Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program
HRSA Health Workforce
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) administers The Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP). NHHSP aims to increase the number of Native Hawaiian healthcare professionals trained in the most relevant disciplines in order to deliver high-quality, culturally competent healthcare services to Native Hawaiians and other residents of the State of Hawaii.
The NHHSP offers scholarship awards valued at $20,000 to $60,000, the average cost of tuition. Scholarship funds may pay for tuition and fees and other expenses such as books, clinical supplies, instruments, etc. NHHSP also gives scholarship recipients a monthly stipend to offset living expenses and stays committed to covering the majority of their tuition fees for the duration of their scholarship.
To be eligible, applicants must be of Native Hawaiian ancestry and enrolled full-time in a fully accredited health professions program. Recipients are obligated to work full-time in medically underserved areas of Hawai’i for a minimum of two and a maximum of four years, depending on the length of scholarship support.
Scholarship Summary
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) administers The Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP). NHHSP aims to increase the number of Native Hawaiian healthcare professionals trained in the most relevant disciplines in order to deliver high-quality, culturally competent healthcare services to Native Hawaiians and other residents of the State of Hawaii.
The NHHSP offers scholarship awards valued at $20,000 to $60,000, the average cost of tuition. Scholarship funds may pay for tuition and fees and other expenses such as books, clinical supplies, instruments, etc. NHHSP also gives scholarship recipients a monthly stipend to offset living expenses and stays committed to covering the majority of their tuition fees for the duration of their scholarship.
To be eligible, applicants must be of Native Hawaiian ancestry and enrolled full-time in a fully accredited health professions program. Recipients are obligated to work full-time in medically underserved areas of Hawai’i for a minimum of two and a maximum of four years, depending on the length of scholarship support.
Eligibility Requirements
- Eligible Grade: High School Graduate – Graduate
- Maximum Age: Any
- Required GPA: Any
- Geographic Eligibility: Hawaii, United States
- Gender: Any
- Race/Ethnicity: Native Hawaiian
Key Information of Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program
Study Details
Area of Study
- Dental
- Dietitian
- Healthcare
- Medicine
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nursing
- Physician
- Psychology
- Social Work
Country of Study
United States
Specific Schools
Any
Application Requirements
Here’s what you need to submit besides your application.
- Grade transcript
- School Verification
- Present Work Experiences
- Video Submission
- Recommendation letters
Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program Timeline
October 1, 2024
Application Opening Date
Applications usually open in early October. Check the website for more accurate dates closer to the time.
March 15, 2025
Submission Deadline
The deadline for applications is usually around the middle of March. Check the website for more accurate dates closer to the time.
July 1, 2025
Award Announcement Date
The award announcement date is usually around the beginning of July. Check the website for more accurate dates closer to that time.
How to ace the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program
Emphasize your dedication to your community
The goal of this award is to help Native Hawaiian medical students meet the unique health requirements of Hawaiian communities. We advise you to highlight your commitment to your community in your interview, digital story, personal statement, and resume. Additionally, make an effort to get your referees to mention it in their letters of recommendation.
Show your passion for medicine
You will be able to discuss your interests, goals, and lifelong commitments in your personal statement, digital story, and interview. It is important that you show your passion for medicine, the unique medical issues Hawaiians are facing, and how you intend to use this opportunity to assist them. Show the scholarship committee that your interests match their objectives.
Be an all-rounded individual
The scholarship committee is looking for a student who is academically excellent, has a good resume, and has a good character. As a result, it is important that you have outstanding grades, impressive work experience or community service, and recommendation letters that speak highly of your character. Being an all-rounded individual will help your application stand out.
Have your application reviewed
Your application will have a resume, personal statement, digital story, and recommendation letters in addition to other things. This means that you and others will have to do a lot of writing in order to finish your application. We recommend having someone, such as a close friend or a mentor, review your application to ensure that it is as perfect as possible.
How the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program is Judged
Applicants are evaluated on their grade transcripts, resumes, personal statements, digital stories, interviews, and recommendation letters.
Why We Love the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program
Fantastic opportunity for Native Hawaiians
The NHHSP is a wonderful opportunity for Native Hawaiian medical students to receive financial assistance for their studies.
Scholarship covers non-tuition costs
Recipients receive a yearly payment for Other Reasonable Costs (OCR), which covers expenses not covered by tuition and fees, such as books, clinical supplies, instruments, and so on.
Recipients get a monthly stipend
Scholarship recipients receive a monthly stipend to cover living expenses.
5 Facts about the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program
Scholarship was founded in 1991
HRSA founded the NHHSP scholarship in 1991 to support Native Hawaiian medical students.
More than 300 scholarships awarded since inception
Nearly 300 scholarships in 20 different health and allied health fields have been given to Native Hawaiians since 1991.
Only listed health professions are eligible
The eligible health professions are clinical psychology, dentistry, dental hygiene, dietetics/nutrition, nursing, medicine, physician’s assistant, public health, and social work.
Applications must attend schools specified geographic areas
Applicants must be full-time students in fully accredited health profession programs in Hawaii, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, the United States Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, American Samoa, Guam, the Republic of Palau, or the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Scholarship awards are subject to federal taxes
As of January 1, 2018, HRSA began withholding taxes on the entire NHHSP award. This follows Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules.