Types of Financial Aid
Graduate and professional students are eligible for several types of aid at Meharry Medical College. We have outlined the different aid programs available below.
Scholarships
There are several Meharry scholarships are available to students.
Office of Alumni Affairs
You must check with the Meharry’s Office of Alumni Affairs for their Convocation and Commencement scholarship applications, deadlines, and requirements.
Convocation Awards
Convocation scholarship funds are awarded by the Scholarship Committee in each of the schools (Medicine, Dentistry, and Graduate). Also, there is not an application process for Convocation awards.
External Scholarships
There are many external scholarships available, the Office of Student of Financial Aid has listed a few suggestions under the External Scholarships tab.
The Honors Incentive Scholarship is awarded to a select number of first-year entering students who have achieved academic excellence in their undergraduate course of study. The Honor Scholarship pays up to total tuition and fees for the first year of study. Each additional year is contingent upon your academic performance.
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program pays for tuition, required fees, and some other education costs, tax free, for as many as four years. Education costs may include books, clinical supplies, laboratory expenses, instruments, two sets of uniforms and travel for one clinical rotation. Recipients also receive equipment and a monthly living stipend.
The Tennessee Black Conditional Grant Program (TCG) awards a grant yearly to African-American residents of Tennessee. Students must complete an application that is sent to Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) for certification. Each additional year is contingent upon funding from the State and the student maintaining satisfactory academic progress.
The State of Tennessee, funded through the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, provides grants to Tennessee certified residents participating in the medical and dental programs. In order to be eligible to participate in the said program, students must complete an application, submit all required documentation and be certified as a Tennessee resident by THEC.
The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) provides state grants to certified residents of the contract states, i.e. Arkansas (dental only-one slot per classification). In order to apply for this grant, you must contact the Arkansas Department of Education at (501) 371-2000 or apply online at www.adhe.edu.
The Office of Student Financial Aid cannot guarantee approval of these funds.
Grants
Grants do not have be repaid. In order to establish eligibility, students should complete the FAFSA application.
The available grants to students are the following:
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Arkansas Health Education Grant (must be an Arkansas resident Dental student)
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Tennessee Black Conditional Grant Program (for African-American students only)
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Tennessee Higher Education Commission Grant (THEC)
The Tennessee Black Conditional Grant and Tennessee Higher Education Commission Grant are contingent upon funding from the state each year. Both of these program required eligible applicants to be certified Tennessee resident. All interested applicants must complete an application and attach the requested documents, in order to be deemed eligible. Students must not have moved to Tennessee in anticipation of attending school, should have attended high school in Tennessee, be a US citizen, or have resided continuously in Tennessee since birth for both grants to certify eligibility.
You can complete the Tennessee Higher Education Commission Grant application by clicking on the link.
The Office of Student Financial Aid provides the following information about private scholarships as a courtesy. The information and related links are provided for reference and general information purposes only. The information on this site is not an exhaustive list of outside scholarships and is not intended to be a substitute for an individual’s research into other such scholarships. In no way does Meharry Medical College, or the Office of Student Financial Aid accept any responsibility for the content or validity of the information on this site, or endorse the listed organizations or their scholarship criteria.
Information on Scholarship Scams
Free Scholarship Searches
External Scholarships List
There are many scholarship opportunities available for degrees in medicine. This list is by no means exhaustive.
AAMC Fellowships and Grants Supplement
AAMC Herbert Nickens Medical Student Scholarships
AMA Medical School Scholarships
American Indian Graduate Center
American Psychiatric Association (APA)
Association of American Indian Physicians
Indian Health Service (Loan Repayment)
Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) Scholarships and Awards
The American Osteopathic Foundation’s Scholarships
National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
Korean American Scholarship Foundation
Fresno-Madera Medical Society Scholarship
Steve Dearduff Scholarship Fund
Health Professionals and Specializing Physicians Scholarship Program
Lamber-Goodnow Injury Law Team Medical School Scholarship
National Medical Fellowships Scholarships & Awards
Hawaii Community Foundation Scholarships
Future Physicians Scholarship Program
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
eQuality Medical Student Scholarship
Dr. Charles A. Preuss Medical Award
General Board of Higher Education and Ministry
American Medical Women’s Association
Buckfire Law Firm Medical Diversity Scholarship
Chinese American Medical Society (CAMS) Scholarship
Chinses American Physicians Society Scholarship
Dr. Arthur J. and Helen M. Horvat Scholarship
Japanese Medical Society of America
International Order of The King’s Daughters and Sons
Frank & Louise Groff Foundation
Vietnamese American Medical Association
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Pisacano Leadership Foundation
P.E.O. California State Chapter
Association of Black Women Physicians
National Italian American Foundation
Health Resources & Services Administration
American Society of Hematology
Dental Specific Scholarships
Pediatric Dentist of Tomorrow Scholarship
American Dental Education Association
Dental Trade Alliance Foundation
TYLENOL Future Care Scholarship
State-by-state funding opportunities
Public Health Students
Service-obligated organizations pay tuition and the majority, but not all fees associated with your education. Also, you will be paid a monthly living stipend. In return, you agree to “serve” ONE year for each year the organization pays your tuition/fees.
The Health Professions Student Loan Program (HPSL) is a long-term, low-interest loan to assist students who are undertaking the course of study to be a dentist. The maximum amount that you may borrow for each school year is the cost of tuition plus $2,500, or the amount of your financial need, whichever is the lesser. There is no cumulative maximum amount. The income, assets, and resources of the student and parents must be considered before the loan is made.
All HPSL loans for medical students granted after July 1, 1993, will be the Primary Care Loan (PCL). The PCL loan has an awarding stipulation that states if you decide not to practice primary care after graduating from medical school, the interest rate of 5% will increase to 7%, effective the day of default. Therefore, all borrowers are strongly encouraged to only accept the PCL loan funds if they are definitely going to be a practicing primary care physician after graduation. For this reason, MMC has decided to only award PCL funds to third- and fourth-year students.
Campus-based loans are repayable to Meharry Medical College over a 10-year period, which begins one year after you complete or otherwise cease to pursue the prescribed full-time course of study. Interest begins to accrue at the time the loan becomes repayable. You must pay no less than $30 per month. Please contact our office for more information.
The Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS) is a long-term, low-interest loan to assist students who are undertaking the course of study to be a physician or dentist. The income, assets, and resources of the student and parents must be considered before the loan is made.
The Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is a low-interest, fixed-rate and capped loan guaranteed by the United States Department of Education. This loan is only available to students in the 2012–13 award year whose academic program began prior to July 1, 2012. The federal government pays the interest on the Federal Direct Subsidized Loans. In order to be awarded the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, one must demonstrate financial need. The Federal Direct Subsidized Loan proceeds will be disbursed in two disbursements to the institution via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT). (Program not available for graduate/professional students)
The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan provides additional funds for educational expenses. This loan also has a fixed interest rate, but interest on the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan begins to accrue from the date of the disbursement. In addition, payments of the accrued interest may be deferred, paid, or capitalized, and added to the principal amount on a quarterly basis. Like the subsidized loan, these funds are guaranteed by the United States Department of Education. The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan may be used to offset the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans are available to students who do not have an adverse credit history. These loans are not based on financial need. Students may borrow through this program to obtain money up to the COA in order to attend college. These loans carry a fixed interest rate, and the origination and insurance fees are different than those of the Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan programs. Beginning July 1, 2008, any Grad PLUS loan will be deferred until six months after completing your program of study or changing enrolled status to less than half-time, whichever comes first.
Alternative loan programs are credit-based and are approved solely by the lenders’ credit criteria. If denied, students are encouraged to obtain a co-borrower to increase chances of approval. (NOTE: A co-borrower does not automatically guarantee approval). Alternative loans are only awarded if the student’s total cost of attendance has not been met, and there is an unmet need.
Federal Work-Study
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program provides part-time jobs for graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the recipient’s course of study. Due to the small allocation, FWS funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, until funds are depleted.
Additional Options
If you are not eligible for federal funding, there are private loans available to assist in financing your educational expenses. Key information to understand student loan products includes being versed on the annual and cumulative loan limits, interest rates, fees, and loan terms for the private (alternative) student loan programs. Normally, the interest rates, origination fees, loan options (selected by the borrower, such as, in-school deferment and repayment options) and loan limits depend on the credit history of the borrower and/or co-signer, if any. Loan term often depends on the total amount of debt.
To select a lender and loan product, students are encouraged to us the Internet search engine and compare products and services of the various lenders
For additional information, please read the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) disclosure statement in regards to available loan funds, private loans, code of conduct for lenders, etc.
The Office of Student Financial Aid cannot guarantee approval of these funds.