In-Demand Healthcare Management Majors: Access Free College Money

Now, is a crucial time to be involved in Health Care. Rapid changes are in the works across the nation, many of which are affected by economic, social, and global events and circumstances. Electronic Health Records (EHR) will change the way health care professionals can do their work. Industry leaders and lawmakers are looking to the next generation of healthcare leaders to help remodel the ailing infrastructure and provide insider info gained from jobs deep in the health care hierarchy.

Big incentives for you to pursue an educational pathway in Healthcare Management come freely in the form of scholarships.

Government Sources

The US Government has set up the Nursing Scholarship Program in order to entice more students to enter in to the field of Medicine. In an agreement with facilities in need graduating nurses receive tuition assistance in exchange for working at a reciprocating facility for at least two years. In addition to tuition, the winning applicants also receive payment to cover costs incurred from books and school supplies as well as a monthly stipend. To be eligible, applicants must be US citizen and be enrolled or accepted into a registered nurse program at an accredited school. Financial need also comes into play when recipients are selected.

Native American students committed to healthcare management within tribal systems also have access to government funds for education, including the very competitive and prestigious Udall Scholarship. This federally funded program aims to increase the number of Native Americans studying in this field, but wants those candidates committed to service in their own communities and tribal nations.

Financial Assistance on the State level

The Indiana Student Assistance Commission may offer financial assistance to residents of Indiana who are undergraduate nursing students. In addition to showing financial need, prospective recipients must also agree to work at an Indiana state health facility once they graduate.

The Akron General Medical Center Development Foundation awards the Service League Nursing Scholarship to the winning applicant who is attending an accredited nursing college in Ohio. Eligibility will also be based the applicant's academic history (minimum 3.0 GPA) and display a specific level of financial need.

Maryland's Higher Education Commission also awards various scholarships, including to students pursuing medical careers. To be eligible, undergraduate students must be residents of Maryland and possess a 3.0 GPA. If awarded a scholarship, the recipient must then agree to work in a chosen Maryland health facility after graduation.

In New Jersey the C.R. Bard Foundation awards a nursing scholarship to an exceptional student with particularly notable leadership qualities. Financial need is also a consideration; other requirements include the student maintaining a course load of 9 credits at the time of applying and also be at least a second semester Sophomore.

Oregon is home to the Bertha P. Singer Nurses Scholarship, awarded by the Oregon Student Assistance Commission. Applicants must possess a 3.0 GPA and must complete their course of studies in the State of Oregon.

Private Sources

In addition to state funds, students seeking financial aide can also look into private resources such as the following:

The American College of Healthcare Executives is a professional organization with a thriving network of healthcare administrators, healthcare entrepreneurs, and management professionals. Scholarships offered may be useful for student members and/or professionals. Of note, the Alfred Dent Scholarships are a popular scholarship program aimed at minority students studying to become healthcare managers or administrators. Candidates must be currently enrolled in graduate program. Awards are $5,000. The McGaw Scholarships are very similar but open to all ethnicities.
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) supports the work of management professionals in the Healthcare field whose primary work is the large information infrastructures that are the contemporary underpinnings of the nation's hospitals and medical centers. Scholarships are offered directly through the national foundation, as well as through various chapter organizations. Awards average $5,000.
The Association of University Programs in Health Administration acts as a type of clearinghouse for scholarships in this broad field. The Corris Boyd Scholarship is designed for minority students pursuing graduate study in Health Management. This award is for a full-tuition scholarship as well as money earmarked for a student assistantship at his or her university. For students pursuing Health management and health care policy jobs in the government sector, the AUPHA administers, as well, the David Winston Health Policy Scholarship. Students must be enrolled in a Masters program leading to a degree in the field. Multiple $5,000 scholarships are awarded annually.
The Institute for Diversity in Health Management sponsors an annual scholarship program. Scholarships are primarily designed to increase the population of minorities working at the management level in healthcare.
The Wisconsin Healthcare Financial Management Association supports the efforts of member students pursuing financial management in the healthcare realm. Scholarships are $2,000 and open to students as well as working professionals enrolled in an educational program.
Innovative scholarships are also in the works as incentive for experience health care employees to push into administrative management and other leadership roles. At Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU)—a Level 1 Trauma Center located high above Portland, and Oregon’s leading teaching hospital-- the school of Health Management has rolled out just such scholarship incentives: partial scholarships to OHSU employees that enroll in the Health Management program.
The Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association (in Memory of Frances Tompkins) awards more then $125,000 per year in increments ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 to eligible applicants. Recipients must be working toward their first degree in nursing. Selection is based on a number of factors, including financial need, academic achievement, and the student's involvement with activities within the community and with medical organizations. Funds might also be designated by region as well so be sure to check in with the Foundation's website from time to time.

Specialized Scholarships

Individual scholarships can also be found within specific fields of study such as pediatric care. For instance, the Children's CHANCES Scholarship, through Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, awards this winning recipient up to $20,000 per year, for two years. Eligible applicants must be studying pediatric nursing and remain a Registered Nurse within a children's hospital for 18 months each year they are being financially supported.

Students training to work with patients who have developmental disabilities may be able to receive financial assistance through the Bethesda Scholarships for College Students. To be considered, students must attend Lutheran college and be in their second year (or higher) in their studies. Eligibility is also contingent on the applicant having worked at least 100 hours (paid or as a volunteer) in the field of developmental disabilities.

It's a fact that the need for qualified professionals in healthcare is a growing plight, but with the numerous Federal and private scholarships available, qualified students can get the training needed for a medical career with growth and potential.