Scholarships for pre-med students

Key takeaways about pre-med scholarships

• Pre-med scholarships can help lower your undergraduate costs before medical school begins. They can also help make future education costs easier to manage.
• You don’t need a pre-med major to qualify. Many scholarships support biology, chemistry, public health, psychology, and other STEM majors.
• Healthcare experience can strengthen your applications. Volunteering, shadowing, research, and leadership activities may help you stand out.
• Some scholarships are designed for future healthcare professionals. Others support STEM students, community service, or underrepresented groups.
• The FAFSA^® can unlock additional aid opportunities. Many scholarships and grants use FAFSA^® information for need-based funding.

Becoming a doctor can be rewarding, but the path can also be expensive. Between undergraduate tuition, medical school costs, exam fees, and years of training, future physicians often face substantial education costs.

If you’re searching for scholarships for pre-med students, you’ll find opportunities tied to academics, STEM majors, healthcare careers, leadership, community service, and long-term goals in medicine.

Scholarships can make a real difference as you plan for years of education and training. In fact, Sallie Mae’s "How America Pays for College 2025" found that 75% of students who received a scholarship said it made college possible.

What are scholarships for pre-med students?

Pre-med scholarships are financial awards for undergraduate students preparing for medical school or healthcare careers. These scholarships may support students majoring in biology, chemistry, neuroscience, public health, psychology, or other pre-med related fields.

Unlike student loans, scholarships usually don’t have to be repaid. They may come from colleges, nonprofit organizations, healthcare associations, private foundations, or STEM-focused programs.

What “pre-med” means

“Pre-med” usually refers to undergraduate students planning to attend medical school later. It’s not always a specific major. Instead, it’s an academic track that includes required science coursework and preparation for the MCAT exam and medical school admissions.

Common pre-med majors include:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Neuroscience
• Public health
• Biomedical engineering
• Psychology
• Health sciences

Who qualifies for pre-med scholarships?

Eligibility varies, but common requirements often include:

• Enrollment at an eligible college or university
• A STEM or healthcare-related major
• Strong academic performance
• Leadership or extracurricular involvement
• Volunteer, research, or healthcare experience
• Financial need for some programs
• Long-term goals in medicine or healthcare

Types of scholarships available

Pre-med students may qualify for:

• STEM scholarships
• Biology and chemistry scholarships
• Healthcare and future physician scholarships
• Diversity scholarships in medicine
• Community service scholarships
• Research and internship-based awards
• Institutional scholarships from colleges and universities

Scholarships by category

Undergraduate pre-med scholarships

Many pre-med scholarships are available during your undergraduate years through colleges, nonprofits, and healthcare organizations.

Tylenol Future Care Scholarship

The Tylenol Future Care Scholarship supports students pursuing healthcare careers and often recognizes leadership, academics, and community involvement.

National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program

The National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program primarily supports healthcare students committed to serving underserved communities and is worth understanding early if you’re planning a future medical career.

Biology, chemistry, and STEM scholarships

Many pre-med students also qualify for broader STEM scholarships tied to science coursework and research interests.

SMART Scholarship for Service Program

The SMART Scholarship supports STEM students pursuing scientific and technical fields, including some biology and biomedical science pathways.

Barry Goldwater Scholarship

The Goldwater Scholarship supports undergraduate students interested in STEM research careers, including medicine-related scientific research.

Healthcare and future physician scholarships

Some scholarships specifically focus on future healthcare professionals or students planning careers in medicine.

Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship

The Hispanic Health Professional Student Scholarship supports students pursuing healthcare careers and aims to improve diversity in healthcare.

Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship

The Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship from the American Medical Association Foundation supports students pursuing medical education and future physician careers.

Diversity scholarships in medicine

Some programs aim to increase representation in healthcare by supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds.

National Medical Fellowships Programs

National Medical Fellowships supports underrepresented students pursuing medical and healthcare careers through scholarship and mentorship programs.

Community service and volunteer-based scholarships

Healthcare experience and service can strengthen pre-med scholarship applications.

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes

The Barron Prize recognizes students who demonstrate leadership and meaningful community impact.

Prudential Emerging Visionaries Program

Prudential Emerging Visionaries supports students whose volunteer or leadership work creates positive community change.