Scholarships for Pharmacy Students

Get Through College with Less Debt

In the United States, a great high school record followed up by competitive test scores is one of the first steps to securing a scholarship for a pharmacy degree. However, depending on the school, the amount of scholarship money received will vary.

Popular Pharmacy Scholarships

Examples of pharmacy scholarships to consider include:
The "Gateway To Research" Scholarship is a joint effort by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education. Three $5,000 scholarships are available to pharmacy degree students to help them contemplate a pharmacy degree centered on research. The scholarships also provide a $500 stipend for the student to attend the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. To qualify for the scholarship, the undergraduate pharmacy student must have completed one year of a bachelor's degree program, whereas a graduate student should have completed at least two years of a Pharm.D. degree program. Students can apply by visiting the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education website.
The ten $1,500 Rite Aid Competitive Pharmacy Scholarships are intended for pharmacy students who have at least a 2.5 grade point average, and completed at least two years of a pharmacy degree. To qualify, the applicant should have worked as an intern for Rite Aid, or a dependent of someone working for Rite Aid. If none of these criteria apply to you, then it is possible to obtain a scholarship based on where you are attending school. The Rite Aid Corporation has identified certain states such as Arkansas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin where Rite Aid pharmacy is not located. Students attending pharmacy school in these states will qualify to apply for the scholarship.
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Student Scholarships are nine $1000 scholarships given to students who have completed at least one year of education in a pharmacy program. The applicant must have a 2.75 grade point average, and submit a 500-word essay to the scholarship committee. The scholarship is available to applicants who are active within their local American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists chapter (APhA-ASP).

The Scholarship Application Process

When applying for scholarships, it is recommended the applicant spend time reviewing the entrance requirement for each pharmacy school. The pharmacy school will either choose to invite applicants who qualify for a scholarship, to send in an application, or the school will have an open scholarship policy. With an open scholarship policy, anyone who feels they qualify can apply for a scholarship.
After admittance to a school of pharmacy, the scholarship committee will review your application, and depending on the committee's policy, the committee will invite you for an interview or send a letter granting or denying the scholarship.
Other than have the necessary grades and extracurricular activities, the scholarship committee will also review how much of the school's tuition can be paid by the applicant. From there, the scholarship committee will approve either the full scholarship amount, or a portion of it.