Health Professions Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Air Force Medical Service

Program

Overview Description

The Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) funds medical education in exchange for military service as a commissioned Air Force physician. It covers tuition and many education-related expenses while the student completes an MD or DO degree at an accredited U.S. school. Participants receive military pay and benefits during school and incur an active-duty service commitment after residency. The program is intended to recruit and retain qualified physicians for Air Force service.

Key takeaways:

• HPSP pays for medical education in return for a post-graduate active-duty obligation.
• Applies to accredited MD and DO programs in U.S. jurisdictions.
• Participants are commissioned officers while in the program.

Award

Value Tuition, Fees, Books, and Stipend

HPSP pays full tuition and required fees at an accredited U.S. medical school located in the continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico. Most educational expenses—such as books and many fees—are also covered. In addition to tuition coverage, recipients receive an annual compensation package of roughly $35,000 composed primarily of a monthly stipend plus military pay for an active-duty training period.

Key takeaways:

• Full tuition and required fees are covered for eligible schools and locations.
• Books and most other education fees are included.
• Annual compensation is about $35,000, primarily a monthly stipend with additional active-duty pay.

Stipend and

Bonus

Details Monthly Pay and Signing Bonus

The stipend portion is approximately $2,870 per month for 10½ months each academic year. HPSP participants also receive Second Lieutenant military pay and travel pay for the remaining ~45 days during their active-duty training period. A $20,000 signing bonus is available for four-year scholarship recipients; three-year recipients may receive the bonus if they agree to convert to a four-year service commitment.

Key takeaways:

• Stipend: about $2,870/month for 10½ months per year.
• Additional active-duty pay covers the remaining training period (~45 days).
• $20,000 signing bonus for 4-year awardees (available to some 3-year applicants who commit to 4 years).

Eligibility Who Can Apply

Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are accepted to or already enrolled in a medical school accredited by the Association of American Medical Colleges (MD) or the American Osteopathic Association (DO) and located in the continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico. Candidates must also be physically qualified for commissioning as an Air Force officer. Meeting these baseline eligibility criteria is required before selection considerations begin.

Key takeaways:

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be accepted/enrolled in an AAMC- or AOA-accredited MD/DO program in specified U.S. locations.
• Must meet physical qualifications for Air Force commissioning.

Application

Timeline When to Apply

Timing differs by scholarship length and current student status. Prospective medical students seeking a four-year HPSP should apply in the early fall of the year before matriculation. Students already in medical school who want a three-year scholarship should apply immediately. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, so earlier applications improve selection chances.

Key takeaways:

• Apply early fall prior to matriculation for four-year awards.
• Current medical students seeking three-year awards should apply right away.
• Awards are granted on a rolling schedule—early submission enhances opportunity.

Selection

Criteria Academic and Automatic Selection Standards

Selection requires meeting academic thresholds in undergraduate GPA and MCAT performance. The minimum eligibility baseline is a 3.2 undergraduate GPA and a 500 MCAT total, with at least 124 on each MCAT subsection. Applicants with a 3.4+ undergraduate GPA and an MCAT total of 504 (and minimum subsection scores of 124) for three- and four-year scholarships are automatically selected and bypass the scheduled accession board.

Key takeaways:

• Minimum academic threshold: 3.2 GPA and 500 MCAT total with ≥124 per subsection.
• Automatic selection threshold: ≥3.4 GPA and MCAT total ≥504 with ≥124 per subsection.
• Automatic selectees do not require a scheduled accession board.