Indian Health Service Scholarship Program

Name: Indian Health Service (IHS) Scholarship Program

Award Amount: Varies (covers tuition, fees, stipend, and other approved education-related costs depending on scholarship type)

Information And Eligibility:
The Indian Health Service (IHS) Scholarship Program is a federally administered program created to support American Indian and Alaska Native students pursuing careers in healthcare. The program’s primary mission is to educate, train, and retain qualified health professionals who are committed to serving Indian health programs and improving health outcomes in tribal and Alaska Native communities.

Through this program, IHS offers multiple scholarship pathways designed to support students at different stages of their educational journey. These scholarships help make higher education more accessible while building a strong, culturally informed healthcare workforce dedicated to Indian Country. In exchange for financial support, many recipients commit to serving in IHS or tribal health facilities after completing their training.

• Designed exclusively for American Indian and Alaska Native students
• Supports students from undergraduate preparation through graduate health professions
• Focuses on workforce development for Indian health programs
• Combines financial support with service-based career pathways

The IHS Scholarship Program includes three primary scholarship options. The Preparatory Scholarship supports undergraduate students completing prerequisite or preparatory coursework needed to enter a health professions program. The Pre-Graduate Scholarship assists undergraduate students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in pre-health tracks such as pre-nursing or pre-medicine. The Health Professions Scholarship supports undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in eligible health profession degree programs and includes a required service commitment following graduation.

• Preparatory Scholarship for prerequisite and preparatory coursework
• Pre-Graduate Scholarship for bachelor’s-level pre-health education
• Health Professions Scholarship for undergraduate and graduate health degrees

All applicants must meet citizenship, tribal affiliation, and academic requirements before applying. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals and meet Selective Service requirements when applicable. Tribal eligibility varies by scholarship type, with Preparatory and Pre-Graduate scholarships open to members or descendants of federally recognized, state-recognized, or terminated Tribes, while the Health Professions Scholarship requires membership in a federally recognized Tribe or Alaska Native village.

• Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national
• Must meet Selective Service requirements if applicable
• Tribal membership or descendant status required depending on scholarship type

Academically, applicants must be accepted into an accredited U.S. educational institution, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, and demonstrate an intention to serve Indian people as a health professional. Recipients of Preparatory and Pre-Graduate scholarships must agree to continue their education in an approved health profession. Health Professions Scholarship recipients must sign a formal contract agreeing to a minimum two-year full-time service commitment in an Indian health facility after completing academic or post-graduate training.

The IHS Scholarship Program is ideal for students seeking both financial support and a meaningful career serving tribal communities. It offers a structured pathway that blends education, cultural responsibility, and long-term professional impact within Indian health systems.

Eligibility Requirements:

• U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status
• Membership or descendant status in an American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native village
• Acceptance into an accredited U.S. educational program
• Minimum GPA of 2.0
• Intent to serve Indian communities as a health professional
• Agreement to educational continuation or service commitment, depending on scholarship type

Deadline: Varies

Apply Now

View Scholarship Data

Scholarship Categorization