Indian Health Service

IHS Scholarship
Program News
and Information

January 2015

Apply Now for an IHS Scholarships

The Indian Health Service (IHS) selected its first scholarship recipient in 1977. Since then, scholarship awards have helped thousands of American Indian and Alaska Native students launch their health professional careers. However, the application process is a highly competitive one with approximately 100 new scholarships awarded each year.

As a previous applicant, you’ve demonstrated your desire to make a positive impact providing health care to American Indian and Alaska Natives. Now you have the opportunity to apply again for the opportunity to receive an IHS scholarship award.

Helpful Hints

Before you begin, here are a few tips to assist with the application process:

Refer to your Application Handbook. The Application Handbook contains eligibility information, application instructions and contact information to help answer all of your questions.

Confirm you’re applying for the right scholarship. Read the IHS Scholarship Comparison Chart for a list of degree programs eligible for each scholarship.

Prepare your essays in advance. Applicants are required to complete three essays detailing:

Why you are applying for an IHS scholarship.
Your career goals.
How your career goals will meet the health care needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Contact your evaluators in advance. You will need to select two evaluators with direct knowledge of your academic achievements to complete a Faculty/Employer Evaluation. We recommend that you contact your selected evaluators in advance to request their participation

Begin collecting supporting documentation forms. Your application will be deemed incomplete if you fail to include all necessary supporting documentation.

IHS Loan Repayment Program

While an IHS scholarship is one vehicle toward an Indian health career, the IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP) can also provide the financial freedom you're looking for after graduation. The IHS LRP pays up to $40,000 in exchange for an initial two-year service commitment to practice in health facilities serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Do you have questions about the application process? Our Area Scholarship Coordinators and Program Analysts are available to guide you through the process of submitting your online application and supporting documentation.

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