Comparing Online Public Health Degrees with Financial Aid
In this EduMed guide, we spotlight online public health programs at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels that offer meaningful financial aid opportunities. These programs are designed to help you enter the field or advance your career while making your education more affordable. You’ll also find practical tips for securing financial aid, along with a clear overview of funding options available through federal and state programs.
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Inside Programs with Financial Aid
Public health degrees — such as a Bachelor of Science or the popular Master of Public Health — offer online or hybrid programs to students that are often attached to financial aid. Many colleges and universities offer their own scholarships, grants, and support resources for students in public health.
Even if a school doesn’t have its own financial aid offerings, it will typically accept other forms of aid that students can utilize to pay costs, such as:
- Federal assistance — grants, work study programs, and student loans
- Scholarships and grants from organizations and businesses
- Loans from private financial institutions
Whatever options you’re considering to fund your studies, this guide was created to help you navigate financing your public health degree. Choosing the right program is vital, especially when financial aid is a key factor.
Below, we’ve highlighted several high-quality online or hybrid programs that are known for either accepting or offering a robust program for scholarships, grants, and fellowships.
Kent State University
The fully online bachelor of science in public health program at Kent State is eligible for a series of in-house scholarships through its College of Public Health.
There are scholarships available for any Kent State student – including incoming freshman and established bachelor’s degree students – as well as a full acceptance range for federal and state funding, such as Ohio state grants.
Mode: Online
Cost: $559/credit
Types of Aid:
- Institutional, federal, and state scholarships
- Federal and state grants
- Federal loans
- Federal work study
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George Washington University
This Washington DC school offers an online master’s degree through its Milken Institute School of Public Health. The degree is also tied to a unique offer: a scholarship up to $15,000 for students who are accepted and enrolled in this program.
Besides that offer, there are plenty of other financial aid options through GWU. Each year, more $20 million worth of scholarships fund students’ studies, including need- and merit-based financial aid opportunities.
Mode: Online
Cost: $1,890/credit
Types of Aid:
- Institutional, federal, and DC-based scholarships and grants
- Institutional fellowships and assistantships
- Federal and private loans
California State University at Northridge
With a specialty in community health education, CSUN’s fully online Master of Public Health degree is offered by the school’s Tseng College for graduate and mid-career students. Financial aid at CSUN includes federal sources as well as specific scholarships, based on both merit and need, from the university.
The school accepts US military and VA education benefits, and has a sponsorship program for students for employers or government agencies.
Mode: Online
Cost: $808/unit
Types of Aid:
- Institutional, federal, and state scholarships
- Federal and state grants
- Federal loans and work study
- Veterans/military scholarships
- Corporate or governmental sponsorships
Financial Aid Eligibility & Application Checklist
Securing financial aid opportunities requires careful preparation and attention to detail. It’s also a process that needs to start well in advance of starting those first classes for your public health degree. While every school will have its own requirements, the checklist below is a good starting point for most financial aid applications.
Complete the FAFSA Early
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid determines your eligibility for federal financial aid, including a variety of need-based grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Public health students should gather the necessary information and submit an online FAFSA applications as soon as possible to ensure they’re considered for all available aid.
Review Eligibility Criteria and Requirements
Review all of this information on your university’s or aid-granting institution’s website, or contact your financial aid offices to ensure you meet all qualifications before applying. Understand the specific requirements and details for each potential opportunity, especially what’s needed for a public-health-based award, to identify the best matches for your needs.
Check Deadlines and Apply Early
Whether it’s for the public health program itself or a university or organization in general, every financial aid opportunity will have a different application deadline. Failing to meet these deadlines will result in your application being thrown out. Create a timeline or calendar of all deadlines and submit applications well in advance.
Gather All Necessary Documents
Create a checklist of required documents for each form of aid and gather them ahead of time. This way if an application requires extra documents, you’ll have sufficient time to gather those.
Tax returns, formal identification, and academic records — especially as they relate to public health education — are all part of the financial aid process.
Receive Feedback on Supplemental Materials
Essays and statements of purpose are critical to many applications, especially public-health-centered scholarships and grants. Seek and use feedback on these documents from mentors and peers — especially those in your network who are also in the public health field — to refine the materials and ensure your answers are clear and concise.
Review Award Letters
This correspondence details your actual financial aid package. Fully understanding these offers helps you make an informed decision on the best ones to choose.
Review each letter, considering the amount and type of aid and any stipulations. A financial aid advisor can assist you in understanding any terms and conditions.
Common Funding Options for Public Health Students
As you research options to fund your public health degree or certificate, you will see some common forms — and each one of them has different benefits and drawbacks. Here’s a look at what’s regularly available from schools.
Federal Student Aid
Here’s that FAFSA acronym again — it’s the crucial form for any college student who is seeking aid based on need, and it’s just as important to understand all about the FAFSA. And, some schools still want you to fill out the FAFSA if you’re pursuing merit-based or institutional aid, as its information gives a clear picture of what you can and cannot afford.
Federal aid includes awards that are “free money” you never pay back and loans that you will need to return, often with interest, at some point.
Institutional Aid
Financial programs based at the college or university you choose can include a full range of possibilities, including grants, scholarships, work-study, and sometimes loans. Most of these options are need-based, but there are also ones that are based on academic merit or if you are specifically in a public health program.
The usual method is to go through the school’s financial aid department to fill out forms and get direction on what’s available.
Payment Plans
You can break payment plans up into two categories: installment plans and loan repayment. Some schools offer the chance to schedule smaller payments over time to meet the costs of your public health education.
There are also specific state and federal programs that can help with education loan payments, if you work in certain health professions and if you qualify for this type of aid. These include programs such as the NHSC or the PSLF.
Expert Insight
Federal assistance programs are great for first-time and returning students in health professions because they allow you to provide a well-needed service to the community in exchange for the funds. Expect to work in a service capacity (often, in an underserved area or with an underserved community) for a number of years after you graduate. Rural areas are especially in need of assistance.
Scholarships & Grants
Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, leadership, or specific public health interests. They come from private organizations, public health institutions, or directly from colleges and universities. As a public health student, look for scholarships tailored to your focus area.
Grants are need-based-only financial awards that students receive from the federal or state government, universities, or private organizations. Public health students might be eligible for grants that specifically support health-related studies.
Examples:
Society for Public Health Education Financial Aid
- Amount: Between $1,500 and $2,500
- This national organization gives scholarships, internship opportunities, fellowships, and awards to students pursuing health promotion or health education careers. They include the 21st Century Student Scholarship, offered multiple times a year.
Tylenol Future Care Scholarship
- Amount: $5,000 or $10,000
- Any type of healthcare student, including public health, is eligible for this annual program. There are 35 students that receive the awards, which are based on academic merit and community involvement.
