Health and wellness degrees open the door to any number of great career choices. From job opportunities in the healthcare field to food science, exercise, and nutrition, among many others, here are 20 top health and wellness degree scholarships to help you get started on your educational journey. Funding opportunities range from grants for students pursuing specific healthcare majors like respiratory care to general healthy lifestyles scholarships. For high school students as well as undergraduate and graduate students pursuing financial assistance there are scholarships available. Most are awarded annually.
You may be looking for a healthcare scholarship or wellness scholarship. You can find someone where that will provide financial assistance through a scholarship award. There will be scholarships available for you!
These scholarships encourage students who want to promote a healthy lifestyle and healthy habits to pursue a successful career in health care or a degree related. Applying for any of these scholarship opportunities may help put you on the path to a brighter future in which you can help all sorts of people live happier and healthier lives. If you don’t want as much student loan debt and are in need of financial assistance there are health education scholarships out there for outstanding students.
See Also: Ultimate Guide to Health and Wellness
Barbara A. Cooley Scholarship
Total awarded: $1,000
Deadline: October 15
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Open to master’s level students, the Barbara A. Cooley Scholarship offers health and wellness financial aid to anyone in the U.S. or United States territory. Requirements for graduate students include pursuing a degree in health education at an accredited institution and a 3.0 minimum GPA. The application process includes:
- form
- CV or curriculum vitae
- three-part personal narrative
- three letters of recommendation
Graduate students approved for this healthcare worker scholarship will display leadership potential and academic achievement, as well as demonstrate involvement in health education at the college, university, or community level. Qualified students should apply by the October 15 deadline. The scholarship is awarded in January.
Bill Kane Undergraduate Scholarship
Total awarded: $1,000
Deadline: November 15
Minimum GPA: 3.25
The next opportunity on our list of health and wellness scholarships is the Bill Kane Undergraduate Scholarship. Any sophomore, junior, or senior pursuing an undergraduate degree in health education at an accredited college or university in the United States or in a U.S. territory is eligible for the assistance, and a minimum GPA of 3.25 is required. To be considered for aid, students must be enrolled full-time for both the fall semester and spring semester in the academic year in which the application is received and be involved in health education-related activities in the community or at school. Application requirements include a student essay and three letters of recommendation. The scholarship is awarded in January.
Christie’s Foundation Health Education Scholarships
Total awarded: Varies
Deadline: End of February
Minimum GPA: N/A
Offering health and wellness financial aid to students is the Christie’s Foundation Health Education Scholarship. This healthcare worker scholarship is open to any student studying in a broad range of degree options related to health and wellness, including pharmacology, nursing, nutrition, and surgery, among others in the healthcare industry. Applicants must submit a completed application form, recent academic transcripts, and proof of enrollment at a college or university. Each year, the program awards $125,000 in total scholarship support to dozens of deserving applicants. Scholarship recipients are announced each year in April, and the scholarship is awarded in late May.
Dan Whitworth Memorial Scholarship
Total awarded: N/A
Deadline: March 31
Minimum GPA: 2.5
Although the Dan Whitworth Memorial Scholarship prioritizes Texas students pursuing a broad range of health and wellness-related degree programs, any young adults enrolled at an accredited program at a U.S. college or university are eligible for the financial aid. Total amounts awarded vary, and a minimum 2.5 GPA is required to become eligible. The application deadline is March 31 and can be completed online. In lieu of a 2.5 GPA, eligible students may also land in the top quarter of their class or have a minimum score of 850 on the SAT or 21 on the ACT. You must maintain full-time enrollment to apply.
Delbert Oberteuffer Doctoral Scholarship
Total awarded: $1,500
Deadline: November 8
Minimum GPA: 3.5 in graduate-level courses
For doctoral-level students, the Delbert Oberteuffer Doctoral Scholarship offers a flexible $1,500 to be spent at the student’s discretion. Eligible students will have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 in graduate-level courses in degrees related to health and wellness. Applicants for this scholarship program must be active members of the American Association for Higher Education & Accreditation, Inc. Prior recipients of an AAHEA scholarship are not eligible for the award, and all applicants must be full-time graduate students, as defined by the institution at which they are enrolled. Further eligibility requirements include a minimum of three years teaching health education at the K-12 level.
Delores M. Curtis Undergraduate Scholarship
Total awarded: $1,250
Deadline: February 28
Minimum GPA: 3.0
For college students in Hawaii studying health, physical education, dance or recreation leadership, the Delores M. Curtis Undergraduate Scholarship and HAHPERD (Hawaii Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) offers two $1,250 scholarships. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have attended high school in Hawaii for at least two years to be eligible for financial assistance. Further requirements include full-time enrollment in a 4-year program at an accredited college or university. Community service experience is also a prerequisite. There are also graduate-level health and wellness scholarships offered through HAHPERD with similar eligibility requirements.
Frances A. Mays Scholarship
Total awarded: Varies
Deadline: October 1
Minimum GPA: N/A (Applicants must be nominated by their school)
The Frances A. Mays Scholarship offers funding for students in Virginia seeking a degree in health, physical education, recreation, or dance. Applicants must be members of VAHPERD (the Virginia Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) and AAHPERD (the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance). Applicants must be nominated by their school and demonstrate quality scholarship, high ideals, and professional ethics.
Gibson-Laemel Scholarship Fund
Total Awarded: $1,000
Deadline: June 15
Minimum GPA: 2.7 QPR (Quality Point Rating)
Next on our ranking of the top 20 great health and wellness degree scholarships is the Gibson-Laemel Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is offered through CTAHPERD (the Connecticut Association For Health, Physical Education, Recreation And Dance), and CTAHPERD membership is required. A college student who is a junior or senior majoring in health science, physical education, dance, or recreation are eligible for consideration. A short essay—350 words or less—on why the applicant has chosen their field is expected as part of the application. Applicants should also submit two letters of recommendation and their college transcript. The $1,000 scholarship is split into disbursements of $500 for two semesters and may be used to cover room and board, as well as tuition.
Jay B. Nash Outstanding Major Award
Total awarded: $1,000
Deadline: April 15
Minimum GPA: 3.0
To apply for this scholarship from NYS AHPERD (the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance), applicants must demonstrate “outstanding performance” in the field of physical education, health education, dance education, exercise science, or recreation by being chosen as the Departmental Major of the Year at their college. The $1,000 scholarship for graduate student-level studies, awarded to two applicants per year, is accompanied by a two-year NYS AHPERD membership as well as tickets and travel costs to attend the Jay B. Nash Awards dinner. Scholarships available for undergraduate students who are NYS AHPERD members and who are named Major of the Year.
Jean Lee and Jeff Marvin Collegiate Award
Total awarded: $1,000
Deadline: January 15
Minimum GPA: N/A
INSHAPE (the Indiana Society for Health and Physical Educators) awards six scholarships annually under the Jean Lee and Jeff Marvin Collegiate Award program. Undergraduate students attending college full-time in Indiana and majoring in physical education, health, exercise science, kinesiology, sports administration, dance, or recreation are permitted to apply. Applicants must be ready to answer essay-format questions about their plans after graduation, their need for scholarship funding, their personal philosophy pertaining to their field, and the clubs and activities they have taken part in as undergraduate students.
Marion B. Pollock Fellowship
Total awarded: $3,000
Deadline: December 31
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Named for UCLA alumna and professor Dr. Marion B. Pollock, class of 1964, this fellowship opportunity from FAHE (the Foundation for the Advancement of Health Education) is for health teachers pursuing graduate degrees. Applicants must have experience teaching health at the elementary school, middle school, or high school level and have completed at least six credits of master’s degree coursework. In addition to a personal statement that discusses their experience as a health teacher and their goals and activities promoting health education, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation. The award is presented in the spring during the Society for Public Health Education Annual Conference. If health promotion is your thing, this scholarship program may be a good one to apply for to provide financial aid!
Ruth Abernathy Presidential Scholarship
Total awarded: $1,250 undergraduate awards and $1,750 graduate awards
Deadline: October 15
Minimum GPA: 3.5
Both undergraduate and graduate students can apply for this SHAPE America (the Society of Health and Physical Educators) scholarship that is named after a former president of the organization. Three undergraduate students and two graduate students receive this scholarship each spring during the SHAPE America National Convention & Expo. Only SHAPE America members are permitted to apply, and applicants must be pursuing a degree in physical education, health, dance, or recreation. Undergraduate students may apply in their junior or senior year, and graduate students can apply once they are officially matriculated full-time in a master’s or doctoral degree program.
Irene and Daisy MacGregor Memorial Scholarship
(health and wellness scholarships for females)
Total awarded: $5,000
Deadline: January 31
Minimum GPA: 3.25
For students accepted or enrolled into an accredited medical school or a graduate-level psychiatric nursing program, the Irene and Daisy MacGregor Memorial Scholarship can help fund the cost of higher education. Two of these awards from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) are conferred annually, and preference is given to female applicants “if equally qualified.” To apply, complete the general application on the DAR scholarship application portal. DAR membership isn’t required to be eligible for this particular scholarship, but U.S. citizenship is.
Maxine Williams Scholarship
Total awarded: $1,000
Deadline: February 15
Minimum GPA: 3.0
This scholarship from the American Association of Medical Assistants was established more than half a century ago and named for the organization’s founder and first president. Both academic excellence and financial need factor into scholarship decisions. Students can’t apply directly and must submit their application through the director of their medical assisting program. Only the directors of programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) are eligible to request an application on behalf of their students. A deserving student with financial need with benefit from this scholarship!
Jimmy A. Young Memorial Education Recognition Award
Total awarded: Up to $1,000
Deadline: June 1
Minimum GPA: 3.0
This scholarship from the American Respiratory Care Foundation, named for a past president of the American Association for Respiratory Care, is available only for students of accredited respiratory training programs. Generally, students are nominated by their schools, and minority students origin are given preference. The award covers the costs of registration, travel, and attendance for the annual AARC Congress. To apply, students must submit an original paper written on the subject of respiratory care and letters of recommendation.
Albert W. Dent Graduate Student Scholarship
Total awarded: $5,000
Deadline: March 31
Minimum GPA: N/A
The healthcare and public health workforces need more diversity. This public health community scholarship from the American College of Healthcare Executives was established to facilitate that goal. Named for the organization’s first African-American Fellow, this annual scholarship opportunity is open only to students who are racially and/or ethnically diverse and/or part of the LGBTQ community. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a graduate program that culminates in a Master of Health Administration (MHA), Master of Public Health (MPH), or Master of Business Administration in healthcare administration degree, and they must be entering their final year of study.
The Bachrach Family Scholarship for Excellence in Healthcare Administration
Total awarded: $5,000
Deadline: April 1
Minimum GPA: N/A
This scholarship offered through AUPHA (the Association of University Programs in Health Administration) is for full-time students in their second year of graduate study in a master’s in health administration program that has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. Leadership qualities, community involvement, academic achievements and commitment to the healthcare management field all factor into this scholarship decision. Additionally, female students, students who are the first in their immediate family to go to graduate school, and students with economic need are given special preference. The application includes a personal statement that addresses why the student is pursuing a healthcare management career.
Indian Health Service Scholarship
Total awarded: Varies
Deadline: February 28
Minimum GPA: 2.0
Members or descendants of federally recognized American Indian Tribes who are pursuing certain health-related careers may be eligible for this scholarship from the Indian Health Service, the Federal Health Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The scholarship award covers tuition and fees for the academic year awarded, as well as an allowance for textbooks and a monthly stipend paid directly to the recipient. However, in exchange for this generous award amount, recipients must agree to a service commitment to be fulfilled at an Indian Health Service facility, a Tribal facility, or an Urban Indian program.
The Pearl Mae Foundation Scholarship for Healthcare and First Responders
Total awarded: $1,000
Deadline: April 15
Minimum GPA: N/A
This scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing any healthcare- or first responder-related degree, including nursing, pre-med, physician assistant studies, nurse practitioner programs, and medical doctor (MD or DO) studies. Awards decisions are based on community involvement, academic achievements, passion for the healthcare field and demonstration of the characteristics that align with the “Pearl Mae Philosophy” of helping people. Preference is given to applicants from South Florida, where the scholarship’s namesake, Pearl Mae Kreidler, made a legacy helping the community. Applicants must submit a personal essay describing their career goals and how those goals pertain to the foundation’s mission.
iVein Health & Wellness Scholarship
Total awarded: $2,500
Deadline: August 31 & December 31 (Biannual)
Minimum GPA: 3.7
Twice a year, the Interventional Vascular & Vein Center in Provo, Utah, awards this fitness lifestyle scholarship to one high-achieving student. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students in the United States, but no specific major or degree program is required. However, an essay is mandatory for consideration for this healthy living scholarship. Applicants must write 800 to 1,000 words about living a healthy lifestyle during college and should draw from their personal experiences. Past essays submitted by winners of this healthy life scholarship have covered topics like navigating different diets, managing stress, distinguishing between different types of fats, finding affordable healthy food options, and more.
Incoming students may be looking for a place that can provide financial aid. Someone has to win these health and wellness education grants. With a thoughtfully prepared and compelling application, that someone could be you. Whether you are in an accredited program in healthcare management or someone who wants to further your education to promote a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle there will be a scholarship award for you. You may not need to demonstrate financial need or academic achievement. But undergraduate or graduate students in health sciences, public health education, or high school students interested in health care should look for scholarships available to them.
See Also: Why Are Health and Wellness Important? and How To Promote Health and Wellness
Honorable Mentions
- National Hispanic Health Foundation- Check out details about this scholarship program here.
- Vivian Drenckhahn student scholarship- Check out details about this scholarship programs here.
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School Rankings of Interest:
- Best Online Masters in Health Education
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- Most Affordable Online Health and Wellness Degrees
- Best Online Health Education Degrees
