Scholarships/Awards & Student Loans

The endowment was established by UND alumni Edson and Margaret Larson and is today managed by the Edson & Margaret Larson Foundation. A 1951 graduate of UND and veteran of World War II, Edson Larson, who was born in 1923 and died in Mayville, N.D., in 2008, farmed with his family near Mayville for more than 40 years. He married Margaret Brunsdale in October 1955 at the Governor’s Residence in Bismarck when Margaret’s father, Norman Brunsdale, was governor of the State. Margaret passed away in 2019 at age 93.

The Edson & Margaret Larson Foundation of Grand Forks, N.D., established the Edson & Margaret Larson Foundation ROME Scholarship, which provides scholarships to third-year medical students who participate in the Rural Opportunities in Medical Education (ROME) Program.

Students must complete the Medical Student Scholarship application by July 15^th to be considered. Funding is not guaranteed.

The Buck Zahradka, M.D. Memorial Scholarship has been established through a direct gift from the Zahradka family to the University of North Dakota Foundation in honor and memory of Dr. Buck Zahradka. He was a 1997 graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Buck was in the first year of post-graduate training in Family Medicine when he died in a boating accident. The Buck Zahradka, M.D. Memorial Scholarship Endowment will provide a scholarship to one first-year medical school student for up to $8,500 (est.) for the upcoming academic year.

In addition to the monetary scholarship, the Zahradka family provides the recipient of this scholarship with a two-bedroom, one bath condo for the upcoming academic year. The condo association does not allow pets. There is no rent due, and the Zahradka family pays the association fee. The recipient is responsible for utilities, internet, cable, etc.

Applications will be sent to students on or around March 1.

Complete the application and submit it to the Office of Student Affairs &Admissions, SMHS Room W101 or to jane.thorvilson@UND.edu via Liquid Files.

The Henry Hobert Ruger Trust was established under the provisions of the Last Will and Testament of Rosa C. Ruger, daughter of Dr. Henry Hobert Ruger. The beneficiaries of the Trust include medical students at the University of North Dakota (UND).

Applications will be sent to students in October. Award amounts vary each year.

Dr. Bushell, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology with the Fargo Clinic (now Sanford), spent thousands of hours in the unpredictable world of newborns and new mothers. Babies have their own sense of timing. They’ve never heard of “textbook” deliveries. And they can be pretty tough on their mothers. No one knew these truths better than Dr. Robert Bushell.

 

She’s also taken great pleasure in providing scholarships for medical students. The scholarship is renewed each year of medical school, as long as the student remains in good standing. “My goal is to find a student who would be unable to go to school if they didn’t have financial help,” Libby says, and she enjoys it when recipients stay in touch. “I like that the process is personal. It’s very satisfying and very important to me.”

 

The following criteria must be met to apply:

• Individual from North Dakota or Minnesota.
• Attending Medical School at University of North Dakota.
• All 4 sections of the application must be completed.

One scholarship in the amount of $5,000.00 will be awarded. This award is a 4-year renewable award; student must be in good standing by the academic institution.

 

Applications will be sent to students in July.

Complete the application and submit it to the Office of Student Affairs &Admissions, SMHS Room W101 or to jane.thorvilson@UND.edu via Liquid Files.

The Helen S. Davis Medical School Scholarship is providing scholarships for deserving students. The Center for Scholarship Administration, Inc. (CSA), a non-profit, independent organization, is the facilitator of the scholarship fund.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a Montana resident.
• Be planning to obtain a Doctor of Medicine (not pre-medicine) degree.
• Be in good academic standing.
• Demonstrate financial need.
• Be planning to attend full-time an accredited medical school, located in the U.S. in a program conferring a Doctor of Medicine degree.

Scholarship specifics:

• Scholarships are for one-year only; however, current recipients may reapply and be considered for an award along with new applicants.

Apply online by April 29^th here.

Students pursuing a career in primary health care are eligible to receive funding for their education in exchange for practicing in rural, urban, and tribal communities with limited access to care, upon graduation and licensure. 1-year service commitment per scholarship year or partial scholarship year; 2-year minimum and 4-year maximum.

NHSC - https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/scholarships/index.html

HRSA Health Workforce Connector - https://connector.hrsa.gov/

The mission of West River Health Services is to provide comprehensive health and wellness services to the residents and visitors of the region. We were founded on the premise that rural folk deserve the same top-quality healthcare as their urban counterparts.

You could receive $1,000 to $6,000 depending on selections of WRHS Foundation Scholarship Committee.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Upperclassmen pursuing a Healthcare degree.
• From our Southwest ND or Northwest SD area
  • Hettinger, Reeder, Scranton, Bowman, Elgin, Mott, New Leipzig, New England, and Dickinson, ND
  • Buffalo, Bison, Lemmon, and McIntosh, South Dakota
  • Baker, Montana
  • Other areas nearby and in between if no candidate from service area.

Apply by April 1 here.

Scholarship program for medical students who are willing to complete a service commitment with the armed forces: U.S. Air Force, Navy, or Army.

For more information go to this link.

To apply, contact TSgt Corey West at 402-618-8941 or corey.west.3@us.af.mil.

To apply, contact HMC (FMF) Victor J. Peña R.T (R) (CT) ARRT at 701-353-0039 or victor.j.pena4@mil.us.navy.mil.

The IHS Scholarship Program provides qualified American Indian and Alaska Native health professions students an opportunity to establish an educational foundation for each stage of your pre-professional careers. The scholarship program provides financial support in exchange for a minimum two-year service commitment within an Indian health program in your chosen health professional discipline.

Application cycle open December 15, 2024. Apply here.

Enrolled members of federally recognized Indian tribes may qualify for up to $2,000 annually in scholarship funding under this merit and need-based program.

To be considered for an award, applicants must:

• Be North Dakota residents and enrolled members of a federally recognized Indian tribe;
• Be enrolled full time;
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0; and
• Attend any accredited institution of higher learning or accredited career and technical education program with a physical presence in this state.

 

Must apply each year; priority deadline July 15^th: https://ndus.edu/paying-for-college/native-american-scholarship/

Ken Viste Memorial Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship

Requirements:

• Applicants must be a resident of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin.
• Applicants must demonstrate veracity for life and/or come from humble beginnings.
• Preference will be given to applicants who intend to practice in one of the above states and/or practice in a rural community.

Made possible by:

• The North Central Medical Conference/Ken Viste, MD, Honor Fund

Additional AMA Scholarship Opportunities available here.

Federal Direct Loan (Unsubsidized)

This loan is a funding source for students who need additional funding to meet the cost of education. Financial need is not required to be eligible to borrow through an Feral Direct Unsubsidized Loan. There is no Subsidized Direct Loan eligibility for graduate/professional students.

Medical students are eligible to borrow up to $47,167 for M1 - M3 and $42,722 in M4 each academic year through a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, although not to exceed the aggregate loan limit of $224,000.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan (Grad PLUS)

This loan is an alternative funding source for graduate or professional students who need additional funding to meet the cost of education. Financial need is not required to be eligible to borrow through a Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan.

Applicants for these loans are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). They also must have applied for their annual loan maximum eligibility under the Federal Direct Loan Program before applying for a Grad PLUS loan.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans

Loans for Disadvantaged Students Program (LDS)

This loan program is designed to assist educationally or economically disadvantaged students in paying for their health professions education. Based on financial need. The interest rate is 5%.

To be considered for this program, a student must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Parents’ information must be submitted even if you are an independent student.

Primary Care Loan

The Primary Care Loan (PCL) program is a low cost federal loan program for medical students committed to primary health care practice. The interest rate is 5% (except that borrowers who fail to fulfill the primary care residency and practice requirement will be charged 7% interest). The interest begins to accrue following a one-year grace period after you cease to be a full-time student. The loan also offers deferment of principal and interest and cancellation options. The yearly maximum award is cost of attendance. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for this loan and must submit parents information even if they are independent.

FastChoice Tool

Private educational loans can be used to pay for your educational costs while a student at UND SMHS. There are a variety of lenders that offer private student loans, and every loan is different.

The FastChoice tool allows you to easily compare key aspects of different private loan options. FastChoice is not a lender and not every institution that offers private loans will appear in FastChoice.

FastChoice

Lender information is provided as a courtesy and in no way should it be interpreted as a requirement to use one of the listed lenders.

UND SMHS will process loans from any lender that participates in any educational loan programs.

The following loan programs are for medical students who will be graduating and pursuing a residency program. The funds must be used for residency interviewing or relocating expenses. You can only apply for ONE of the residency loan programs.

Discover Student Loans

• Discover Student loan Options
• Application Form
• Origination Fees: None
• Interest Rate: Variable or Fixed
• Grace Period: 9 months
• Interest Capitalization: Upon entering repayment
• Annual Loan Limit: $18,000
• Repayment Terms: Repayment begins after residency up to 20 years
• Deferment Options: Residency deferment

Sallie Mae

• Sallie Mae Student Loans
• Application Form
• Origination Fees: None
• Interest Rate: Variable
• Interest Capitalization: Upon entering repayment and at the end of any forbearance/deferment period
• Annual Loan Limit: $30,000
• Repayment Terms: Repayment begins three years after graduation or nine months after leaving school or dropping to less than half-time status; up to 20 year repayment period
• Deferment Options: Residency deferment up to three years

ND Primary Care Office

https://www.hhs.nd.gov/health/primary-care-office/north-dakota-health-service-corps/healthcare-professional-loan-repayment

https://www.hhs.nd.gov/health/primary-care-office/north-dakota-health-service-corps/federal-loan-repayment

Department of Education

https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment

https://studentaid.gov/pslf/

ND Loan Repayment Programs Snapshot

https://www.hhs.nd.gov/health/primary-care-office/nd-health-service-corps