Scholarships for LGBTQ+ Students in Health Fields
Featuring expert advice on winning scholarships from Martha Warner
LGBTQ+ college students are more likely to face a number of challenges on the road to academic success at the college level. These challenges encompass not only discrimination and sometimes threats to physical health and mental health but also financial ones. Students who identify as LGBTQ+, for instance, are sometimes cut off financially from familial support after coming out. The difficulties that undergraduate and graduate students generally face in funding their higher ed studies can therefore be compounded by LGBTQ+ identity.
Fortunately, more and more resources are becoming available for LGBTQ+ students at the postsecondary level, including scholarships. Browse scholarships that award funding to LGBTQ+ students studying in healthcare-related fields—our list includes scholarships that are not specific to healthcare studies but for which LGBTQ+ students studying health or medicine could be strong applicants. Then, get expert tips from college scholarship expert Martha Warner on how to apply to scholarships and win.
Available LGBTQ+ Scholarships
Current high school seniors and college freshman, sophomores, and juniors (ages 27 and younger) who demonstrate active commitmenta to mitigating the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and taking on roles of public service and leadership
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by National AIDS Memorial
Education Required to Apply: N/A
Awards Available: Up to 10
Essay Required: Yes
GPA Required: 2.5
This scholarship is not renewable.
U.S. citizens, permanent residents who are openly LGBTQ+
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by Mensa
Education Required to Apply: N/A
Awards Available: One
Essay Required: Yes
GPA Required: N/A
This scholarship is not renewable.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two spirit, queer, and questioning youth activists through age 20 who have transformed their experiences with bigotry and discrimination into opportunities to inspire others by taking action, rallying support, building community, and working to change the systems and institutions that impact their lives
The winner of this scholarship will also receive a trip to a national symposium and recognition during an annual Pride celebration.
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by Colin Higgins Foundation
Education Required to Apply: N/A
Awards Available: Multiple
Essay Required: Yes
GPA Required: N/A
This scholarship is not renewable.
Asian or Pacific Islander lesbian, bisexual, or queer women or transgender individuals pursuing technical or professional training or an undergraduate/graduate degree
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women & Transgender Community
Education Required to Apply: N/A
Awards Available: Two
Essay Required: Yes
GPA Required: N/A
This scholarship is not renewable.
Lesbian-identified students enrolled in or about to begin studies in college, including graduate school
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by Stonewall Community Foundation
Education Required to Apply: High school diploma
Awards Available: Multiple
Essay Required: Yes
GPA Required: N/A
This scholarship is not renewable.
Prospective or currently enrolled college students pursuing peace and justice through social activism
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
Education Required to Apply: High school diploma
Awards Available: Multiple
Essay Required: Yes
GPA Required: N/A
This scholarship is not renewable.
Students who are gay men, U.S. citizens, under 35 years old, and have completed high school
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by Gamma Mu Foundation
Education Required to Apply: High school diploma or GED
Awards Available: Multiple
Essay Required: Not indicated
GPA Required: N/A
This scholarship is not renewable.
Self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender graduating high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by League Foundation
Education Required to Apply: High school diploma
Awards Available: Multiple
Essay Required: Yes
GPA Required: 3
This scholarship is not renewable.
LGBTQ+ graduating high school seniors enrolled in accredited colleges or schools who demonstrate financial need and live in the Tri-State area of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by Live Out Loud
Education Required to Apply: High school diploma
Awards Available: Multiple
Essay Required: Yes
GPA Required: N/A
This scholarship is not renewable.
LGBTQ+ students enrolled in community colleges who plan to transfer to four-year universities
The winner of this scholarship will also receive admissions counseling, coaching, and financial education via the Point Community College Transfer Symposium in Los Angeles during August/September, as well as a personal coach throughout the academic year and access to a network of LGBTQ scholars and more than 300 alumni.
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by Point Foundation
Education Required to Apply: High school diploma
Awards Available: Multiple
Essay Required: Not indicated
GPA Required: Not indicated
This scholarship is not renewable.
LGBTQ+ San Francisco Bay Area high school graduates of Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry pursuing higher education who demonstrate financial need
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Education Required to Apply: High school diploma
Awards Available: Multiple
Essay Required: Not indicated
GPA Required: 3
This scholarship is renewable for up to three additional years.
Graduating high school seniors accepted into accredited institutions or currently enrolled college/university students who have experienced adversity that threatened their academic achievement
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by Keith Williams Law Group
Education Required to Apply: High school diploma
Awards Available: One
Essay Required: Yes
GPA Required: N/A
This scholarship is not renewable.
Residents of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, or South Dakota who are 17 or older and demonstrate LGBTQ+ leadership
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by PFund Foundation
Education Required to Apply: N/A
Awards Available: Multiple
Essay Required: Yes
GPA Required: N/A
This scholarship is not renewable.
Residents of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, or Montana who are pursuing postsecondary education anywhere in the U.S. and identify as LGBTQ+
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by Pride Foundation
Education Required to Apply: High school diploma
Awards Available: Multiple
Essay Required: Yes
GPA Required: N/A
This scholarship is not renewable.
LGBTQ+ and affiliated students residing in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Apply for this scholarship
Provided by Hampton Roads Pride
Education Required to Apply: High school diploma
Awards Available: Four
Essay Required: Yes
GPA Required: 3
This scholarship is not renewable.
Q&A With College Scholarship Expert Martha Warner
Martha Warner is a writer, editor, and educator and owner of Martha Warner, LLC. Martha launched her own business after spending years working for others. In addition to ghost, grant, content, and copywriting and editing, Martha teaches at Indiana University as well as other online and in-person courses, including Writing to Make Money, College Scholarship Writing, and Write that Grant.
Do you have any tips for students on answering scholarship essay questions?
Students answering scholarship essay questions should follow three tips: connect (to the question and the audience), compel (readers with your answers), and comply (with all criteria). To connect to the question, students should highlight the keywords (subject nouns) in the question or the prompt. It is essential to use those words in their responses. Students should create a thesis statement that responds to the prompt. For example, if the prompt asks, “What field do you want to pursue and why?” a student should include “I want to pursue _________ degree because ______________.”
I always encourage students to have a few strong introductory sentences before the thesis statement. Students should also connect to the audience. The best scholarships are going to include some research of the business or organization offering the scholarship. Pull words from their mission or vision statements. Next, students need to compel readers with their responses. Sometimes, we have to get personal. We have to tell our stories in a way that our readers understand (in that limited space) why what we are talking about it so important. Finally, students have to comply with the word count, answer the questions thoroughly, and submit all materials ON TIME.
Where are some of the best places to look for scholarships?
Believe it or not, Pinterest is a great place to search for scholarships. The University Network has a great database as well. The best kept secret, however, is looking locally. A lot of lawyers, banks, and organizations (community foundations) in each town will have scholarship opportunities. If a student is looking to stay or move back to their hometown, local scholarships are usually happy to help.
Are there any common mistakes you’ve seen students make during the application process?
The mistakes I see most often are that students do not submit all the materials on time. Students might miss the need for three references. Perhaps they forgot to answer one question. Even the smallest miss will kick most students out of automated systems, so no one ever even looks at their applications.
Should a student customize their resume at all for scholarships?
It’s not necessary to start from scratch on a resume each time. If a student creates one strong, comprehensive resume, they can cut it down and adjust it for individual scholarships if necessary. I suggest students have one really long resume with everything they might need, and then, tailor that resume for the scholarships.
How can a student stand out amongst other scholarship applicants?
The secret sauce I give to students is to pull from the business or organization’s mission statement. It’s a subtle trick that readers do not even realize. It’s important not to be direct in repeating it. Instead, subtly include the keywords from their mission statement in a response.
Is there anything else you want to make sure students know?
It’s so incredibly important to start early and to set aside time to complete scholarships. Think about it. If you sit down for two hours a week to apply for scholarships, you can potentially earn a full ride ($20,000-$30,000). I’ve helped students do exactly that. But you have to be dedicated and focused. It doesn’t matter what parents want their kids to do. Scholarships are FREE MONEY that students have to take control to obtain. You don’t want to be 40 years old and still paying off college debt.
Are there any other scholarship resources you’d like to share?
The University Network and Pinterest are great places to start. I also have scholarship searching and writing sessions that I conduct. In my workshops, I help students figure out their target amount for the year (and discuss choosing the right next step if they haven’t decided yet), find scholarships that they can apply for, research and keyword search the scholarship and organization, and write scholarships. We edit questions and improve essays. The next virtual session is in September. Find out more on my website.