Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)

The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) grant program, offered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, aims to address the persistent underrepresentation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds in health professions. The SDS program supports accredited health professions schools across the United States in their efforts to provide financial assistance through scholarships. These scholarships are intended to reduce the financial barriers that disproportionately affect students from economically and environmentally disadvantaged backgrounds, thereby promoting diversity in the healthcare workforce. The primary goal of the SDS program is to provide scholarship support to full-time students enrolled in eligible health professions programs. These include, but are not limited to, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, chiropractic medicine, behavioral and mental health disciplines, public health, allied health, nursing, midwifery, and physician assistant studies. Eligibility extends across a wide range of degrees such as Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, graduate degrees in clinical social work, and bachelor’s degrees in dental hygiene and nursing. Notably, pre-professional programs such as pre-nursing or pre-midwifery are excluded. The funding provided through the SDS program may be used strictly for tuition, fees, and other educational expenses associated with full-time enrollment. HRSA expects these scholarships to significantly reduce the debt burden on students, thereby allowing them to serve in underserved areas or primary care roles post-graduation. The estimated total program funding is $51,079,900, with an award ceiling of $650,000 per institution. Each selected school may determine how to distribute scholarship funds among eligible students. While cost sharing or matching funds are not required, institutions are encouraged to support scholarship administration through existing infrastructure. The submission process is conducted electronically via Grants.gov. Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on May 21, 2026. Although this is a forecasted opportunity, the estimated post date is April 6, 2026, indicating that HRSA anticipates opening the application window shortly thereafter. Applications submitted past the due date will not be considered, emphasizing the importance of timely electronic submission. Applications will be reviewed based on HRSA’s criteria, likely including the extent to which schools demonstrate their commitment to enrolling and retaining students from disadvantaged backgrounds, the effectiveness of their support programs, and the historical performance of their scholarship distribution. Award notifications are estimated to be issued by August 1, 2026, with funded projects expected to begin on September 1, 2026. The funding is discretionary and HRSA anticipates approximately 80 awards. Contact for this opportunity is Tamara Barbee, who can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 301.443.5273. Institutions interested in applying should prepare necessary documentation demonstrating eligibility, accreditation, and historical support of disadvantaged student populations. Although no pre-application is required, early preparation is advised due to the competitive nature of the funding and the breadth of eligible disciplines.