate training. In return, scholars serve full time in primary care at an NHSC-approved site in a Health Professional Shortage Area: at least two years, up to four, depending on years of support. Only the stipend is taxable. About 150 new awards were expected for FY2026.
More federal and national aid
- QuestBridge National College Matchfull four-year scholarship to a partner college (worth $360,000+; tuition, room/board, no loans)
- Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship Programup to $55,000/yr for up to 4 years (last-dollar after institutional aid)
- Davidson Fellows Scholarship$100,000, $50,000, or $25,000 (one-time)
- Burger King Scholars Program$1,000 to $60,000 (most general-track awards $1,000 or $5,000; up to three $60,000 James W. McLamore WHOPPER Scholarships)
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)$37,000/yr stipend + $16,000/yr cost-of-education allowance to the school, for 3 years
Keep looking
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.