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Health Professions Scholarship Program

Updated | Julie Provost
HPSP

If you are interested in the medical field, pursuing your degree through the military and starting your career can be a good idea. There are different ways you can do so, too. A couple of options are to use the HPSP (Health Professions Scholarship Program) to go to the school of your choice or to attend school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

What is HPSP, the Health Professions Scholarship Program?

Each branch has its own Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP).

  • Army HPSP
  • Air Force HPSP
  • Navy HPSP

NOTE: The Marine Corps doesn’t have a program since it receives all of its medical services through the Navy.

Use the HPSP to pursue a profession in:

  • Medical/Osteopathy
  • Dentistry
  • Veterinary medicine
  • qualifying Special Nurse
  • Counseling/Clinical Psychology
  • Optometry

The HPSP was created via the Uniformed Services Health Professions Revitalization Act of 1972.

What financial benefits does the HPSP offer?

  • Full Tuition. The scholarship covers 100% of your tuition for up to four years at any accredited U.S. school.

  • Sign-On Bonus. Qualifying applicants can receive a $20,000 accession bonus (typically for medical and dental students).

  • Monthly Stipend. Participants receive a monthly stipend for living expenses. The current rate is $2,999.00 per month (effective July 1, 2025). This amount is paid for 10.5 months of the year.

  • Additional Funding. Funding is provided for required books, equipment, and other mandatory school fees.

  • Officer Pay. Students receive active duty pay and allowances (as an Ensign or Second Lieutenant) during the required 45 days of annual training.

What are the requirements for the HPSP?

You must:

  • Be a US citizen
  • Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited school or be pursuing one
  • Be enrolled or have an acceptance letter for an accredited graduate program in medical/osteopathy, dental, veterinary, specialty nursing, counseling/clinical psychology, or optometry
  • Be enrolled at full-time status
  • Qualify as a commissioned officer

What are my service requirements during my school?

Students are placed on inactive reserve status during medical training. As inactive reserve officers, students are required to serve 45 days of active duty training (ADT) each fiscal year.

Your duty may include officer basic courses or clinical training at your school for the first two years. For the 3rd and 4th year, students may be required to take elective clinical rotations at a military hospital.

What about after graduation?

After graduation, Army and Air Force service members may be promoted to the rank of Captain, and Navy service members may be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

The incurred service obligation is usually a one-for-one for every service-paid year of schooling with a minimum of two years for physicians and three years for other specialties. There could be additional time for certain postgraduate programs.

If you are interested in the Health Professions Scholarship Program, talk to a recruiter from the military service branch of your choice.

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences is located in Bethesda, MD, near the grounds of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

There are four colleges at this university. The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, the Postdoctoral Dental College, and the College of Allied Health Sciences.

What is the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences?

The university educates and prepares graduates for service in the US in the medical corps, both at home and abroad. The university was established by Congress in 1972 and has graduated more than 5,000 physicians since its 1976 opening.

What are the benefits of going to this university?

Students attending USU enter the university as commissioned officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or the Public Health Service. No prior service is required to attend USU.

Students pay no tuition or fees and receive a full salary and the benefits of a uniformed officer throughout their four years at the university in exchange for a seven-year, active duty commitment. PHS (Public Health Services) graduates have a 10-year active duty commitment.

The benefits also include free medical care for students and eligible family members, a housing allowance, and 30 days of paid leave annually. Books and lab equipment are also provided at no cost to the student.

If you would like to apply to USU, do so through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).

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About the author

Julie Provost is a freelance writer, and blogger. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.

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