College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences Scholarships
At Drake University’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, we believe your talent, drive, and commitment to healthcare deserve meaningful support. That’s why we offer exclusive scholarships and financial aid opportunities for students pursuing degrees in pharmacy, health sciences, and nursing. Our awards recognize academic excellence, research achievement, leadership, and community service, so you can focus on building your future as a pharmacist, health care professional, or scientist.
Application Instructions
Scholarship application deadlines vary. The following must be submitted by the deadline to be considered:
- A completed application to Drake University, including all required application materials.
- A submitted Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or an International Student Financial Information Form (ISFIF).
- Drake’s FAFSA code is 001860.
A FAFSA is not required, but is strongly encouraged as a few of our donor-funded awards are need-based.
Students will be notified of scholarship and gift aid awards in mid-late Spring.
General CPHS Scholarship Opportunities
These opportunities are open to students in any CPHS major.
This scholarship provides editorial assistance to Master's and Doctoral candidates whose research focuses on neglected topics of study within their discipline.
This scholarship is open to undergraduate or graduate healthcare students who reside in or have graduated from a high school in Grundy, Butler, Hardin or Tama counties, or who work at Grundy County Memorial Hospital.
Multiple scholarships are offered through the Health Resources & Services Administration for students in the healthcare professions.
This program offers financial support to students in Iowa seeking health care education or training.
ISGC awards scholarships based on merit for undergraduate students in the STEM disciplines who support NASA's mission.
The Health Resources & Services Administration offers many scholarships through the National Health Service Corps.
This program awards five scholarships to STEM students who participate in an essay contest.
The Air Force offers scholarships for healthcare students studying Allied Health professions or nursing professions and for those attending medical or dental school in exchange for a minimum of two years of active-duty service.
The VA offers multiple scholarships to those in the healthcare professions who serve in VA health care facilities.
Occupational Therapy Scholarship Opportunities
All admitted Drake OTD students will receive the Pursuit of Excellence in Occupational Therapy Scholarship. Specific amounts will be included in admission letters. A number of OT scholarships are available from a variety of state, federal and non-profit agencies. The following is a list of scholarships that students are encouraged to look into.
All admitted Drake OTD students are awarded a merit-based scholarship.
This annual scholarship is awarded to undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities who are pursuing studies related to health and disability.
AOTF provides over 50 scholarships in collaboration with state occupational therapy associations. Applicants only need to complete one online form to apply for all qualifying scholarships.
This scholarship awards four students attending occupational or physical therapy school who are in financial need. Contact the National Vice Chairman for the Occupational/Physical Therapy Scholarship for more information about how to apply.
F.A. Davis offers multiple nursing and health science scholarship opportunities which OT students are eligible for.
This organization offers scholarships to undergraduate through second-year graduate OT students who are residents of Illinois in support of their mission to support Illinois residents under the age of 21 in need of medical assistance.
This program awards scholarships to OT, PT, speech-language pathology and audiology graduate students based on financial need, commitment to local community, character for compassion and integrity, and career objectives.
Pharmacy Scholarship Opportunities
There are many scholarships available for students in pharmacy school. Explore our extensive list of alumni and sponsor-funded scholarships reserved for Drake pharmacy students and check out the additional opportunities offered by regional and national pharmacy organizations.
Thanks to the generosity of several alumni and donors, the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is able to provide an assortment of scholarship opportunities to students pursuing their Doctor of Pharmacy at Drake University. Read more about each award on our Pharmacy Program Scholarships page.
APhA offers scholarships to graduate pharmacy students who have completed at least one year of professional-level coursework and are active members of APhA-ASP.
This scholarship supports a pharmacist who is attending law school, demonstrates academic/professional/service-related achievement, and is most likely to use a law degree to further such achievement and contribute to the benefit of society. The recipient will receive a one-year complimentary student membership to ASPL in addition to the scholarship funds.
This scholarship supports students in pharmacy and pharmacy law to attend the annual ASPL Developments in Pharmacy Law Seminar where they will attend up to 15 hours of continuing education sessions and network with industry professionals from across the country. Recipients will also receive a complimentary one-year ASPL Student Membership.
This scholarship will be awarded to 21 outstanding student pharmacists in their P1 or P2 year (or their P3 or P4 year for 6-year extended pathway students) who face financial barriers in their pursuit of education. Selected awardees must demonstrate leadership, academic success, and a commitment to care for patients.
The NCPA Foundation offers multiple scholarships for students in pharmacy school, recognizing students with demonstrated leadership qualities, academic achievement, need, and an interest and passion for the independent community pharmacy profession.
This scholarship supports current P2 or P3 students demonstrating a passion for community-based care who plan to practice in an independent or small-chain community pharmacy or an underserved geographic or cultural community, preferably in an independent or small-chain setting.
This scholarship recognizes PharmD students in Iowa or Wisconsin who demonstrate innovation, collaboration, mutual respect, positivity, and Chris Decker's call to be "Difference Makers." Students must be a Iowa Pharmacy Association or Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin member to apply.
This scholarship encourages outstanding final-year Phi Lambda Sigma members to enroll in a Ph.D. program upon graduation.
PCCA holds an annual scholarship contest for students to share their vision for compounding pharmacy. Prizes include registration, airfare, and accommodations to the PCCA International Seminar and the ACT Legislative Conference.
All student SNPhA members are encouraged to apply for the numerous sponsored scholarships the organization offers.
Students who begin at Drake directly from high school in the pre-nursing track of the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree and matriculate into the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program in their fourth year will retain their undergraduate scholarships and merit aid.
Additional scholarships are available for students in the ABSN program from a variety of state, federal, and non-profit agencies. Many of the scholarship programs listed on this page have special scholarship awards for nursing students.
Travel Funding Opportunities
Want to use your healthcare education to make a difference in another part of the country or world? Look into the Walbridge Scholarship to learn how we can support your experience.
The Walbridge Medical Mission/International Community Service Trip Travel Award is supported by Mary Walbridge, PH'74, and exemplifies her commitment to community service and medical missions, higher education, as well as to future generations of Drake CPHS students.
Criteria for Receiving the Travel Award:
1) Travel on a medical mission or international community service trip for which academic credit is not being received.
2) Able to obtain a receipt for travel expenses incurred.
3) Approval of Professional Event and Travel Funding Request Form
4) Upon approval and completion of trip, completion of the travel reimbursement form (information sent following submission of the Professional Event and Travel Funding Request Form).
The amount of the award is expected to be approximately $500, depending on the number of individuals requesting travel support.
Joint Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Path Exemptions
In the case of a student pursuing a joint undergraduate and graduate degree path, annual awards may not carry through their entire time at Drake. See the limits and exemptions to these awards here.
Undergraduate awards available for first 3 years or until the 1st year of the Law Program (L1).
Undergraduate awards available for first 4 years or through the 2nd year of the Pharmacy Program (P2).
Undergraduate awards available for the first 3 years or until the 1st year of the Occupational Therapy Program (O1). There is a one-time $5,000 scholarship available for O1 students.
For more information about scholarships and financial aid for CPHS students, contact Lauren Sharp, Director of Enrollment Services for the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. For additional questions about the scholarship application process and other scholarships, please contact your admission counselor for more details.