Scholarships & Funding

All applicants who complete their SOPHAS application by midnight (EST) on the priority deadline of December 1 and that are admitted to the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, will be considered for first-round, school-wide scholarships. Scholarships are then awarded on a rolling basis after this first round.

The University also offers several scholarships and fellowships which may require separate applications. Additional resources are available for veterans.

Disability Resource Center (DRC) – Disability Related Scholarships

Several scholarships are coordinated through the Disability Resource Center.

Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change Fellowships

Prospective SPH students can be nominated for two different types of ICGC Fellowships: Scholar and Mellon Fellowships.

UMN Graduate School Fellowships and Grants

The Graduate School administers a number of University-wide fellowships and grants available for graduate students.

LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities)

LEND fellows are graduate students, postgraduate students, or community members who display outstanding talent and commitment to improving the quality of life for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families.

Public Health Traineeship

The Public Health Traineeship is a HRSA-funded scholarship training program for first-year MPH students in the UMN School of Public Health. View the program flier to learn more about eligibility criteria and program requirements, and apply by June 11th to be considered for the 2023-24 cohort.

SPH Scholars of Excellence Awards

The UMN School of Public Health (SPH) Scholars of Excellence Award covers a student’s full tuition for a master degree program. This scholarship honors SPH students who demonstrate outstanding creativity, innovation, and potential for scholarly and/or professional excellence in their discipline or field and a commitment to antiracism, equity, diversity, and social justice. Students are evaluated for this scholarship based on the information they provide in their admission application.

The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health Scholarship List 

The Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health curates a list of scholarships available to public health students and includes very helpful tips on how to receive a scholarship and finance your education.

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans program honors the contributions of immigrants and children of immigrants to the United States. Each year, we invest in the graduate education of 30 New Americans—immigrants and children of immigrants—who are poised to make significant contributions to US society, culture or their academic field. Each Fellow receives up to $90,000 in financial support over two years, and they join a lifelong community of New American Fellows.

School-wide Scholarship Awards

Scholarships to the UMN School of Public Health are competitive. All applicants that complete their SOPHAS application by midnight (EST) on the priority deadline of December 1 and that are admitted to the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, will be considered for first-round, school-wide scholarships. Scholarships are continued to be awarded on a rolling basis after the first round.

Please note that scholarships are only available to students who will be registered full-time and are accepted to the School of Public Health.

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Endowed Scholarship

The SMSC Scholarship was established in 2008 through a generous gift from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The SMSC scholarship program is designed to recruit and retain talented American Indian students with demonstrated financial need to the University of Minnesota.

Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship

The Albert W. Dent Graduate Student scholarship is offered to provide financial aid to racially/ethnically diverse minority students in healthcare management graduate programs to help offset tuition costs, student loans and expenses during a student’s final year.

Council of Graduate Students (COGS) Grants

All graduate students who pay the COGS fee are eligible to apply for COGS grants. COGS grants provide financial support to help with career development, attending conferences, and research support.

UMN Graduate School Fellowships & Grants

The Graduate School administers a number of University-wide fellowships and grants for currently enrolled students. They also coordinate with a number of external fellowship opportunities.

Lowell & Leslie Kruse Scholarship for Community Performance Excellence

The Lowell & Leslie Kruse scholarship provides financial assistance of up to $15,000 to a first-year, full-time graduate student (MPH-PHAP or MHA) at the University of Minnesota.

Steven J. Schochet Interdisciplinary Fellowship in Queer, Trans, and Sexuality Studies

The Steven J. Schochet Interdisciplinary Fellowship provides funding for current PhD students who are pursuing research in the areas of queer, trans, and/or sexuality studies.

UMN Women’s Center Awards and Scholarships

The UMN Women’s Center manages a number of scholarships for both incoming and current students and funding for attending conferences. Please check the Women’s Center website for details.

Additional scholarships for current students are occasionally announced throughout the year. Please make sure to read the SPHere newsletters for up-to-date announcements.

SPH Applied Practice Scholarship

The SPH Applied Practice Scholarship provides financial support to Masters of Public Health (MPH) students in the School of Public Health (SPH) looking for financial support while completing their Applied Practice experience. The SPH AP scholarships will likely be $1,000 (for students registering for an AP of 1 credit) or $2,000 (for students registering for an AP of 2 credits or more). The AP scholarship will likely be open to accept applications twice per year, in both the Fall and Spring semester. The Fall AP Scholarship is for completed AP experiences from the previous summer & current fall term. The Spring AP scholarship is for spring term & upcoming summer experiences. Please contact Drew Smith, SPH Scholarship Coordinator, with any questions at sphscholarship@umn.edu.

View the application

SPH Current Student Scholarship

The SPH Current Student Scholarship provides financial support to currently enrolled SPH students, with a preference for students approaching the end of their degree program to help them finish their degree. Award amounts will likely range between $1,000 – $5,000. There are additional preferences and eligibility criteria, based on fund requirements. Depending on availability of funds, this scholarship will likely be open for students to apply twice per year. Please contact Drew Smith, SPH Scholarship Coordinator, with any questions at sphscholarship@umn.edu.

View the application

Deborah Swackhamer Scholarship

The Deborah Swackhamer Scholarship provides funding to assist with expenses to attend a conference related to the study of toxic chemicals in the environment and water preservation, and the policies to address these potential risks to toxic chemicals in the environment and water preservation. Students must be enrolled in either the School of Public Health Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources, or students who are fellows in the Institute on the Environment. Please contact Drew Smith, SPH Scholarship Coordinator, with any questions at sphscholarship@umn.edu.

View the application

HIV/ STI Intervention and Prevention Studies (HIPS) Student Research Awards

This grant is designed to support student-led research on projects focusing on HIV, STIs, sexual health, and/or the GLBTQIA+ community. Graduate students currently enrolled in degree programs in any division across the School of Public Health (Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology & Community Health, and Health Policy & Management) are welcome to apply. The award amount is $3,500; PhD students working on their thesis may request a maximum of $7,500. Priority will be given to projects pursued in completion of a masters project or doctoral thesis. Funds from this award may be combined with those of other awards or programs.

ASPPH Public Health Fellowship Programs

AsPPH Fellows are provided opportunities to develop professional skills and enhance their leadership abilities through direct participation in ASPPH activities that advance education in public health

National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master’s and doctoral degrees.

International/Global Health

Luce Scholars Program

The Luce Scholars Program is a nationally competitive fellowship that offers early-career leaders immersive, professional experiences in Asia.

Boren Fellowships

This Boren Fellowship provides unique funding opportunities for U.S. graduate students interested in national security who wish to study abroad in regions with less commonly taught languages critical to U.S. interests.

The School of Public Health offers federally funded programs that assist professionals in designated fields to receive training. Funds are distributed by divisions/majors to their incoming students. Examples include:

Maternal & Child Nutrition: Applicants must be registered dietitians who have work experience related to nutrition and/or maternal and child health and who have career goals related to leadership and/or research in this area. Please visit Epidemiology & Community Health to find out more about this and other opportunities.

NIOSH: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health provides stipend support and tuition reimbursement for students enrolled in full-time graduate programs.

Public Health Service General: The Public Health Service provides funding for students in majors that have been declared as having a severe shortage of health professionals.

The University strongly encourages students to pair their education with study abroad experiences, especially through Field Experiences. See below for opportunities to receive financial support for studying abroad.

Graduate assistantships are an excellent way to fund your education as a graduate student They consist of teaching, helping conduct research, or providing administrative support. These opportunities can be very competitive. Many graduate assistantship opportunities are not posted, but many are. You can find additional information about graduate assistantships, including the job postings at the Graduate Assistantship Employment office.

public health student Gabriela

I received scholarships to cover school costs, but also work part-time and took out loans to cover remaining expenses.
–Gabriela Lazalde, public health administration and policy MPH student

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